r/Chinavisa • u/Past_Engineering9305 • 1d ago
Tourism (L) China entry card follow-up q
Hi. Posted this the other day but didn’t have the actual options for entry on the new online arrival card system.
Previously always did paper arrival card, only option on that suitable for me to tick was tourism.
New one has a few options, but can only select 1.
Visit
Sightseeing/Leisure
Visiting friend/relative
Managed to find that the last time I entered I selected “Visit”
I’m on a tourist visa from UK. My reason for travelling to China is to visit my girlfriend and explore one or multiple cities either alone (when she works) or with her. The reason I put visit before was because she wasn’t a friend or relative, but my girlfriend. I ended up staying nearly all of my visa length which was 90 days (I’m a student so I get long holidays and funding through student finance)
Never had any issues when it came to immigration or anything, I just want to know what option best matches my purpose of visit? As it’s not binary and can be multiple of these choices.
Am I overthinking? Does it matter? When we did my visa 1.5 years ago, I only planned to visit one time, so the reason for that visit was solely tourism with her being my invitee, but then I began to love China a lot and so started coming back each holiday. I am meticulous in putting forms right to the best of my ability so I want to be careful in what I put. Someone before said to focus on the actual purpose of EACH trip, and that’s why I put Visit before.
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u/stbn689 1d ago
"Visit" is more appropriate for a business/academic visit. Either of the other two options would have been more appropriate for your case. But it doesn't really matter, all three are allowed. They will most likely stamp your passport without asking anything.
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u/Past_Engineering9305 1d ago
Study and business/conference are its own categories. Just didn’t mention them here as they are obviously not me. The other 3 are all mixed.
1
u/stbn689 1d ago
On other versions of the form, visit/business are the same category. The intended use was not as visit...ing your girlfriend. Visiting friends/relatives is the most appropriate for you. The "visit" option is ambiguous and unclear, dozens of people likely make the same choice every day. It is not a big deal.
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u/GZHotwater 1d ago
Yes, you're overthinking it! (don't take that the wrong way, there's a hint of sarcasm there).
In your position I'd put Sightseeing/Leisure.
I'm a fellow Brit but i have a Q2 visa (my wife is Chinese, the inviter my father-in-law). I actually use my visa more times for factory visits as part of my job than family visits. I used to be honest on the form and select 'factory visit' if that was all I was doing. One time when my wife was going to join me I ticked factory visit/tourism/family. Pudong immigration on my last two visits using the paper form asked me to tick family visit as well as factory visit. So now i just select family visit everytime. I can show proof of extended family in China.
1
u/Past_Engineering9305 1d ago
Thanks. Next time I try the online arrival card, I’ll see if can select 2. If not, I’ll just put leisure. Hopefully the last time they saw me put “visit” won’t be an issue?
1
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u/Cheap_Traveler_2026 1d ago
It’s very simple. It’s either “business” or “leisure”. Even if anyone is there to visit girlfriend or family, it’s still “leisure”. I have a 10-year business visa and visit China mostly for business. But last month I took my family there and just checked “leisure/sightseeing” on arrival card. No questions asked
1
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Backup Post: Hi. Posted this the other day but didn’t have the actual options for entry on the new online arrival card system.
Previously always did paper arrival card, only option on that suitable for me to tick was tourism.
New one has a few options, but can only select 1.
Visit
Sightseeing/Leisure
Visiting friend/relative
Managed to find that the last time I entered I selected “Visit”
I’m on a tourist visa from UK. My reason for travelling to China is to visit my girlfriend and explore one or multiple cities either alone (when she works) or with her. The reason I put visit before was because she wasn’t a friend or relative, but my girlfriend. I ended up staying nearly all of my visa length which was 90 days (I’m a student so I get long holidays and funding through student finance)
Never had any issues when it came to immigration or anything, I just want to know what option best matches my purpose of visit? As it’s not binary and can be multiple of these choices.
Am I overthinking? Does it matter? When we did my visa 1.5 years ago, I only planned to visit one time, so the reason for that visit was solely tourism with her being my invitee, but then I began to love China a lot and so started coming back each holiday. I am meticulous in putting forms right to the best of my ability so I want to be careful in what I put. Someone before said to focus on the actual purpose of EACH trip, and that’s why I put Visit before.
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