China business visa (M) from Pakistan
A China business visit runs on the M visa. The invitation letter from your Chinese partner carries most of the weight, and the embassy lists exactly what it must contain. Get that right and the rest is routine.
China business visa for Pakistani passport holders
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Visa type | M visa for commercial and trade activities. |
| Key document | An invitation letter from a Chinese company or trade fair. |
| How to apply | Fill in the online application, then submit at the Chinese visa application service centre covering your area, with biometrics where required. |
| Passport | Valid for at least six months with blank visa pages. |
| Entries | Single, double or multiple entry, as issued. |
| Processing | Published by the embassy, with regular and express options; check before you book. |
Which route fits your trip
The M visa covers meetings, sourcing, factory visits, negotiations and trade fairs. Work in China, such as installing equipment or long project work, needs a work visa (Z) instead.
For the Canton Fair, registered overseas buyers can use the fair’s invitation. For factory and supplier visits, the supplier usually issues the letter. If you plan to visit several companies, one clear invitation from your main partner listing the cities is usually better than several weak ones.
What a strong file usually contains
Every case is different; this is the base list we start from.
- Passport valid for at least six months, plus a copy of the data page
- Completed online application form and confirmation page
- Photo to the embassy’s specification
- CNIC copy
- Invitation letter: your name, gender, date of birth and passport number; purpose, arrival and departure dates and places; your relationship with the inviter; who pays
- The inviter’s full company name, address, phone, official seal and the legal representative’s or inviter’s signature and date
- Employer letter or business registration
- Previous Chinese visas, if any
How the application runs
Invitation
We check the letter against the embassy’s checklist before you file.
Online form
Completed carefully; answers must match the invitation.
Submit
At the visa centre covering your area.
Decision
Collect the passport; check the entries and duration of stay.
Prepare
Payments, connectivity and hotel for the trip.
Why files get refused or returned
The embassy lists the commonest reasons files are returned:
- An invitation letter missing a required item, seal or signature
- Dates or places on the form that differ from the invitation
- Photo not meeting the specification
- Incomplete answers on the online form
- Applying for the wrong visa type for the activity
Before you fly and at the border
Check the visa sticker as soon as you collect it: entries, validity and duration of each stay. The duration of each stay is separate from the visa validity and is the one that limits your trip.
In China, register your stay where required (hotels do this automatically) and carry the passport. Set up a mobile payment wallet before travel and plan connectivity, as many Western apps do not work on Chinese networks.
China visa questions
Do Pakistanis need a visa for a business trip to China?
Yes. Ordinary Pakistani passport holders need a visa; for business it is usually the M visa.
Who writes the invitation letter?
The Chinese company you are visiting, or the trade fair you are attending. It must carry the company seal and the signature of its legal representative or the inviter.
Can I use a Canton Fair invitation?
Yes, the fair issues invitations to registered overseas buyers, which can be used for the M visa application.
Can I work on an M visa?
No. Commercial visits are allowed; employment needs a Z visa.
Planning a China business trip?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.