(Implemented as of January 1, 2016)

I. Legal Basis

According to the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of Exit and Entry implemented as of July 1, 2013 and other relevant polices and laws on foreign affairs, where a foreigner is required to provide an invitation letter given by an entity or individual in China for his application for a visa, the applicant shall provide the same as required by the Overseas Visa-issuing Organ.

Such invitation letter may be reported by the Chinese inviter to its competent department for examination before being reported to the relevant authorized entity (foreign affairs offices and commerce departments at all levels) for handling.

II. Types of Visa and Scope of Acceptance

(I) Types of visa

Visas in China are divided into four types, namely diplomatic visas, courtesy visas, service visas and regular visas. The Invitation Letter for Authorized Entity for Foreigners' Entry to Sichuan Province to be handled by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce only relates to regular visas.

(II) Scope of acceptance

The Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce will accept applications filed by enterprises registered with the Sichuan Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce.
Applications filed by enterprises registered with the Chengdu Administration for Industry and Commerce (including administrations for industry and commerce in districts, counties and cities) will be accepted by the Chengdu Bureau of Commerce.

Applications filed by enterprises registered with the administrations for industry and commerce in other cities and prefectures (including those in districts, counties, and cities) will be preliminarily examined by the bureaus of commerce in the cities and prefectures where they are located before being reported to the Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce.

III. Duration of Validity of and Duration of Stay for Visa and Method for Extension of Visa

The duration of validity of a visa means the time limit for entry to China and has no affection on the duration of stay in China. Duration of stay means the period of time during which the holder may stay in China within the duration of validity of the visa which is commenced from the entry date. If a visitor fails to go through the matters within the duration of stay, he/she may directly handle the formalities for extension of his/her visa with the office for the administration of exit and entry of foreigners under the public security department concerned. If a person coming to China with a legally valid visa needs to extend his/her visa due to business need, the receiver shall report the situation to the competent department and file an application for such extension.

IV. Application Materials

(I) Application Form of Invitation Letter for Authorized Entity for Foreigners' Entry to Sichuan Province in duplicate and affixed with the official seal of the receiver (click to download).

(II) Instruction request affixed with the official seal of the inviter. The instruction request shall state the relation between the Chinese party and the foreign party, the specific business contact in the past, the current business progress, and the necessity, reason and detailed schedule of the entry to Sichuan Province this time, and whether the guests invited by the entity last time exit on time, and shall be attached with the copies of the entry and exit records.

(III) One copy of the business license for legal person of the inviter. An enterprise which invites foreigners to Sichuan Province for the first time needs to present the original of its business license (a public institution shall handle mutatis mutandis);

(IV) Business contact records that can explain in detail the identity of the persons coming to Sichuan Province and the purpose of such travel and the detailed Chinese translation thereof, such as contract, Approval of Certificate for Foreign-invested Enterprise, bill of lading, customs declaration form, bank receipt and payment vouchers, emails and other proof.

(V) Copy of the passport of the invited person (such information as name, gender, date of birth, passport number, duration of validity of passport, nationality shall be clear and distinguishable); the passport shall have a duration of validity of more than six months.

(VI) Copies of the visa and records of entry to and exit from China in respect of the invited person.

(VII) Letter of assurance of the inviter.

(VIII) In case a foreign exhibitor comes to Sichuan Province to take part in an exhibition, the exhibition sponsor from China shall make a confirmation and file an application.

(IX) In case a foreigner comes to Sichuan Province to participate in an international meeting and a major event, the official reply of the competent department on the consent of such activity shall be attached.

(X) Other necessary materials.

V. Handling Procedures

(I) An applicant shall submits the application materials to the International Office of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce;

(II) The International Office of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce will accept an application if it meets the requirements, and determine whether to issue the Invitation Letter for Authorized Entity based on the examination result, or will reject an application if it fails to meet the requirements.

VI. Period for Handling

More than three working days.

VII. Charging Basis and Standards

Free of charge.

VIII. Contact Information

Tel.: International Office of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce 86-028-83226055

Appendix: Application Form for Invitation Letter for Authorized Entity for Foreigners' Entry to Sichuan Province Issued by Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce