As a foreigner, how to legally film in China？

Why you should get a Temporary Journalist (J2) Visa in China?

Chinese government is very sensitive when it comes to foreigners coming to film in China, most of the reasons are political. So if you have a project that is need to be filmed in China, and you and your crew wants to operate the camera by yourselfs, no matter if its covering a news, media, event, documentary, commercial, even a personal video, J2 Visa is the only legal and rightful way.

By the way, a little concept about the Chinese Journalist Visa. The J1 visa is intended for full-time professional journalists valid for one year and allows multiple entries into China; the J2 visa is intended for freelance journalists or other journalists visiting China on a one-time story also valid for one year, but allows only single entry; and the L visa is intended for non-journalist team members, which allows multiple entries and is valid for up to six months.

Why get the J2 visa and not a temporary working visa(Z) or a business visa(M)?

When you decide to apply for a Z or a M visa, Chinese consulates of the respective country you are in, will make a review and examine your background and the information you submitted. If they find out you are related to media or video production, they might deny your application.

On the other hand, if you don’t need to operate the camera, you just need to brief the Chinese local team and supervise the production, and since its not in a public area, a tourist visa might just work as well.

How to apply for a J2 Visa?

In order to maintain control, while shooting in China we must follow the ongoing policies, specially when we want to film a sensitive topics/ events/ places, etc and even more if you are a foreigner.

So first of all, you need to get a invitation letter from a governmental entity, you cannot apply for a J2 visa by yourself, most of the letters are from MFA (Ministry of foreign affairs), here is the materials you need to prepare:

1.- Your project information and background brief.

2.- Plan a tentative detail as much as possible of your complete agenda, including information of What, Where, Who and When you want to film.

3.- The entity will run an investigation on the information you gave them, it will take time and there are fees that needs to be pay depending on the city you want to film, they will tell you once you reach them, or you can ask your local fixer.

4.- You need to submit a complete list of all the attending crew and talent that will work on the project both foreign and Chinese, includes passport, IDs, names, emails, phone numbers, etc along with a gear list no matter if you bring them from abroad or rent them here in China.

5.- Cost, for a documentary project, you have to pay USD120 per person, based on our latest experience, they exclude the fixer and the driver in our case. If the content to be film is sensitive they might send a staff of them to help you, and you have to bear his/her travel expenses. For the commercial or event, the price might higher, it depends on the scale of production.

In our latest experience on November,2023 a faster way to get a Visa is getting a Invitation Letter from CARFTE (Chinese Association for Radio ad TV Exchanges) which is an independent legal entity affiliated to the National Radio and Television Administration of the People’s Republic of China. We have experience working with them in several cases and what they do, is to send a invitation letter to the respective embassies which will help the process because they already processed all the data, registered them and applied for respective permits ahead.

Once you get the letter, we can move to the next step, you can prepare the material for the respective consulate or embassy which are:

1.- Passport – Valid for a minimum of six months beyond intended stay and have at least two blank pages.

2.- 1 X Passport size photo.

3.- Fill up the visa application form.

4.- Proof of legal stay or residence status (applicable to those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship).

Note: If you are not applying for the visa in the country of your citizenship, you must provide the original and photocopy of your valid visa or certificate of stay, residence, employment or student status of the country where you are currently staying.

-Supporting Documents：

1.- Visa Notification Letter issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China or other authorized units in China and an official letter issued by the media organization for which the journalist works

2.- Applicants should contact the press section of the Chinese Embassy/Consulate General in advance and complete the required formalities.

3.- Additional information might be required.

How long does the process takes?

We highly suggest to apply with 3-4 weeks ahead to the MFA, because the shooting schedule, and the details of the project needs to be studied and be checked by the local fixer ahead including the locations and/or the interviewees, sometimes the fixer needs to go personally to double check the information because in China there are a lot of spam calls, so most of the times, direct communication in person works better and faster. Then the MFA takes around one week to go through all the information, they will double check them, even call for a confirmation, then after all is confirmed, they will process the invitation letter and pass them to the local consulate/embassy and finally, the consulate takes its time to process the visa according to the standard working hours.

Before you enter China, the MFA will update the airport customs, and the local FAO (Foreign Affair Office) of the Province you are heading to make sure your filming goes smoothly. Once you arrive to China, you will be under the government’s radar since you are holding a J2 visa. Sometimes, MFA updates just stays in a provincial level, and when you reach to the city, they might not have received the information yet, in that case the document provided by the MFA comes in handy, after they see that document, you are all good.

To conclude, If you are filming in China under a J2 Visa, according to what you submitted, then you are filming legally and if you need help, MFA will be there to help you, no need to worry.

FAQs on Video Production in China

What are the advantages of working with a Chinese video production company?
Chinese video production companies offer extensive local expertise, cost-effective solutions, and high-quality production services. They understand the market dynamics, local regulations, and cultural nuances, ensuring a smooth production process.

How do I find a reliable China video fixer for my project?
A reliable China video fixer should have a strong network, experience with international productions, and knowledge of permits, logistics, and local crew coordination. It’s best to work with established production coordinators who have a proven track record in managing foreign shoots.

What are the key factors to consider when hiring a Chinese video production company?
When choosing a Chinese video production company, consider their experience, portfolio, communication skills, language capabilities, and familiarity with both domestic and international production standards.

How does a China video production coordinator support international projects?
A China video production coordinator assists with pre-production planning, location scouting, securing permits, hiring local crew, renting equipment, and managing logistics, ensuring a seamless production experience.

What should I know about corporate video production in China?
Corporate video production in China requires an understanding of local business etiquette, branding strategies, and industry-specific messaging. It’s crucial to work with a team that can navigate cultural sensitivities while delivering compelling visual storytelling.

How do I ensure smooth post-production collaboration with a Chinese video production company?
To streamline post-production, use cloud-based file-sharing platforms compatible with China’s internet infrastructure. Ensure clear communication regarding editing styles, revisions, and final delivery formats.