Chinese visas are classified as Diplomatic visa, Courtesy visa, Business visa, and General visa. General visas are further classified into following types, which are marked by a corresponding Chinese phonetic alphabet:
1. C visa is issued to crew members of trains, aircraft and ships on international travels, flights or voyages, their accompanying family members and motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities.
2. D visa is issued to foreign nationals who come to reside permanently in China.
3. F visa is issued to foreign nationals who come to China for visits, inspection tours, lectures, and exchanges.
4. G visa is issued to foreign nationals who transit through China.
5. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China, and J-2 Visa is issued to foreign journalists who come to China for short-term news coverage.
6. L visa is issued to foreign nationals who come to China for tourism. Those who come as a tourist group may be granted a group visa.
7. M visa is issued to those who come to China for commercial and trade activities.
8. Q1 visa is issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and apply to go to China for family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose of foster care. Q2 visa is issued to those who apply to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China for a short period of time.
9. R visa is issued to those who are high-level talent needed by China or with specialized skills urgently needed in China.
10. S1 visa is issued to those who intend to stay in China for a long time to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs.
S2 visa is issued to those who intend to stay in China for a short period of time to visit their family members who are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private matters.
11. X1 visa is issued to those who intend to study in China for a long time.
X2 visa is issued to those who intend to study in China for a short period of time.
12. Z visa is issued to those who intend to take up employment in China.
中国签证分为外交签证、礼遇签证、公务签证和普通签证，普通签证分为以下类别，并在签证上标明相应的汉语拼音字母：
01
C字签证
发给执行乘务、航空、航运任务的国际列车乘务员、国际航空器机组人员、国际航行船舶的船员及船员随行家属和从事国际道路运输的汽车驾驶员
02
D字签证
发给入境永久居留的人员
03
F字签证
发给入境从事交流、访问、考察等活动的人员
04
G字签证
发给经中国过境的人员
05
JI字签证
发给外国常驻中国新闻机构的外国常驻记者
J2字签证
发给入境进行短期采访报道的外国记者
06
L字签证
发给入境旅游的人员；以团体形式入境旅游的，可以签发团体L字签证
07
M字签证
发给入境进行商业贸易活动的人员
08
Q1字签证
发给因家庭团聚申请入境居留的中国公民的家庭成员和具有中国永久居留资格的外国人的家庭成员，以及因寄养等原因申请入境居留的人员；Q2字签证，发给申请入境短期探亲的 居住在中国境内的中国公民的亲属和具有中国永久居留资格的外国人的亲属
09
R字签证
发给国家需要的外国高层次人才和急需紧缺专门人才
10
S1字签证
发给申请入境长期探亲的因工作、学习等事由在中国境内居留的外国人的配偶、父母、未满18周岁的子女、配偶的父母，以及因其他私人事务需要在中国境内居留的人员
S2字签证
发给申请入境短期探亲的因工作、学习等事由在中国境内停留居留的外国人的家庭成员，以及因其他私人事务需要在中国境内停留的人员
11
X1字签证
发给申请在中国境内长期学习的人员
X2字签证
发给申请在中国境内短期学习的人员
12
Z字签证
发给申请在中国境内工作的人员
参考资料：《外国人在穗指南》
特别鸣谢广州外办提供参考资料
