Know About Chinese Visas

Before planning a trip to China, it is important to learn about obtaining a visa. Our foreign friends need to apply for a travel visa from the Chinese Consulates or Embassies stationed in their respective countries. For groups of 9 or more, they can apply for a group travel visa. Foreigners intending to visit Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Xiamen Special Economic Zones must apply for "Special Economic Zone Travel Visa" from the embassies or consulates. For travelers planning to stay in Hainan Province for no more than 15 days, they can apply for an entry visa at the port of Haikou or Sanya. If foreigners in Hong Kong wish to travel to Shenzhen Ecomony Zone in a group and stay for no more than 72 hours, they need not apply for an entry visa. Foreign holders of travel visa can only enter the country by passing through appropriate border checkpoints.

You can travel to areas open to foreigners in China based on your own up-to-date passport and travel visa. The Chinese Government protects the legal rights of foreigners in China. However, as a foreigner holding a travel visa you cannot engage in any activity not aligned with your status such as employment, religious promotion, or journalistic reporting. This could result in penalties against the foreigner. In China, you must obey the Chinese law and respect Chinese customs.

As long as the visa is valid, you may travel within China. If your visa is close to expiration, you may apply for an extension through a local police station if necessary. At the end of your travel, you need to exit by passing through a border control check before the expiration of your visa.