I. Port Visa

1. Reasons for applying for port visa

Aliens may apply for visas to port visa agencies authorized by the Ministry of Public Security in case of an urgent need to travel to China for the following reasons:

1) Being invited at short notice by the Chinese side to attend a trade fair in China;

2) Being invited to China to enter a bid or to formally sign an economic or trade contract;

3) Coming to China under contract for supervision over export shipment, import commodity inspection or check on the completion of a contract;

4) Being invited to install equipment or make rush repairs;

5) Coming to China at the request of the Chinese side for settling claims;

6) Being invited to China for scientific or technological consulting services;

7) A last-minute replacement or addition, approved by the Chinese side, to a delegation or group that has been invited and has already obtained visas for traveling to China;

8) For visiting a patient in a critical condition or making funeral arrangements;

9) As persons in immediate transit who, because of force majeure, are unable to leave China by the original aircraft within 24 hours or have to leave China by other means of transport;

10) As other invitees who really do not have enough time to apply for visas to the above-mentioned Chinese agencies abroad but hold letters or telegrams from designated competent authorities approving the application for visas at port visa agencies.

2. Port visa application procedure

1) Aliens holding letters or telegrams from authorized organizations in China and ordinary passports issued by countries that have diplomatic relations or official trade contacts with China may apply for port visas. Foreign correspondents and aliens holding diplomatic, service, official, special, and ordinary passports cannot apply for port visas. Aliens holding ordinary passports issued by countries that have neither diplomatic relations nor official trade contacts with China cannot apply for port visas.

2) Aliens working in wholly-owned foreign enterprises, offices of foreign enterprises in China and their invitees should submit written request to the port visa organs accredited by the exit-and-entry department of the local public security organ in advance (usually 3 days ahead). And they should also submit registration certificates, representative certificates for the offices of foreign enterprises in China, or business licenses, certificates of approval, etc. and fill in application forms for port visas. They will obtain “approval number” issued by the exit-and-entry department upon approval. Aliens can apply for port visas using the “approval number”.

3) Aliens who don’t have invitation letters or telegrams from authorized organizations but have those from non-authorized organizations, in applying for port visas in case of an urgent need to come to China, should go through formalities afterwards as required, and can be issued port visas if their circumstances prove to be really special by local port visa agencies.

3. Validity period of port visas

1) Visa F: valid for six months at most;

2) Visa L: valid for three months at most;

3) Visa G: valid for one month at most and the duration of stay shall not exceed 10 days.

All types of visas are generally valid only once.

4. Temporary entry permit

II. Visa

1. Agencies handling the application

Chinese diplomatic missions, consular posts or other foreign-based agencies authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be the Chinese Government’s agencies overseas to handle aliens’ applications for entry and transit.

The Ministry of Public Security, its authorized local public security organs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its authorized local foreign affairs departments shall be the Chinese Government’s agencies in China to handle aliens’ applications for entry, transit, residence or travel.

Chinese diplomatic missions, consular posts or other foreign-based agencies issue diplomatic, courtesy, service and ordinary visas; The Ministry of Public Security and its authorized local public security organs issue ordinary visas; and the local foreign affairs organs authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issue diplomatic, courtesy and service visas.

2. Types of visa

In accordance with their status and the types of passports they hold, different aliens coming to China shall be issued diplomatic, courtesy, service or ordinary visas respectively.

Diplomatic visas are generally issued to diplomatic passport holders who are diplomats, consular officers, senior government officials and their accompanying family members and the people upon notice from Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Service visas are generally issued to service passport holders working in the foreign embassies and consulates in China, laissez passers (blue cover) holders working in the organizations of the United Nations in China and their accompanying family members, aliens who come to China temporarily for service or transit with service passports, official passports, special passports or United Nations laissez passers (blue cover) and their accompanying family members, and the members not holding diplomatic passports of foreign delegations of party or government officials invited by the Chinese Government for a visit. Courtesy visas are generally issued to the former heads of state, heads of government, speakers of the House, heads of the Supreme Court, ministers of foreign affairs, former ambassadors to China and other senior officials, dignitaries and their accompanying family members, and those the visa agencies think appropriate. Ordinary visas are generally issued to aliens holding ordinary passports. Chinese diplomatic missions or consular posts handle diplomatic, courtesy, official and ordinary visas; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its authorized local foreign affairs offices handle diplomatic, courtesy and service visas; and the Ministry of Public Security and its authorized local public security organs handle ordinary visas.

3. Indication of the Chinese phonetic letters on the visas

Ordinary visas shall be marked with different Chinese phonetic letters and issued to different aliens according to their stated purposes of visit to China:

l) Visa D to aliens who are to reside permanently in China;

2) Visa Z to aliens who come to China to take up posts or employment and to their accompanying family members;

3) Visa X to aliens who come to China for study, advanced studies or job-training for a period of six months or more;

4) Visa F to aliens who are invited to China on a visit or on a study, lecture or business tour, for scientific-technological or cultural exchanges, for short-term refresher course or for job-training, for a period not more than six months;

5) Visa L to aliens who come to China for sightseeing, visiting relatives or other private purposes (A group visa may be issued to a group of nine or more aliens on a sightseeing trip to China);

6) Visa G to aliens passing through China;

7) Visa C to train attendants, air crew members and seamen operating international services, and to their accompanying family members;

8) Visa J-1 to resident foreign correspondents in China; visa J-2 to foreign correspondents who make short trip to China on reporting tasks.
4. Application procedure

Chinese Government authorities, in accordance with the aliens’ purposes of entry, issue the corresponding visas.

In applying for visas, aliens shall provide such pertinent information as requested and complete the following procedures:

1) Present valid passports or replacement certificates;

2) Fill in visa application forms and submit recently-taken two-inch half-length, bareheaded and full-faced photos;

3) Submit for examination papers supporting the application for entry into or transit through China.

5. Documents required for application

The supporting papers refer to the following:

1) In application for Visa D, a permanent residence confirmation form, which may be obtained through application by the applicant or by his/her designated relatives in China from the exit-and-entry department of the municipal or county public security bureau at the place of the applicant’s intended residence;

2) In application for Visa Z, a letter of appointment or employment from the sponsor or employer organization in China or a letter or telegram from an authorized organization;

3) In application for Visa X, a certificate from the receiving organization or the competent department;

4) In application for Visa F, a letter or telegram from the authorized organization;

5) In application for Visa L for a tourist trip in China, a certificate of reception from a Chinese travel service, and, when necessary, plane, train or ship ticket(s) to the country (region) after leaving China;

6) In application for Visa G, a valid visa for entering the country (region) of destination, or connecting tickets in case such a visa is exempt;

7) In application for Visa C, relevant certificates in accordance with the agreements concerned;

8) In application for Visa J-1 and J-2, a certificate from the competent department.

Aliens who come to China for permanent residence or for residence of one year and upwards shall, in applying for entry visas, submit for examination health certificates issued by health or medical institutions designated by the governments of the countries of their current residence or those issued by health or medical institutions and certified by notarial organs. Health certificates are valid for six months from the date of issuance.

In case of citizens from CIS countries, Mongolia, DPRK who come to visit relatives in China, Chinese diplomatic missions or consular posts shall issue the visas according to the stamp affixed by the public security organs on the application provided by their Chinese relatives.
6. Tourist visa for special economic zone (SEZ)

Tourist visa for SEZs is a special visa issued to aliens who come to Shenzhen and Zhuhai SEZs. Aliens can go directly to Shenzhen or Gongbei port to apply for tourist visa to visa offices of Public Security Administration of Guandong Province in Shenzhen and Gongbei. Applying for this type of visa is a simple process; applicants do not need to fill in visa application forms, nor submit photographs. They only need to fill in the entry card. Aliens holding this type of visa can only stay in Shenzhen and Zhuhai from 3 to 5 days. Aliens who leave Shenzhen or Zhuhai for the mainland should go to the public security bureau of Shenzhen or Zhuhai for ordinary visas.

7. Visas capable of extension

1) Visa F, L, G or J-2 issued by Chinese diplomatic missions or consular posts to aliens who need to prolong their stay in China beyond the expiration of their visas;

2) Visa F, L, or G issued by port visa agencies to aliens who need to prolong their stay in China beyond the expiration of their visas;

3) Re-entry visas issued by local public security organs to aliens who cannot re-enter within the time prescribed.

The visas capable of extension mentioned above refer to single or double entry visas. Multiple entry visas cannot be extended and should be reprocessed. Aliens holding multiple entry visas issued by Chinese diplomatic missions or consular posts can apply for an extension of the duration of their stay in China once but the duration of their stay for the next entry should be within the time limit prescribed in the original visas.

The visas of aliens coming under one of the following categories cannot be extended: those whose period of stay in China is shortened or whose status of residence in China is annulled; individual tourists with inadequate travel expense or aliens visiting their relatives exceed the time limit of their duration of stay without legitimate reasons.

8. Procedure for visa extension

Aliens, in application for an extension of their visas, shall complete the following procedures:

1) Submit valid passports, visas, accommodation registration documents, and alien’s residence cards in case of a re-entry visa extension;

2) Fill in application forms for extension;

3) Provide papers supporting reasons for extension.

Visa F holders should submit official letters from the host units.

Travelers coming to China with Visa L hosted by Chinese units shall submit host unit’s official letters. If they are not hosted by any unit, they shall submit documents supporting the adequacy of their traveling expenses (traveling check or money order receipt, at the rate of US$100 per day). Aliens coming to China for medical treatment shall submit medical certificates provided by the hospitals and documents supporting the adequacy of their living expenses. Aliens visiting their relatives shall submit letters guaranteeing their cost of living provided by their relatives.

Visa G holders shall submit relevant documents because of force majeure.

Visa J-2 holders shall submit official letters issued by the Information Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or by foreign affairs office of the province, autonomous region, or municipality.
9. Time limit of visa extension

Extension and the times of extension for visas issued by the exit-and-entry department of public security organs are as follows:

1) Visa F can be extended for 3 months at most each time. There is no limit to the times of extension, depending on the needs of the host units.

2) Travelers who come to China with Visa L can, generally speaking, extend their visas once; but Visa L holders who come to China to visit relatives can extend their visas three times, each time for 3 months at most.

3) Visa G can be extended only once, and the extension period shall not exceed 7 days.

10. Visa alteration

1) Alteration of the type of visa

Aliens coming under any of the following categories can apply for visa alteration:

a. Aliens whose visas are mistakenly issued by Chinese visa agencies, and the holders can provide the original invitation letters or telegrams;

b. Aliens entering China with Visa L or Visa C are formally employed and have obtained the work permit issued by the labor organs;

c. Visa L, F holders who are representatives of offices of foreign enterprises in China or foreigner employees in the three kinds of foreign-invested enterprises with the documents of approval from the economic and trade committee and the registration cards issued by the administration of industry and commerce;

d. Other aliens who need to change their visa type and can provide invitation letters or telegrams from authorized organizations.

2) Increase of times of entry

Single entry or double entry visa holders who need to re-enter China after exit can apply for an increase in the times of entry by providing letters or telegrams from the host units.

3) Addition or subtraction of accompanying persons

In case the visa agencies issuing the visa fail to include the child or in case an alien infant is born in China, resulting in a situation where the visa holders, with no accompanying child in their original visas, have accompanying child, the addition of accompanying person can be made. But addition cannot be made in case the accompanying child uses the same passport with his/her parent. Visa holders with accompanying child can go through the procedure of the subtraction of the accompanying person in case the child ceases to accompany for some reasons.

4) Group visa holders with legitimate reasons can apply for separation from group visa by providing official letters from the host units.
11. Aliens eligible to apply for re-entry visas

Alien’s residence card holders who exit from and then re-enter China within the period of validity of the said certificate shall, before exiting from China, apply to the local public security organs for re-entry visas.

Alien children entrusted to the care of relative(s) in China and with residence cards can apply for re-entry visas. Aliens without residence cards who come to China temporarily can apply for an increase in the number of visas, but shall not be issued re-entry visas.

12. Re-entry visa application procedure

1) Provide valid passports or replacement certificates, valid alien’s residence cards or temporary residence cards;

2) Submit for examination papers supporting the application for re-entry visa, especially the official telegrams or letters indicating agreement on re-entry by units involved;

3) Fill in visa application forms;

4) Provide such pertinent information as requested.

13. The validity period of re-entry visa

The validity period of re-entry visa may not exceed the period of validity of his/her visa or residence certificate.

Re-entry Visa D is valid for six months at most, and it’s valid once.

Re-entry Visa F is valid for six months at most and it’s valid once. It can be issued twice or more depending on the need of the host units, of the sponsor or employer organization and of the applicants themselves.

Aliens working in the three kinds of foreign-invested enterprises, alien experts, engineers and technicians can be issued one-year multiple re-entry visas when necessary. Aliens who have permanent residence status can be issued five-year multiple re-entry visas. Aliens under agreements can be issued re-entry visas in accordance with the pertinent agreements.

The validity period of re-entry Visa X ranges from 10 days to 2 months based on the actual need, and the maximum duration is half a year, and valid only once.

Re-entry Visa J-1 is issued in accordance with the official letters by the Information Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or by foreign affairs office of the province, autonomous region, or municipality.

14. Visa exemption

Aliens coming under any of the following categories are exempt from visas:

1) Aliens exempt from visas under agreements signed between the Chinese and foreign governments;

2) Aliens who are in immediate transit through China on continued international flights, who hold connecting flight tickets and have seats booked and who stay for not more than 24 hours within the airport of the in-transit city;

3) Foreign crew members and their accompanying family members wishing to disembark at the port city without leaving the port city when vessels operating international service anchor at Chinese ports;

4) Air crew members or passengers of special planes or charter planes approved by Chinese Government going to China for a stay of no more than 24 hours in China within the airport.

15. Group visa separation

1) Present the passport of the alien to be separated and the original group visa;

2) Group leader completes Application Form for Visa Alteration and the person to be separated completes Visa Application Form and provides such pertinent information as requested;

3) Submit official letters from the host units.
III. Residence

1. Aliens who can be issued residence cards

1) Aliens holding visas D, Z, X, and J-1 staying in China for more than one year (including one year, the same as below);

2) Aliens who need to stay in China for more than one year according to the bilateral agreements on visa exemption;

3) Service, official and special passport holders who need to stay in China for more than one year (official visa or ordinary visa holders, except those working in foreign embassies or consulates in China and their family members);

4) Alien children entrusted to the care of relative(s) in China who need to stay in China for more than one year;

5) Aliens who have made great contributions to China’s economic construction and are granted the permanent residence status upon approval by the Ministry of Public Security or public security bureau of the province, autonomous region, or municipality.

Aliens of the first three types shall, within 30 days of entry into China, obtain alien’s residence cards. Aliens of the fourth type can apply for alien’s residence cards when going through the entrustment procedure. Aliens of the fifth type shall have their alien’s residence cards marked with “having permanent residence status”.

2. Residence card application procedure

In applying for alien’s residence cards, aliens shall submit for examination their passports or replacement certificates, visas and proofs of accommodation registration, fill in residence application forms, and submit recently-taken two inch half-length, bareheaded, full-faced photos. They shall also provide such pertinent information as requested and present papers supporting their purposes of residence.

1) Aliens who are to reside in China shall submit their permanent residence confirmation forms;

2) Aliens who come to China for study shall provide the Letter of Admission and Application Form for Visas of Foreign Students Studying in China (JW201 or JW202). Students holding diplomatic, service or official passports should change the said passports to ordinary passports when applying for the residence cards. If they cannot change their passports to ordinary passports, they shall deliver a note from diplomatic agencies of their own countries declaring giving-up of privileges and immunities while studying in China. They will be treated as ordinary aliens during their stay on campus.

3) Representatives of offices of foreign enterprises in China and their family members shall provide registration cards and representative certificates issued by the administration of industry and commerce for the resident representative offices of foreign enterprises in China.

4) Aliens and their family members in the three kinds of foreign-invested enterprises shall provide certificates of approval of their enterprises issued by Chinese authorities, business license issued by the administration of industry and commerce and official letters from the Chinese units. (Aliens working in wholly-owned foreign enterprises shall present the official letters from their own enterprises.)

5) Experts in science and technology, engineers and technicians shall present official letters from the Chinese host units.

6) Experts in culture and education shall present reporting notice or letters of appointment or employment from competent Chinese authorities.

7) Foreign correspondents shall present Press Card and official letters from the Information Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or by foreign affairs office of the province, autonomous region, or municipality.

8) Alien children entrusted to the care of relative(s) in China shall present the children’s foreign passports, residence registration certificates of the entrusted persons/guardians, papers supporting children’s nationalities (passports and photocopies of ID cards of the children’s parents or residence cards and residence proof provided by Chinese diplomatic missions and consular posts) and guarantee of the fostering certified by Chinese notarial organs.

9) Aliens who do not come under any of the above-mentioned categories, in application for residence cards, shall present relevant papers supporting the reasons for application.

10) All aliens who apply for residence cards shall provide a health certificate (not ordinary physical checkup form). The health certificate should be issued by the public hospitals of the countries of residence, and the items requested for the health certificate should be included. The health certificate should be certified by notarial organs of the applicants’ countries of residence if it is issued by private hospitals. An alien should obtain his/her health certificate in the health and quarantine agency designated by Chinese Government if he/she does not have the above-mentioned certificate. Aliens under the age of 16 do not need to provide a health certificate.

Visa F and L holders who come to China for employment, taking up posts or study should apply to departments concerned for employment permits, reporting notice and studying abroad certificates etc. Visa F and L can then be changed to employment visas or study visas upon examination and approval by the exit-and-entry department of public security organs, and residence cards will be issued.

3. The validity period of alien’s residence cards

The validity period of alien’s residence cards, which ranges from one to five years, shall be decided by the city or county public security bureau according to the aliens’ purposes of residence.

4. Aliens eligible to apply for temporary residence cards

1) Aliens holding visas D, Z, X, or J-1 staying or residing in China for more than 6 months but less than one year;

2) Aliens staying or residing in China for more than 30 days or 90 days but less than one year according to some pertinent agreements on visa exemption;

3) Alien children entrusted to the care of relative(s) in China for more than 6 months but less than one year.

5. Temporary residence card application procedure

1) Submit valid passports or replacement certificates;

2) Submit papers supporting their purposes of residence;

Submit official letters from host units for aliens holding visas D, Z, X, or J-1 and aliens exempt from visas;

The same procedure for residence card application applies to alien children entrusted to the care of relative(s) in China;

3) Fill in residence application forms;

4) Provide pertinent information as requested.
6. Extension of residence cards

Aliens who need to prolong their stay or residence in China beyond the expiration of their residence cards should apply for an extension to the exit-and-entry department of the public security bureau of the applicants’ place of residence before the expiration of their visas or certificates. In addition to valid passports, reply to the relevant questions, filling in the application forms for aliens’ visa and certificate extension, aliens coming under any of the following categories shall provide relevant documents.

1) The representatives of offices of foreign enterprises in China and their family members shall present their representative certificates extended in the administration of industry and commerce;

2) Aliens working in the three kinds of foreign-invested enterprises and their family members shall provide supporting papers from their enterprises or authorized departments of Chinese Government;

3) Other aliens should provide supporting papers from the Chinese host units.

Alien’s residence cards can be extended for five years each time, alien students’ residence cards for one year, and others, from one to three years in accordance with the actual situation. However, they can’t exceed the period of validity of the passports.

7. Extension of temporary residence cards

In applying for extension of the alien’s temporary residence cards, aliens shall present papers supporting the reasons for extension by host units, provide such information as requested, fill in application forms for aliens’ visa and certificate extension. The time of each extension cannot exceed half a year, and the extension application can be filed twice at most. In case the duration of stay exceeds one year, and the aliens really need to obtain alien’s residence cards, aliens can apply for their residence cards following the required procedure and by providing official letters from authorized units.

8. Alteration of residence cards

Alteration of the items in the alien’s residence cards include:

1) Alteration of the items in alien’s residence cards

Items to be filled in alien’s residence cards include name, nationality, occupation or position, place of work, address, and passport number. In case of change of any item, the change should be registered with the public security bureau of the alien’s place of residence within 10 days and application forms for visa and residence alteration should be filled in.

2) Move-out and move-in registration

The holder of an alien’s residence card who wishes to move out of the city or county of residence shall, before moving, register the move with the public security bureau at the original place of residence and shall, within 10 days of arrival at the new place of residence, register the move-in with the public security bureau at the new place of residence and fill in the application form for aliens’ visa and certificate alteration. The public security bureau shall put down his/her new address in the residence card.

3) Addition of accompanying persons

It refers to the addition of the alien infant born in China to the residence card of his/her parent. The applicant, after filling in the application form for aliens’ visa and certificate alteration and providing the birth certificate and the passport of the infant and, if all the documents are verified, can be added to the residence card of the infant’s parent. Addition cannot be made in case one of the parents is Chinese.

9. Move of aliens holding special residence cards

The holder of an alien’s residence card who wishes to move out of the city or county of residence shall, before moving, register the move with the public security bureau at the original place of residence and shall, within 10 days of arrival at the new place of residence, register the move-in with the public security bureau at the new place of residence.

An alien residing permanently in China who wishes to apply for a change of residence shall apply in advance to the public security bureau at the new place of residence for a certificate permitting the move-in and register the move on the strength of the certificate in accordance with the relevant provisions.

Aliens who work in the three kinds of foreign-invested enterprises and in the foreign residence offices in China, in applying for a move, shall submit the application for move provided by the original employer organizations and letters of employment provided by the new employer organizations.

Aliens who come to China for study, in applying for a move, shall submit supporting documents provided by the original colleges or universities consenting to the move-out and the notice of admission from the new colleges or universities.

Aliens who are experts in culture and education, in applying for a move, shall submit the employment contracts or supporting documents provided by the original employer organizations consenting to the move-out and employment contracts or letters of employment from the new employer organizations.
10. Aliens eligible for long-term or permanent residence in China

Aliens who, according to the Chinese law, need to apply for permanent residence in China for the purpose of investing in China or engaging in cooperation with Chinese enterprises or institutions in the economic, scientific, technological and cultural fields, or for other purposes, are eligible for 1-5 year residence in China upon approval by the competent authorities of the Chinese Government (the exit-and-entry department of the public security organ of the province, autonomous region, or municipality). Meanwhile, permanent residence cards can be issued to those who have made outstanding contributions to China.

11. Privileges of aliens with permanent residence status

The permanent residence status is an honorary status and aliens who are awarded the status shall enjoy the following privileges whether or not they reside permanently in China or reside in China for a long term:

1) They do not need to apply for extension of residence;

2) They do not need to submit certificates for examination to the public security organs;

3) They will be issued a 5-year multiple entry visa each time they apply (the period of validity of visa cannot exceed the period of validity of the passport);

4) They do not need to pay visa fees;

5) The spouses and children of the aliens concerned can acquire residence status in China.

12. Permanent residence application procedure

1) The applicant or his/her designated relatives in China shall apply for permanent residence to the exit-and-entry department of the municipal or county public security bureau at the place of the applicant’s intended residence.

2) Fill in two copies of the permanent residence application forms obtained from the exit-and-entry department of the municipal or county public security bureau at the place of the applicant’s intended residence and submit two two-inch half-length, bareheaded, full-faced photos. Nine items in the column of guarantor in the application form should be certified by notarial organs, namely name, sex, date of birth, nationality, occupation, place of work, address, relationship with the applicant and signature of the guarantor.

3) An applicant who has no relative(s) overseas or lives on pensions should present proof of no relative(s) or of retirement pensions provided by the notarial organs in his/her country of residence and certified by Chinese diplomatic missions or consular posts;

4) Provide the photocopies of the passports of the applicant and documents for permanent residence application in written form;

5) Provide the residence registration certificates and application of the guarantor in written form;

6) The public security organ of the province, autonomous region, or municipality will issue permanent residence confirmation form to those eligible. And with this form the applicant can apply for visa from Chinese diplomatic missions or consular posts and for alien’s permanent residence card upon entry.

13. Requirements for permanent residence application

People coming under any of the following categories are eligible for permanent residence application:

1) An alien who is the spouse of a Chinese citizen residing in China and in a marriage relationship for many years, but resides overseas at the time of application (the specific term of marriage relationship is decided by the public security organ of the province, autonomous region, or municipality according to local circumstances) or an alien who has direct relatives, property and houses in China;

2) Chinese with foreign nationality who has no relative(s) overseas but has relative(s) in China who can cover all the expenses after the applicants’ arrival (including accommodation without the help from the state and collectives) or the applicant can cover the expenses with his/her pensions, and will not impose a burden on the state and the collectives;

3) High-level personnel in the fields of science and technology upon examination and approval by the Ministry of Personnel of China;

4) Celebrities and friends in the united front approved by ministries and commissions concerned.