Au Pair in China: visa information

Au Pairs traveling to China will need to apply for different visas depending on the length of stay. The specific categorizations are listed below.

F-VISA (Visit)

This visa will be valid for up to 6 months. F-visa is issued to foreigners who come to China to participate in non-business and non-labor activities, such as culture, education, scientific research, exchanges, internships, and visits to friends and relatives.

X-VISA (Student)

If the Au Pair is willing to stay longer than 6 months in China, they will need to apply for this visa. This visa is required for:

• Internships
• Language School Courses
• Studies
• Long-term Courses (Colleges, Universities)

Attention

• All Chinese visas need to be applied through the Chinese Visa Centre, you can visit the official website of the visa center for information.
• You can find out more about what is available for applicants of different nationalities at the Chinese Embassy in your home country.

How can an Au Pair apply for a visa?

If the Au Pair meets all the program requirements to get a visa, below you can find the main list of documents required for the visa application:

• Passport with at least a 6-month validity and a copy of the page with the Au Pair’s photo and personal details  
• Completed application form (it is available at the Embassy or Chinese Visa application center) and one passport photo on a light background 
• Invitation letter from the Host Family
• The Au Pair contract, which needs to be signed by both parties

Letter of Invitation

The Chinese government requires all Au Pairs coming to China to provide a letter of invitation, which can be issued by an Au Pair agency registered in China or by your Host Family.

This invitation letter must contain the following information:

• Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc;
• Invitee's information about coming to China: purpose of coming to China, date of arrival and departure, place of stay, relationship with the inviting organization or the inviter, source of expenses during the stay in China, etc;
• Information of the inviter: name of the inviting unit or the name of the inviter, contact telephone number, address, seal of the inviting unit, signature of the legal representative of the inviting unit or the inviter, etc.

*All Au Pairs should communicate fully with their Host Family and ask them to complete an invitation letter before applying for a visa.

For more detailed information, the Au Pairs should get in touch with the Chinese embassy or a consulate in their home countries. 

 Further information 

• If the participant would like to travel home during the Au Pair program or visit Hong Kong or Macao, they will need at least the “double entry” visa.
• If the Au Pair is applying for an X student visa, one of the conditions will be enrolling at a Chinese university, so the Au Pair will have to join a course. 
• The visa processing time is 4 business days as a rule. 
• Au Pair entry into any employment with additional income would be a violation of the requirements of the F and X visas held and may result in repatriation to the home country by the immigration authorities.

Due to the complexity of the Chinese visa process, you can get in contact with a full-service agency to assist with the process. You can check here to find a suitable agency!