# China Business Visa Validity: How Long Indians Can Stay > How long an Indian can stay in China on an M business visa: validity versus duration of stay, who sets them, multiple-entry rules, fees by entries and extensions. _Published: 2026-10-26 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1080_ ## TL;DR A Chinese M business visa sets three separate limits: validity (the period in which you can enter), the number of entries, and the days you may stay after each entry. The visa officer decides all three from your purpose and documents; first-time Indian applicants are generally given a single entry. Extensions are applied for in China at least 7 days before the permitted stay ends. ## Key takeaways - Validity is the period in which you can enter China; duration of stay is the days allowed after each entry, counted from the day after entry. - The visa officer decides type, entries, validity and duration of stay from your purpose, length of stay and documents. - First-time applicants are generally issued a single-entry visa; double or multiple entries need a Chinese visa from the past five years. - Fees for Indian passport holders: Rs2900 single, Rs4400 double, Rs5900 six-month multiple, Rs8800 for 12 months or more (until 31 December 2026). - Extensions are requested from the local public security exit and entry authority at least 7 days before the permitted stay ends. **According to the Chinese Embassy in India, a China business (M) visa has three separate limits: validity (the window to enter), number of entries, and duration of stay per entry, counted from the day after arrival. The visa officer sets all three; first-time Indian applicants are generally given a single-entry visa.** ## Article That means there is no fixed answer such as 'a business visa lets you stay X days'. Your stay is whatever the officer grants after reading your invitation and cover letter. This post explains each limit using the Embassy's visa FAQs and notices and the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) pages, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. For the full process and other visa types, see our China visa guide for Indians. ### What is the difference between validity, entries and duration of stay? Term on your visaWhat it meansThe question it answersValidity periodThe time within which you can enter ChinaBy what date must I arrive?Number of entriesHow many times you can enter during the validity periodCan I leave and come back on the same visa?Duration of stayDays allowed after each entry, counted from the day after entryHow long can I remain on each trip?The Embassy is explicit that staying beyond the duration of stay without an extension is illegal overstay. A long validity does not let you stay longer on a single trip. ### Who decides how long you can stay in China? The visa officer. The Embassy's FAQ says visa type, number of entries, validity and duration of stay are decided according to your purpose, intended length of stay and documents. The Embassy may also ask for more documents or an interview. Your paperwork is therefore what shapes the duration you get: - Invitation letter: must state the places and duration of stay and your arrival and departure dates, along with your details, purpose, relationship with the inviter and who pays. - Cover letter: the CVASC New Delhi notice of 9 April 2026 says it must give your company profile and the specific purpose and exact duration of the trip. - Inviting company's documents: a valid business licence showing its scope, and an invitation with a handwritten Chinese signature and the company's official seal. A cover letter that says 'about two weeks' and an invitation that lists different dates invite questions. Make the dates match across every document. ### Can Indians get a multiple-entry China business visa? Yes, but usually not on the first application. First-time applicants are generally issued a single-entry visa. To ask for double or multiple entries, include a copy of a Chinese visa obtained in the past five years and make sure your passport has enough validity left. Entries (Indian passport holders)Visa feeSingle entryRs2900Double entryRs4400Six months multiple entryRs590012 months or above multiple entryRs8800These reduced fees were extended until 31 December 2026. Express and urgent fees of Rs1800 and Rs2700 per application are extra, and the Visa Center's service fee is Rs 2152 regular or Rs 3172 express. The fee is paid at the Visa Center and is refunded if the Embassy rejects the visa; the service fee is not. ### Can you extend your stay once you are in China? Yes, by applying to the local public security exit and entry authority at least 7 days before the stay permitted on your visa ends. That guidance comes from China's Ministry of Commerce guide for business expatriates (2024). Plan the trip so you do not depend on an extension. If your meetings may run long, request a duration that covers the realistic end date and explain it in the cover letter. ### What if your business trip turns into a job? The M visa covers commercial and trade activities. Working for an employer in China needs a Z visa, which you can apply for only after your employer has obtained the Notification Letter for Foreigner's Work Permit. - Work of no more than 90 days: you work within the time shown on the Z visa. - Work of more than 90 days: you apply for a residence permit for work within 30 days of entry. Z visa fees for Indian passport holders follow the same entry-based table as the M visa. ### Is there any visa-free stay for Indian business travellers? Almost none. India is not on China's unilateral 30-day visa-exemption list (as of 17 February 2026), not among the 57 countries eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit (August 2026) and not among the 59 countries allowed visa-free entry to Hainan. Indians can use only the 24-hour visa-free transit to a third country while staying inside the port's restricted area. For genuine emergencies, such as urgent business, China's immigration authority offers a port visa at designated ports (99 ports in 72 cities) and recommends getting preliminary approval before travelling. It is not a routine alternative to applying in India. ### Before you apply: three checks - Your passport has at least 6 months of validity and 2 or more blank visa pages. - Arrival, departure and duration dates match across your invitation, cover letter and form. - If you want multiple entries, you have a copy of a Chinese visa from the last five years. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### How long does a China business visa take to process in India? For qualified applications the Embassy usually takes 4 working days regular or 3 working days express. New Delhi and Kolkata expect collection on the 6th working day (regular) or 4th (express); Mumbai quotes around 5, 4 or 2 working days for normal, express and urgent after Consulate approval. #### What happens if I overstay my China business visa? Staying beyond the permitted duration of stay without an extension is illegal overstay, according to the Chinese Embassy in India. Apply for an extension at least 7 days before your stay ends instead. #### Can I apply for a China business visa fully online from India? No. Since December 2025 you fill the form and upload documents online on the Visa Center website, but you must still hand in your original passport at the Visa Center after 'online review completed'. China does not issue an eVisa to Indian passport holders. #### Which Chinese visa centre should I use for a business visa? Residents of Maharashtra and Karnataka use the Mumbai centre; Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal use Kolkata; everyone else applies at the New Delhi centre. No appointment is needed once your online review is complete. ## FAQ ### How long does a China business visa take to process in India? For qualified applications the Embassy usually takes 4 working days regular or 3 working days express. New Delhi and Kolkata expect collection on the 6th working day (regular) or 4th (express); Mumbai quotes around 5, 4 or 2 working days for normal, express and urgent after Consulate approval. ### What happens if I overstay my China business visa? Staying beyond the permitted duration of stay without an extension is illegal overstay, according to the Chinese Embassy in India. Apply for an extension at least 7 days before your stay ends instead. ### Can I apply for a China business visa fully online from India? No. Since December 2025 you fill the form and upload documents online on the Visa Center website, but you must still hand in your original passport at the Visa Center after 'online review completed'. China does not issue an eVisa to Indian passport holders. ### Which Chinese visa centre should I use for a business visa? Residents of Maharashtra and Karnataka use the Mumbai centre; Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal use Kolkata; everyone else applies at the New Delhi centre. No appointment is needed once your online review is complete. ## Sources 1. [Chinese Embassy in India - FAQs on Applying for Chinese Visa (April 2025): validity, entries, duration of stay, fees](https://in.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/qz/202504/t20250411_11593188.htm) — Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India 2. [Chinese Embassy in India - Notice on Extension of Visa-Fee Reduction (4 Jan 2026)](https://in.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/qz/202601/t20260104_11797373.htm) — Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India 3. [Ministry of Commerce of China - Guide to Working and Living in China (2024): Notes on visas, residence permits and work](https://english.beijing.gov.cn/specials/aguidetoworkingandlivinginchinaasbusinessexpatriates2024/notes/202404/t20240424_3635059.html) — Ministry of Commerce of China