Visas to China

CHINESE VISA / RESIDENCY INFORMATION

All Americans are strongly encouraged to read the Consular Information Sheet for China available on the State Department’s travel website www.travel.state.gov before planning a trip to China. All Americans are required to have a visa to enter China. Americans arriving at a Chinese port of entry without a visa will be sent back to their point of departure at their own expense. All Americans not staying in a hotel are required to register at the nearest police station within 24 hours of their arrival in China.

The U.S. government does not control the issuance of Chinese visas and therefore all American citizens should contact their nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate for the most up-to-date information about visa requirements and fees. Americans citizens currently in China who have visa questions should contact their nearest Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (EEB). In Shanghai, the EEB is located at 1500 Minsheng Rd in Pudong. The Shanghai EEB is open to answer visa inquiries Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

The U.S. Consulate reminds all Americans that it is their personal responsibility to maintain their Chinese visa status. American citizens who allow their visa to expire will, at minimum, be subject to a monetary fine. American citizens who continue to stay in China beyond the validity of their visa may be detained in prison for several weeks and ultimately deported at their own expense. American citizens who plan to work in China must have the appropriate residence permit; Americans who attempt to illegally work in China may also be subject to monetary fines, prison detention and deportation.

The Chinese government sets all visa and permanent residence requirements. The U.S. Consulate provides some general information on visa and permanent residence categories below, but takes no responsibility for the accuracy of this information. All American citizens need to contact the nearest Chinese Embassy, Consulate or Exit-Entry Administration Bureau for the most accurate visa and permanent residence information, requirements and fees.

TYPES OF CHINESE VISAS

• L – Tourism, Visiting friends or relatives, Dependents of a foreigner who holds a residence permit;
• F – A foreigner who is invited to China to visit, study, lecture or for a business tour or for scientific, technical and cultural exchanges
• J-2 – Journalist
• G – Transit through China
• C – Crew member

TYPES OF RESIDENCE PERMITS

• Foreign students 
• One year – ordinary employment, media correspondent, artistic performance
• Two years – employment for higher-level talent and managers
• Three years – employment for mid-level managers
• Four years – academic researchers, investors
• Five years – top-level managers, honorary citizens

EXIT VISAS

American Citizens who lose their U.S. passport must immediately report their loss to the nearest Exit-Entry Administration Bureau. After obtaining a lost passport report from the local EEB office, Americans may apply for a new passport at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. After a new U.S. passport is issued, Americans can then go to the Shanghai EEB office to obtain an Exit Visa. No foreigner will be allowed to depart China without a valid Chinese visa. 

EXTENDING A VISA

American citizens should apply in person at the EEB to extend their Chinese visa. American citizens should beware of so-called visa consulting companies that claim they can extend a Chinese visa. This sort of company is never allowed to represent a foreigner applying for a visa extension. Such companies have been known to produce fake Chinese visas.