Chinese visa for Canton Fair

Question

Hi All

As the title says I want to apply for a Chinese visa for my brother residing in London to visit the Canton fair in October. I have started filling the online application form and I need to understand a few things before I proceed and was hoping if I can get some guidance.

1) I will be sponsoring my brother’s trip from the air ticket to the hotel and food. I can see in the application they ask who will be paying for the trip. Do I click on others and mention my details?

Also, do I need to give my bank statements and a covering letter confirming that I will be sponsoring his trip?

2) Do we need to book his air tickets and hotel accommodation for the visa application?

3) Even though I have the Canton fair invite for him, do I apply the M or the L visa? I have heard people go with L visas without a problem but just want to rule out any possibility of problems so though of applying the M visa.

Any guidance or anyone who has experienced this can share any any information will be highly appreciated.

Thank you all in advance have a nice day.

Answer

Applying for a Chinese visa for your brother to attend the Canton Fair involves a few specific considerations, particularly since you are sponsoring the trip. Here’s a detailed guide addressing your questions:

1) Sponsoring the trip:

On the visa application, if you are covering the costs, select “Others” and provide your details as the sponsor.
It is strongly recommended to include a covering letter stating that you will be financially responsible for your brother’s trip, detailing what expenses you will cover (airfare, accommodation, food, etc.).
Attach your recent bank statements (usually last 3–6 months) to demonstrate financial capacity to sponsor the trip. This helps strengthen the application and prevent potential questions from the consulate.

2) Booking air tickets and hotel:

For the visa application, it is generally required to provide proof of travel arrangements. This typically includes:

Flight booking confirmation (it doesn’t always need to be paid; some consulates accept a reservation or itinerary).
Hotel booking confirmation in China for the duration of stay.

Some applicants choose refundable tickets or tentative bookings to avoid financial risk while waiting for visa approval.

3) Type of visa (M vs. L):

An M visa is intended for commercial/business purposes, such as attending trade fairs, business meetings, or commercial activities.
An L visa is for tourism and leisure purposes.
Since your brother is attending the Canton Fair, which is a commercial event, the correct visa type is M visa. Using an L visa may work in practice in some cases, but it carries a small risk of issues at the border because it is technically for tourism, not business.
For the M visa, attach the official invitation from the Canton Fair as part of the supporting documents.

Additional tips:

Ensure that your brother’s passport is valid for at least six months beyond the planned stay.
Complete the online application carefully and honestly, matching all supporting documents.
Check the specific Chinese consulate in London’s website for up-to-date requirements, as they may differ slightly by region.
Apply well in advance, ideally 1–2 months before the intended travel date, to allow for processing.

By providing sponsorship details, supporting financial documents, confirmed travel arrangements, and applying for the M visa with the Canton Fair invitation, your brother should have a strong application for entry into China for the fair.

Chinese visa for Canton Fair

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