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Visa policy of mainland China

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This article is about the visa policy that pertains to the mainland of the People's Republic of China. For the visa policy of Hong Kong SAR, see Visa policy of Hong Kong. For the visa policy of Macau SAR, see Visa policy of Macau. For the visa policy of Republic of China (Taiwan), see Visa policy of Taiwan.

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The visa policy of mainland China deals with the requirements which a foreign citizen must meet to travel to, enter, and remain in the mainland of the People's Republic of China. Several categories of visas are available, depending on the purpose and length of stay. Chinese visas are issued outside China by the Chinese diplomatic missions and in China by the exit and entry administrations (EEAs) of the county-level public security bureaus (PSBs).[1] Visa exemptions exist for citizens of certain countries based on bilateral agreements and unilateral decisions.

Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan maintain independent visa policies, so foreign nationals travelling to these regions must apply for separate visas if not exempt. Permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau and citizens of Taiwan may travel to mainland China with a mainland travel permit rather than a passport or visa.

Visa exemption

[edit]

Ordinary passports

[edit]
Visa policy of Mainland China
  Mainland China
  Mainland travel permit required
  Visa not required (90 days)
  Visa not required (60 days)
  Visa not required (30 days)
  Visa-free transit policy eligible (10 days)
  Visa required

Holders of ordinary passports of the following countries may travel to China without a visa as long as their visit does not last longer than the visa-free period listed below, unless they are allowed to extend their stay:[2]

90 days

60 days

30 days

Permanent regime:

Temporary unilateral regime (until 31 December 2025):

1 – No more than 90 days within any 180-day period.
2 – No more than 90 days within any 1 calendar year.

Future changes

[edit]

China has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they are not yet in force:

Country Duration of stay Visa exemption agreement signed on
 Oman[39][40] TBA 29 March 2021[41]
 Uzbekistan[42] 30 days[43] 1 December 2024[44]

In addition, China has plans for visa exemption agreements with the following countries:

Non-ordinary passports

[edit]
Passports for public affairs
  Mainland China
  Mainland Travel Permit
  Visa not required for holders of ordinary passports
  Visa not required for holders of passports endorsed "for public affairs"
  Visa required

Holders of passports of the following countries endorsed "for public affairs" may travel to China without a visa:[48]

1 – Visa exemption also for holders of ordinary passports.
2 – Visa exemption applies to both "Passport For Public Affairs" and "Passport For Official Trip". Visa exemption also applies to collective passports for public affairs.
3 – For seafarers and crew members.
4 – Visa exemption applies to both "Passport For Public Affairs" and any normal passport that contains an 'AB stamp', for a maximum stay of 90 days. [2]

Diplomatic, official/service and special passports
Visa policy of China for holders of various categories of official passports
  Mainland China
  Diplomatic, official/service and special passports
  Diplomatic, official or service passports
  Diplomatic or special passports
  Diplomatic passports

Under reciprocal agreements, holders of diplomatic, official, service, consular, special passports or laissez-passers of the following countries may travel to China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days (unless otherwise noted):[48]

D – Diplomatic passports
O – Official passports
S – Service passports
C – Consular passports
Sp – Special passports
LP – Laissez-passers
1 – 90 days within any 180-day period (unless otherwise noted).
2 – 90 days
3 – 60 days
4 – Visa exemption for holders of official passports only when accompanying a government minister on an official visit.

Future changes

[edit]

China has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they are not yet in force:

Country Visa exemption agreement signed on Duration of stay
 Micronesia[49] 14 December 2019 TBA

Other visa exemption

[edit]

Tour groups

[edit]

Holders of ordinary passports of the following countries do not need a visa for China when traveling in tour groups organized by authorized travel agencies:[48]

30 days

15 days

1 - Visa-exempt in general.

Seafarers and crew members

[edit]

Holders of seafarer passports or crew member certificates of the following countries may travel to China without a visa:[48]

S – Seafarer passports
C – Crew member certificates
1 – Only when serving onboard.
2 – Only when serving onboard for public affairs.

APEC Business Travel Card

[edit]

Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing the code "CHN" on the back of the card may enter China without a visa for business trips for up to 60 days.[2]

ABTCs are issued to citizens of:[50]

ABTCs are also issued to permanent residents of Hong Kong, however permanent residents with Chinese nationality are required to use their Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Resident instead. Only holders of non-Chinese passports can use the card to enter mainland China. Although Taiwan is a member of this program, its citizens are also not allowed to use ABTC to enter mainland China, instead they are required to use Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents.[citation needed]

Visa-free transit

[edit]

There are two types of transit-without-visa (TWOV) programs in mainland China: the 24-hour TWOV, available to passengers of most nationalities at most ports of entry; and the 240-hour (10 days) TWOV, available for certain nationalities and only through specific ports of entry and exit.

24-hour transit

[edit]

As of 2024, China's 24-hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV) policy allows eligible travelers to enter mainland China without a visa for up to 24 hours under specific conditions. This policy applies to most nationalities, with some exceptions, and has undergone several updates since its inception.[2][51][52]

To qualify for the 24-hour TWOV, travelers must possess a passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry, arrive by air, cruise ship, or train, and have confirmed onward tickets to a third-country destination outside mainland China departing within 24 hours. Standby tickets are not permitted. The policy allows for multiple stops within mainland China at most airports, provided the traveler departs the country within the 24-hour window.[51]

Since January 2018, additional restrictions have been implemented. Travelers may be refused entry or multi-stop transit if they have Chinese visa refusal stamps in their passports, have violated Chinese immigration laws in the past five years, failed to register with local Public Security Bureaus within 24 hours of entry in the last two years, or are otherwise inadmissible under Chinese laws and regulations.[51]

The TWOV policy requires travelers to be in transit to a country different from their departure point. Passengers traveling between U.S. territories and the contiguous United States, Alaska, or Hawaii are ineligible unless one of their flights stops in another country or territory. Hong Kong and Macau are considered separate countries in this context.[2]

Unlike transit rules in other countries, travelers in China may be required to go through immigration and customs even if they do not intend to leave the sterile transit area. However, as of January 2024, the National Immigration Administration has implemented a new policy allowing foreigners to transit directly for 24 hours without inspection procedures at nine key hub airports: Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Xiamen Gaoqi, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao'an, Chengdu Tianfu, and Xi'an Xianyang. International travelers with connecting flights within 24 hours and holding tickets to a third country or region can transit through these airports without a visa and are exempt from border inspection procedures.[53]

While the 24-hour TWOV is available to most nationalities, some individual airports may impose their own restrictions on certain nationalities. This policy differs from the 72/144-hour TWOV, which has more specific eligibility requirements.

Airport-specific restrictions

[edit]

While the majority of Chinese international airports implement the 24-hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV) program without additional requirements, certain airports have imposed their own restrictions as mandated by local authorities.[2] Four airports have opted out of the TWOV program entirely. These are Fuzhou Changle International Airport, Huangshan Tunxi International Airport, Mudanjiang Hailang International Airport, and Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport. At these locations, all transit passengers require a visa unless they are of a visa-exempt nationality.[2] Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport has implemented specific restrictions for transit passengers. Travelers are permitted to remain in the airport for a maximum of two hours, after which they must depart mainland China from Ürümqi on an international flight. Multi-stop transit is not allowed at this airport. Additionally, Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport maintains its own list of nationalities that are not eligible for visa-free transit.[2]

Nationality-specific restrictions

[edit]

Holders of the following passports are not eligible for 24-hour TWOV in most airports, and are required to hold additional permits or identity documents that are accepted by the Chinese authorities for the purpose of entering mainland China:[2]

  • Taiwan (ROC) passport (Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents required, can be obtained on arrival at certain airports)

The restriction does not apply to holders of these passports who also hold Chinese Travel Documents.

In addition to those listed above, some ports of entry place additional restrictions on nationals of certain countries:

1 - Travellers may enter without visa under a bilateral agreement to fulfill their transit.

240-hour stay

[edit]

China offers visa-free transit for citizens of 54 countries, allowing 240-hour stays at specific ports of entry.[54][55]

Eligibility requires entry through designated ports, passports valid for at least three months beyond arrival, and visas for destination countries if needed. Travelers must have confirmed tickets departing within 240 hours, with the first destination outside China being a third country or territory. Hong Kong and Macau are considered separate territories.[2] Inbound and outbound flights must arrive at and depart directly from approved ports of entry, without mainland China stopovers. The outbound flight's first stop must differ from the inbound flight's origin. U.S. territory-contiguous U.S. travel doesn't qualify unless a flight includes a third country or SAR stopover.[2] Eligible travelers receive a temporary entry permit indicating approved stay area and dates. The stay duration typically begins at 12:01 a.m. the day after arrival, with exceptions for some ports.[56] The 240-hour transit allows entry and departure from different ports within the same authorized region.[57] Valid Chinese visa holders can also use this scheme if their itineraries comply with TWOV rules.[58]

Ineligible individuals include those with short-validity travel documents, Chinese visa refusal stamps, past immigration violations, failure to register with local authorities, or inadmissibility under Chinese law. Ship crew members are also excluded.[59] Abuse of this facility, such as altering return tickets, can result in illegal resident classification and a five-year ban from the visa-free transit facility.[59][60]

Eligible countries

[edit]

1 – Visa-exempt in general (except nationals of the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Sweden, who are visa-exempt only for transit).
2 – For British passport holders, only British citizens are eligible.

Eligible ports of entry

[edit]

Airports (47)

Seaports (12)

Railways (1)

Eligible areas to stay

[edit]
The colored parts are eligible area for 240-hour visa-free transit policy travelers stay in China

Different from the previous policy, foreign nationals entering China through the visa-free transit policy can make cross-province travels within the allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers in these following areas:[54][55]

Region-specific visa policy

[edit]

The Chinese government has implemented visa waiver schemes or special visa regulations for foreign citizens traveling to particular areas of mainland China or foreign nationals residing in certain regions bordering mainland China.[61]

Hainan Visa-free Program

[edit]

Personal Visa-free Program

[edit]

In 2010, China granted visa-free access to citizens of 26 countries who visited Hainan. This policy allowed visitors to stay on Hainan Island without a visa for up to 15 days if they were part of a tour group organized by a qualified travel agency.[62]

On 18 March 2018, the Ministry of Public Security and the National Immigration Administration announced an extension of the visa waiver policy to nationals of 59 countries, effective 1 May 2018. Citizens of these countries could visit Hainan Island for up to 30 days without a visa. This new policy eliminated the requirement for visitors to travel in tour groups; however, individual tourists still had to select a tour agency and inform them of their schedule (a requirement that was removed in July 2019).[62][63]

In July 2019, the Ministry of Public Security and National Immigration Administration further expanded the visa-free entry options for foreign nationals in Hainan. Besides tourism, foreign citizens could now enter visa-free for various purposes, including business, trade, visiting, family reunification, medical treatment, conferences and exhibitions, and sports competitions (excluding work and study) for up to 30 days. Additionally, the National Immigration Administration allowed individual self-application or entry through an entity invitation, replacing the previous requirement for travel agency involvement.[64]

Eligible countries

[edit]

1 – Visa-exempt in general (except nationals of the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Sweden, who are visa-exempt only for Hainan).
2 – for British passport holders, only British citizens are eligible.

Tour Group Visa-free Program

[edit]

Since 30 July 2024, foreign tour groups of two or more people from Hong Kong and Macau can entry Hainan Province without a visa for up to 144 hours (six days).[65][66]

Cruise ship visitors

[edit]

Non visa-exempt citizens traveling with tour groups on cruise ships may enter China without a visa for a maximum stay of 15 days since 1 October 2016 (duration of stay starts from the next day of arrival). To be eligible, they must:[67]

Approved groups must travel with the cruise ship within the entire duration of their trip, and can only visit the following provincial-level municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions on the trip:

Visitors utilizing this policy will not have their passports stamped and do not need to complete arrival cards or departure cards.

Passengers who boarded the cruise without joining a tour group may apply to join an existing group provided the travel agency relays the information to the Chinese authorities and receives approval before the ship's arrival. In addition, 24-hour and 144-hour TWOV policies apply to those who are not joining a tour group and are leaving China by air, train or sea in 24 or 144 hours depending on their nationality.

Since 15 May 2024, China's visa-exempt policy for cruise ship visitors is expanded. Non visa-exempt citizens traveling with tour groups on cruise ships may enter via all cruise ship ports along China's coastline, including Tianjin, Dalian, Lianyungang, Shanghai, Zhoushan, Wenzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beihai, Haikou and Sanya. Visitors can visit all regions of coastal provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions and Beijing, for a maximum stay of 15 days.[68]

Visa-free for tour groups to Guilin

[edit]

All ASEAN member states may visit Guilin without a visa for a maximum of 6 days if they travel with an approved tour group and enter China from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport.

They may not visit other cities within Guangxi or other parts of mainland China.[69]

Visa-free for tour groups to Pearl River Delta

[edit]

All visitors to Hong Kong or Macau are able to visit the surrounding Pearl River Delta without a visa as long as the following conditions are met:[70]

Special Economic Zone visa on arrival

[edit]
Sample of a SEZ visa

Visitors from most countries may obtain an entry visa when traveling to and staying solely in the three special economic zones: Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Xiamen.[71][72] Visitors can only stay within these cities and cannot proceed further into other parts of mainland China. Visas for Shenzhen are valid for five days, and visas for Xiamen and Zhuhai are valid for three days. The duration of stay starts from the next day of arrival.[73] The visa can only be obtained only upon arrival at Luohu Port, Huanggang Port Control Point, Fuyong Ferry Terminal or Shekou Passenger Terminal for Shenzhen;[74] Gongbei Port of Entry, Hengqin Port or Jiuzhou Port for Zhuhai;[75] and Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport for Xiamen.[76] Visa fees are charged on a reciprocal basis ranging from ¥168 for citizens of most countries to ¥956 for citizens of the United States.[citation needed]

Citizens of the following countries are ineligible for the SEZ visa for Shenzhen:[77]

Stapled visas for territories disputed with India

[edit]

In 1981, the Chinese government started issuing visas stapled to a separate piece of paper for Indian government officials visiting from Arunachal Pradesh, as opposed to stamping the visa in the bearer's passport as is done otherwise. This was adopted as a compromise as the Chinese government considers most of Arunachal Pradesh to belong to China under the designation of "South Tibet", and had planned not to issue a visa to visiting officials on the basis that they were traveling from one part of China to another. From the late 2000s onward, the Chinese government again stopped issuing visas to officials from Arunachal Pradesh and adopted stapled visas for ordinary Indian citizens in Arunachal Pradesh (albeit on an inconsistent basis) as well as Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, the Indian government has not recognized the stapled visas as valid travel documents, leading to incidents over the years where governmental delegations have been halted or reduced in size to avoid issuance of the stapled visas and sports teams have been denied boarding by the Indian government.[78][79]

Visa on arrival

[edit]

Visa on arrival if unable to obtain a visa in time

[edit]

Effective 11 January 2024, any foreigner seeking to visit China but is unable to obtain a visa due to time constraints, may arrive in China and apply for a port visa upon arrival, if the travel is for one of the following purposes:

  • non-diplomatic, official business activities, visits and exchanges;
  • investment and entrepreneurship;
  • private affairs;
  • visiting relatives.

The visitor must have an invitation letter, and other accompanying documents.[80]

Visa on arrival for emergency travel

[edit]

Visitors who would normally require a visa are able to obtain a visa on arrival at the following airports if they satisfy the following requirements:[2][81]

  • have genuine emergencies which prevent them from applying for a visa in advance;
  • hold an invitation letter issued by a government-approved sponsor or Chinese authorities;
  • have confirmation from immigration authorities that the visa will be issued on arrival; and,
  • have a government-approved sponsor to meet them at the airport.

Visas can be issued at the following airports:[2]

For a maximum stay of 1 month

A return ticket is required in addition to all the aforementioned documents if the passenger is arriving at one of the ports of entry listed above.[citation needed]

For a maximum stay of 3 months

No additional restrictions on stay

Citizens of the following countries are only eligible for visa on arrival service at Beijing (Capital and Daxing), Shanghai (Pudong and Hongqiao), and Chengdu (Tianfu and Shuangliu):

1 - Travellers may enter without visa under a temporary measure to bypass this restriction.

Citizens of the following countries are not eligible for visa on arrival service at Fuzhou or Xiamen:

1 - Travellers may enter without visa under a temporary measure to bypass this restriction. Holders of passports issued by the United Kingdom (except British Nationals (Overseas) passports) are required to hold an invitation issued by the Chinese authorities unless they are arriving at Beijing, Shanghai or Chengdu.

Holders of the following documents are not eligible for this service:

Entry procedures for Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan

[edit]

Due to the complicated Cross-Strait relations between mainland China and Taiwan, as well as the One Country, Two Systems policy, travelers who are citizens of PRC or ROC may not use their Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macau passports. Instead, they are required to have different types of permits/travel documents listed below when traveling to mainland China.

Overview

[edit]
Citizenship Residency Travel with... Validity Number of entries Duration of stay
Chinese (PRC)  Hong Kong
 Macau 		Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents[2] 10 years (for adults) Multiple Unlimited stay
5 years (for minors under 18)
Exit and Entry Permit 3 months Single 3 months
Others (Non-Chinese permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau) Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens)[2] 5 years Multiple 90 days
Others (Non-Chinese non-permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau) Chinese visa varies (up to five years)[83][84] varies (multiple) varies (180 days)
Taiwanese (ROC)  Taiwan Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents[2] 5 years Multiple Up to 5 years
3 months Single 3 months
Overseas (including nationals without household registration and nationals with ID number but living abroad) Chinese Travel Document 2 years (maximum) Multiple Up to 2 years

Chinese citizens of Hong Kong or Macau Special Administrative Regions (SARs)

[edit]

Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR are constituents of China. Under the One Country, Two Systems arrangement, both SARs maintain their own immigration policies, which are vastly different from those of mainland China, and individual border controls, which separate the territories from the mainland. The Chinese government, however, does not consider Chinese citizens with resident status of Hong Kong and Macau traveling to China as international travelers, and hence the SAR passports (or ethnic Chinese holding British National (Overseas) passports) cannot be used to enter China, regardless of whether they are arriving from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan or from overseas.[2]

Therefore, in order to enter mainland China, all permanent residents and some non-permanent residents of Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR with Chinese nationality are required to apply for a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (commonly called a "Home Return Permit"), a travel document which also serves as the de facto ID card in mainland China. The permit is valid for 5 years for individuals under 18, or 10 years for those over 18. All first-time applicants must submit their applications to the China Travel Service (CTS) branch in Hong Kong or Macau while subsequent renewals of the permit can be done in either mainland China or the two SARs.[85] It is not possible to apply or renew the permit outside the PRC. Holders of the permit may enter mainland China regardless of purpose of entry and may remain in mainland China indefinitely, although their social benefits are restricted unlike Chinese citizens with residency in mainland China. Home Return Permit holders also need to obtain an employment authorization from the municipal governments in order to work legally in mainland China.[86]

Those who need to travel to mainland China urgently but do not have a valid Home Return Permit may apply for a Chinese Exit and Entry Permit, also only through the CTS, in Hong Kong or Macau or at the ports of Luohu and Huanggang.[87] The Exit and Entry Permit is valid for three months and only good for a single trip to mainland China.[88] Unlike ROC citizens, there is no permit on arrival service at other ports of entry for SAR passport holders, and those seeking to enter mainland China who arrived at a port of entry without acceptable documentations for entering will be denied entry and removed from mainland China.[citation needed]

Hong Kong and Macau residents who are not Chinese citizens

[edit]

Non-visa-exempt citizens who are non-permanent residents of Hong Kong or Macau require a visa to visit the mainland. Since 2023, all holders of non-permanent Hong Kong Identity Cards are eligible to apply for a 2-year visa with multiple entries provided that they have applied for and received at least one Chinese visa in the past, and are not employed as domestic helpers in Hong Kong.[89] Hong Kong permanent residents are eligible for a 5-year multiple entry visa or, since 2024, a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens) valid for 5 years.[90]

Domestic helpers in Hong Kong can apply for a single or double-entry L visa valid for one or two stays of 30 days. Multiple-entry L visas valid for 6 months with 15-day stays are available to those who have received at least one Chinese visa. All visa applicants who are domestic helpers require a written letter from the employer stating that the employer will travel together with the visa applicant to the mainland.[91]

Holders of Macau Resident Identity Card are automatically eligible for multiple entry visas valid either for 6 months (for non-permanent residents) or 12 months (for permanent residents only).[92]

Permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau with multiple entry visas may apply for a separate sheet of paper at border checkpoints in Shenzhen and Zhuhai for Chinese entry and exit stamps.[93]

Taiwanese citizens

[edit]

The PRC does not accept ROC passports for entry and transit through mainland China, and ROC citizens with right of abode in Taiwan ("right of abode" is defined as the eligibility of holding a Taiwanese National ID Card) are required to apply for a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents, commonly known as "Taiwan Compatriot Permit", before visiting mainland China.

The 5-year permit, which also serves as the de facto ID card in mainland China, may be applied from travel agencies in Taiwan and CTS in Hong Kong or Macau. Holders of the permit are allowed to enter mainland China for any purpose and remain in mainland China until the expiration date of the permit (up to 5 years). Those who have settled in mainland China, however, may elect to renew their permits in mainland China, and they can continue to reside in mainland China provided that their permits do not expire. A 30-day stay for each visit to Hong Kong is also permitted with the strength of the permit. Like Home Return Permit holders, holders of Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents also require to obtain a separate employment authorization before working in mainland China. They may, however, enjoy social benefits in certain municipalities like Shanghai once they have legally settled in mainland China, some of which are only offered to local residents.[94][95]

For those who have never held a 5-year permit or whose permit has expired, single-entry Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents may be applied on arrival at some airports. Those who have entered China with single-entry Taiwan Compatriot Permits can apply for a long-term permit at the local EEA office.[96]

Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents on arrival

[edit]

Holders of passports of Taiwan (ROC) may obtain a single-entry Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents on arrival at some airports with a Taiwan passport (with validity of more than 3 months), Taiwanese National ID card, return ticket and 2 passport-sized photos, with a fee of CNY 150. Some airports may require additional documents, such as an invitation letter. Eligible airports are: Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guilin, Guiyang, Haikou, Hailar, Hangzhou, Harbin, Hefei, Huangshan, Jinan, Kunming, Nanchang, Nanjing, Nanning, Ningbo, Qingdao, Quanzhou, Sanya, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Weihai, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Wuxi, Xiamen, Xi'an, Xuzhou, Yancheng, Yantai, Yinchuan, Zhangjiajie and Zhengzhou.[97] The single-entry permit is valid for a maximum stay of 3 months but can be prolonged by applying for a long-term permit at the local EEA office.[96]

This service is not applicable to holders of valid, long-term permits. They must instead carry the long-term permit or will be refused entry for not doing so. In addition, immigration authorities at the arrival airport have the power to deny the issuance of the permit to any person not meeting the specific requirements set forth by the airport, and the person will also be removed from mainland China.[97]

Visa Facilitation Agreements

[edit]

China has concluded reciprocal visa facilitation agreements on a reciprocal basis with the following countries, and nationals covered by the agreements can have their application fees waived or reduced, or be issued long-term, multiple-entry Chinese visas at the same cost as the single-entry visas. The issuance of multiple-entry visas, however, is not automatic and must be voluntarily requested by the applicant.[98]

As of October 2024, citizens of eight countries are eligible for multiple-entry, long term visas, while citizens of two other countries are able to benefit from lowered visa fees.[citation needed]

Country Validity of visa Types of visas affected Application fee (for regular processing only) Effective date
 Argentina 10 years L, M 150 USD 15 Jun 2017
 Australia 5 years L, M, Q2, S2 184.5 AUD 21 Jun 2024[99]
 Brazil 10 years L, M 10 Feb 2024
 Canada Up to 9 years and 11 months L, M, Q2, S2 CAN$751 11 Dec 2023[100]
 Chile Unchanged F, L, M, Q2 Free 1 Jul 2015
 Israel Up to 10 years L, M, Q2, S2 ₪100 11 Nov 2016
 Russia Unchanged All types 3,300₽ (single-entry)
6,600₽ (double-entry)
9,900₽ (multiple-entry) 		26 Apr 2014
 South Africa 5 years 1 Oct 2018[101]
 United Kingdom 2 years
5 or 10 years (for eligible persons) 		L, M, Q2, S2 £85 11 Jan 2016
 United States 10 years L, M, Q2, S2 140 USD1 11 Dec 2023[102]
5 years X1
  1. Temporary visa exemption reduction until 31 Dec 2024.
Angola

China and Angola had agreed, in principle, of issuing multiple-entry visas to citizens of both countries. Under the proposed agreement, citizens of Angola may stay for 90 days out of every 180-day period. The visa would have a 12-month validity and would be valid for multiple entries. The agreement is expected to be finalized in February 2018.[103]

Argentina

An agreement, signed by Argentine and Chinese governments and went into effect on 22 June 2015, claimed to have "facilitates application procedures" for Argentine citizens applying for Chinese visas, In reality, the procedures, processing times and validity have remain unchanged for Argentine, since the agreement in fact only facilitated the lengthy visa application procedures for Chinese nationals.[104]

The agreement has been amended by both parties in early 2017 which paved ways to long term, multiple-entry visas. From 15 June 2017, Argentine applicants are eligible for multiple-entry L and M visas valid for 10 years. The cost for such visa is US$60 or approximately ARS$2,400.[105]

Bolivia

A similar agreement, which have been signed and ratified by Chinese and Bolivian governments in March 2014, also only facilitates the visa application procedures for Chinese nationals. The validity, processing times and required documentations for Bolivian nationals are unchanged. Applicants who were born in the Greater China Area or who are family members of Chinese nationals can obtain multiple-entry visas with validity of 12 or 24 months.[106][107]

Brazil

An agreement between Brazil and China facilitated the issuance of visas valid for 3 years, for business purposes, for multiple entries up to 90 days each, from 24 June 2004.[108] It was replaced by a similar agreement from 15 August 2014.[109] From 1 October 2017, agreements extended the visa facilitation also for tourism and visiting family and friends, and increased the visa validity to 5 years.[110][111] From 18 February 2024, another agreement increased the visa validity to 10 years.[112]

Canada

Starting from March 2015, China announced that multiple-entry L, M, Q2, and S2 visas with the validity for up to nine years and 11 months (not exceeding the life of the passport) would be issued to citizens of Canada.[113] The duration of stay is 60 days per entry for L and M visas, 90 days for S2 visas, and 120 days for Q2 visas. Visa applicants who are of Chinese descent can enjoy a 180-day duration of stay when applying for Q2 visas. The application fee is Can$100, and, since applying through a Visa Center is mandatory when in Canada, an "application service fee" is also charged with each application.[114][115]

Chile

Arrangements were made between Chinese and Chilean governments regarding visa fees. Starting from July 2015, Citizens of Chile can have their visa fees waived when applying for F, L, M, and Q2 visas.[116]

Israel

China and Israel's visa facilitation agreement, signed on 29 March 2016, provide citizens of Israel access to 10-year L, M, Q2 and S2 visas (validity of the visa not exceeding life of the passport).[117][118] The duration of stay is 90 days per entry for L and M visas, and 180 days for Q2 and S2 visas. The cost for a visa is ₪100 for normal processing (4 working days) and ₪200 for one-day processing.[119] The agreement went into force on 11 November 2016.[120] The long-term visa is only available to holders of national Israeli passport and not holders of Travel Document in Lieu of National Passport (Teudat Ma'avar).[121]

Russia

China and Russia signed the agreement on simplification of visa procedures on 22 March 2013 and the agreement went into effect on 26 April 2014. The agreement stipulates the conditions of issuing multiple-entry visas to citizens of Russia who are of certain occupations and regulated visa fees. Single-entry visas are 3,300₽, while double-entry and multiple-entry visas are capped at 6,600₽ and 9,900₽.[122][123] The agreement also stated that visa fees are to be paid in the national currencies of both countries, and due to the devaluation of the rouble in 2014 and 2015, Chinese missions in Russia increased the visa fees in ruble by 120 percent on 8 July 2016 in order to reflect the most recent conversion rate to the U.S. dollar.[124] However, since 2016, visa fees have again been officially listed in Russian ruble only.[125]

United Kingdom

In January 2016, Chinese authorities announced that 2-year, multiple-entry L, M, Q2, S2 visas are to be issued to citizens and nationals of the United Kingdom, and the application fee is £85. In addition, Chinese foreign missions can issue visas with 5 or 10 years of validity for "eligible" British citizens and nationals.[126] Like Canada, all visa applicants must use the service provided by the Visa Center when applying in the UK which will charge extra fees for handling applications.[127]

United States

Since November 2014, China agreed to issue L Tourist visas, M Business visas, Q2 Family Visit visas, and S2 Short-term Private Visit visas to citizens of the United States with a validity for a maximum of 10 years; while validity of the X1 Long-term Study visa is elongated to five years. The duration of stay is 60 days per entry for the L Tourist and M Business visas, 90 days for the S2 Short-term Private Visit visas, and 120 days for the Q2 Family Visit visas. Visa applicants can enjoy a 180-day duration of stay when applying for Q2 visas if they have "special needs". The application fee for a Chinese visa is 185 USD for regular processing (4 business days) and US$210 for expedited processing (2-3 business days), while 1-business-day rush processing is US$222 and only at the discretion of the consulate or embassy.[128][129] Rush and expedited services are not provided by the Los Angeles consulate.[130]

Overview of Chinese visas

[edit]
New version of Chinese Visit Visa, which issued by Chinese authorities within China and started to issue since 1 June 2019
New version of Chinese group visa, which started to issue since 1 June 2019
Chinese Q2 visa for family visits issued after Nov. 2018 in London
Chinese X1 visa for long-term (more than 6 months) study, issued in Manchester on a British passport
Wet-ink version of a type L visa issued in 1989 by the Exit and Entry Administration on a U.S. passport

Visa application procedures

[edit]
Type L 60-day visa affixed to a visa page in a U.S. passport (issued in Los Angeles)

Citizens who are not from visa-exempted countries are required to apply for a Chinese visa prior to entry into China. When applying for a visa, the applicant can choose to apply either through a travel agency or directly to the Chinese diplomatic missions.

In the latter case, the local diplomatic mission may outsource the handling of applications to a Chinese Visa Application Service Center (Visa Center), or a Chinese Visa Application Service Facility (CVASF). The Visa Center is "a commercial service organization registered in accordance with local laws and regulations and recognized by a Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General to handle the daily routine work of processing ordinary visa applications".[131] The CVASF is similar organization but is run exclusively by VFS Global.[132]

The most recent visa application form, form V.2013, is in use since 1 September 2013. The form can be retrieved through the website of any Chinese diplomatic mission, Visa Center or CVASF. Only forms filled out with a computer are accepted, and older versions, as well as handwritten application forms, are no longer acceptable. Visa applicants also need to physically sign the declaration box of the form.[133] Since May 2018, fingerprints of all 10 fingers of the hands, and in some cases voiceprints, are collected as part of the application process.[134]

As of 2021, Visa Centers are located in the following countries and territories:[135]

In addition, CVASFs are available in the following countries:[136]

In countries without Visa Centers or CVASFs, visa application requires submitting the passport and required documents directly to the embassy or consulate.

Citizens of the following countries must hold a visa issued in their home country. If visa is issued in a third country, a residence visa or working permit from that country is also required.[2]

  1. for holders of normal passports only.

Letter of invitation

[edit]

The Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, which went into effect on 1 September 2013, mandates some basic documentation for securing a Chinese visa.[137] The most notable change is the requirement of a letter of invitation (LOI) when applying for most types of visa, which can only be issued by a resident of mainland China or a company based in mainland China. The only exceptions to this rule are for type G (transit) and L (tourism) applicants, who can either obtain a LOI, or produce their paid round-trip tickets plus the hotel reservations for the duration of their stay in mainland China.[138]

Former and current nationals of the People's Republic of China and their descendants

[edit]

Former nationals of China who have Mainland residency and who have lost their Chinese nationality are also required to produce their Chinese passports for cancellation when applying for their first Chinese visa. The cancelled passports will be returned to the applicants along with the new Chinese visa, demonstrating their loss of Chinese nationality.[138] The requirement, however, does not apply to Hong Kong and Macau permanent residents as their Chinese nationality is determined by their respective governments.[139]

In some cases, a person who has or may have Chinese nationality may encounter difficulties to obtain a Chinese visa unless he or she has renounced Chinese nationality with the appropriate authorities. Numerous reports arose in June 2016 that some Canadian citizens of Chinese descent who were either born in Hong Kong or born in Canada to Hong Kong permanent resident parents of Chinese descent were refused Chinese visas. Instead, the Visa Centers directed them to the Chinese consulate who then instructed them to apply for Chinese Travel Documents on the ground that they still have Chinese nationality. The Chinese consulate in Toronto clarified that the criteria of issuing Chinese visas to "Hong Kong residents" has not been changed. Meanwhile, an official of the Vancouver consulate acknowledged the policy and said it has been in force since 1996.[140]

Types of Chinese visas

[edit]

There are 4 main types of Chinese visa: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visas are further divided into 12 sub-types or 16 categories.[141] The sub-type codes of ordinary visas derive from the first letter of the names in Pinyin.[138][142]

Code Type Note
C Crew Visa
(乘务签证)		 Issued to foreign crew members of means of international transportation, including aircraft, trains and ships, or motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities, or to the accompanying family members[b] of the crew members of the above-mentioned ships.
D Permanent Residence Visa
(定居签证)		 Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently. The Chinese government has started to implement new permanent residence policy for foreigners to attract and introduce technical talents and experts since August 2014.[143]
E Economic Visa
(特区旅游签证)		 Issued to on-arrival visitors of Shenzhen Economic Zone or Zhuhai Economic Zone who intend to only reside in those economic areas during the visitor's stay in China. Limited to 5 days or 3 days, respectively.
F Visit Visa
(访问签证)		 Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other activities.
G Transit Visa
(过境签证)		 Issued to those who intend to transit through China.
J1 Long-term Journalist Visa
(常驻记者签证)		 Issued to resident foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
J2 Short-term Journalist Visa
(临时记者签证)		 Issued to foreign journalists who intend to go to China for short-term news coverage. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
L Tourist Visa
(旅游签证)		 Issued to those who intend to go to China as a tourist.
M Business Visa
(商贸签证)		 Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities.
Q1 Family Reunion Visa
(家庭团聚签证)		 Issued to those who are family members[b] "Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose of foster care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
Q2 Family Visit Visa
(探亲签证)		 Issued to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
R Talent Visa
(人才签证)		 Issued to those who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China.
S1 Long-term Private Visit Visa
(长期私人事务签证)		 Issued to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
S2 Short-term Private Visit Visa
(短期私人事务签证)		 Issued to those who intend to visit their family members[b] who are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private matters. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
T Humanitarian Visa (人道签证/停留) Issued only to those in China who seek to exit China due to an invalid visa (overstayed, cancelled, etc.).
X1 Long-term Study Visa
(长期学习签证)		 Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days.
X2 Short-term Study Visa
(短期学习签证)		 Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days.
Z Working Visa
(工作签证)		 Issued to those who intend to work in China.

Validity, number of entries and duration of each stay of Chinese visas

[edit]
  • The "Enter Before" date is the expiration date of the visa. The visa can be used for entry into China from the date of issue until the "Enter Before" date indicated on the visa. If a visa has unused entries, the bearer can enter China before 12:00 a.m. Beijing Time on the expiration date.[141]
  • "Entries" refers to the number of times permitted to enter China during the validity of the visa. A visa becomes invalid if there are no entries left, or if there are entries left but the visa has expired. If a visa becomes invalid, its bearer must apply for a new visa before entering China. Traveling with an invalid visa will result in refusal of entry.[141]
  • "Duration of Each Stay" refers to the maximum number of days the visa bearer is permitted to remain in China for each visit. The duration of stay is calculated from (and includes) the date of entry into China.[141]

Holders of D, Q1, J1, S1, X1 and Z visas must apply for a residence permit at the local PSB within 30 days of entry into China, unless the "Duration of Each Stay" on the visa is marked as 30 days. Members of foreign diplomatic or consular missions in China must also apply for a residence permit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) or local Foreign Affairs Offices (FSOs) within 30 days of entry into China.[141]

Penalty for illegal stay

[edit]

A non-Chinese or Taiwanese national whose period of stay in China exceeds the duration specified in his or her visa, stay permit or residence permit without applying for an extension, or who is found to be outside the area of approved stay, is said to be an illegal resident and is subject to fines and other penalties for violation of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners.[1] If a non-Chinese national needs to stay in China longer than the duration of stay allowed on the visa, he or she is required to submit an extension to the EEA of the municipality before his or her duration of stay expires. Approval of an extension of stay may not be granted, in which case the traveler must depart China immediately. Chinese diplomatic missions are not authorized to extend a visa.[141]

Illegal residents who need to depart China after they have overstayed their visas may be given either a warning, a fine of CNY 500 per day of illegal residence in China, up to a maximum of CNY 10,000, or administrative detention between five and fifteen days, depending on the severity of the situation.[144]

ROC nationals with household registration in Taiwan are applied a separate ordinance known as Measures for the Control of Chinese Citizens Traveling to or from the Region of Taiwan. The term of "illegal resident" is also used, however a ROC national is only considered as an illegal resident when his or her Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents expires and he or she have not applied for renewal before the document's expiration date. The penalty for illegal residence is a warning and CNY 100 per day of illegal stay.[145]

Region-specific restrictions and permit

[edit]

Tibet Autonomous Region

[edit]
Tibet Travel Permit for foreigners

Non-Chinese passport holders entering Tibet must obtain a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) prior to departure, issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau.[146] Although any travel between Tibet and other parts of mainland China is considered domestic travel with no immigration checks, the TTP will be checked for all non-Chinese passport holders when going on board any buses, trains or airlines that are bounded for the TAR.[citation needed]

The only way to obtain a TTP is to arrange a tour operated by a Tibet-based travel agent which at least includes hotels and transportation. Visitors are also not permitted to travel by public buses across Tibet and are only allowed to travel by private transportation as organised in the tour. Moreover, if entering Tibet from Nepal, one must also join a group tour and be only allowed on a group visa. The TTP has to be handed in to the tour guide upon arrival at the airport or train station, and the tour guide will keep the permit until the traveler leaves the TAR.[147] The processing time of a TTP is at least 15 days.[148]

Moreover, the TTP only covers travel to Lhasa and Nagqu, and visitors who wish to visit other areas in Tibet must also apply for an Alien's Travel Permit (ATP) issued by the Foreign Affairs Section of the Lhasa PSB. The cost for the ATP is CNY 50 per person. Holders of the ATP are authorized to travel to the following restricted areas of Tibet:[147]

The TTP is also required by nationals of Republic of China (Taiwan) holding a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents or a Chinese Travel Document, but it is not required for Chinese nationals residing in Hong Kong or Macau with a Home Return Permit, or any person with a Chinese Resident Identity Card.[149] Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan residents with Resident Permit are also exempt from TTP requirements.[150] Foreign diplomats and journalists are prohibited to travel to Tibet without the permission of the Chinese government and, if approved, can only join tours that are accompanied and organized by Chinese government officials.[151] In practice, journalists are escorted by MFA and MPS officials for the entire duration of their visit and their movements are limited in order to prevent them from communicating with the Tibetans.[152]

In March 2016, the government of TAR announced intentions of reform, which include the streamlining of TTP and ATP application procedures and shortening processing time of the permits. There is no timeline of implementation of these measures as officials claimed that they were "still being studied".[148]

Police registration

[edit]

All foreign nationals who stay in mainland China for more than 24 hours must register with the local public security bureaus (PSBs) or offices. When staying in a hotel, the registration is done as a part of the check-in process. When staying in a private home, however, the visitor should physically report to the local PSB, community police service office or foreigner service stations within 24 hours of arrival for cities or 72 hours for rural areas. Furthermore, in cities like Beijing, an online accommodation registration service for foreign residents has been introduced. Foreigners staying in a private home can upload their identification documents, passport-sized photos, and housing information to complete their accommodation registration without the need to physically visit any government office.[153]

All visa-free passengers, including those in transit who stay for more than 24 hours, must adhere to the rule, as failure to comply can result in a warning, a fine or being detained by PSB for up to 15 days.[154] Since January 2018, persons utilizing the 144-hour visa-free transit who failed to register with the local PSBs are banned from using visa-free transit for a period of 2 years from the day the offence was recorded.[59]

From 9 February 2017, holders of non-Chinese travel documents aged between 14 and 70 have been fingerprinted upon entry, with the exception of holders of diplomatic passports.[155]

Visitor statistics

[edit]

Most visitors arriving in China were from the following areas of residence or countries of nationality:[156][157][158][159]

Country/Territory 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
 Hong Kong Decrease 79,370,000 Decrease 79,800,000 Increase 81,060,000 Increase 79,448,100 Decrease 76,131,700 Decrease 76,884,600
 Macau Increase 25,150,000 Increase 24,650,000 Increase 23,500,000 Increase 22,888,200 Decrease 20,639,900 Decrease 20,740,300
 Taiwan Increase 6,140,000 Increase 5,870,000 Increase 5,730,000 Increase 5,498,600 Increase 5,365,900 Decrease 5,162,500
 South Korea Increase 4,193,000 Decrease 3,863,800 Increase 4,775,300 Increase 4,444,400 Increase 4,181,700 Decrease 3,969,000
 Japan Increase 2,691,000 Increase 2,683,000 Increase 2,588,990 Decrease 2,497,700 Decrease 2,717,600 Decrease 2,877,500
 United States Increase 2,485,000 Increase 2,312,900 Increase 2,249,600 Decrease 2,085,800 Increase 2,093,200 Decrease 2,085,300
 Russia Increase 2,415,000 Increase 2,356,800 Increase 1,976,600 Decrease 1,582,300 Decrease 2,045,800 Decrease 2,186,300
 Vietnam — — — Increase 2,160,800 Increase 1,709,400 Increase 1,365,400
 Mongolia Increase 1,916,000 Increase 1,864,500 Increase 1,581,200 Decrease 1,014,100 Increase 1,082,700 Increase 1,050,000
 Malaysia Increase 1,291,000 Increase 1,233,200 Increase 1,165,400 Decrease 1,075,500 Decrease 1,129,400 Decrease 1,206,500
 Philippines Increase 1,205,000 Increase 1,168,500 Increase 1,135,100 Increase 1,004,000 Decrease 967,900 Increase 996,700
 Pakistan — — Decrease 949,000 Increase 1,141,500 Decrease 1,113,100 Increase 1,151,700
 Singapore Increase 978,000 Increase 941,200 Increase 924,600 Decrease 905,300 Increase 971,400 Decrease 966,600
 India Increase 864,000 Increase 822,000 Increase 799,700 Increase 730,500 Increase 710,000 Increase 677,000
 Canada Increase 850,000 Increase 806,000 Increase 741,300 Increase 679,800 Decrease 667,100 Decrease 684,200
 Thailand Increase 833,000 Increase 776,700 Increase 753,500 Increase 641,500 Decrease 613,000 Increase 651,700
 Australia Increase 752,000 Increase 734,300 Increase 675,100 Decrease 637,300 Decrease 672,000 Decrease 723,000
Total
(excluding Hong Kong,
Macau and Taiwan)		 Increase 30,543,000 Increase 29,165,300 Increase 28,150,120 Decrease 25,985,400 Increase 26,361,000 Decrease 26,290,000

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ For holders of passports with series "E" or "PE".
  2. ^ a b c "家庭成员"

References

[edit]
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[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for China.
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