What actually goes into a Canton Fair visa application?

A Chinese business (M) visa application generally draws from the same pool of documents across consulates, even though which ones are actually required — and how strictly — varies by country.

The core set most applications share

• A passport valid for the required remaining period and with blank visa pages, per your consulate’s stated requirements.
• A completed visa application form, typically submitted through your consulate or visa centre’s own system.
• A passport-style photo meeting your specific consulate’s size and format requirements.
• An invitation letter — covered in full on the dedicated page — either the fair’s own free letter, a company invitation, or both depending on your consulate.
• Proof of your business purpose, which can take the form of an employer letter, a company registration document, or simply the fair’s own invitation, depending on the consulate.

What varies most by country

Financial evidence, a specific employer letter, or additional company documentation are the parts of the checklist most likely to differ between consulates — some accept the fair’s invitation letter as sufficient proof of purpose on its own, others expect it alongside a separate business document. Your specific country’s page covers what’s actually required beyond the general list here, since a single checklist that fits every consulate doesn’t exist.

Why the general list isn’t the full answer

Treating this page’s list as complete for your own application is the most common mistake buyers make — a few consulates ask for details the fair’s own invitation letter doesn’t provide, covered specifically on the invitation-letter page and on the country pages that need it. Confirm against your own consulate’s current, published checklist before your appointment, not against a general list alone.

What’s next

Find your specific country’s page for what your consulate actually expects beyond this general list.