Contents
1. Temporary Residence Registration Form
The temporary residence registration process (临时住宿登记) should be completed by a foreign national at a local police station or hotel within 24 hours of taking up residence there. Re-registration is required within 24 hours of: (a) moving into a new dwelling; (b) re-entering China with a visa (but not with a residence permit); (c) being issued a new visa or residence permit by a public security bureau exit-entry administration office.
Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan compatriots also need to complete the registration process.
For more on temporary residence registration, see here.
2. Visa
A visa is stamped into a foreign national’s passport by a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad, or by a public safety bureau (PSB) exit-entry administration office within China.
- C visa is issued to crewmembers performing duties on board an international train, aircraft or vessel, and the accompanying family members of vessel crewmembers, and vehicle drivers engaged in international transportation services;
- D visa is issued to persons who come to China for permanent residence;
- F visa is issued to persons who come to China for exchanges, visits, study tours or other relevant activities;
- G visa is issued to persons who transit through China;
- J1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists of permanent offices of foreign news agencies in China; the J2 visa is for foreign journalists who come to China for short-term news coverage;
- L visa is issued to persons who come to China for travel; persons who come to China for group travel can be issued Group L visas;
- M visa is issued to persons who come to China for commercial trade activities;
- Q1 visa is issued to family members of Chinese citizens and family members of foreigners with permanent residence status in China who apply for residence in China for family reunion, as well as for persons who apply for residence in China for fosterage or other purposes; the Q2 visa is for relatives of Chinese citizens living in China, or relatives of foreigners with permanent residence status in China, who apply for a short-term visit;
- R visa is issued to foreigners of high talent who are needed, or specialists who are urgently needed, by the State;
- S1 visa is issued to the spouses, parents, children under the age of 18 or parents-in-law of foreigners residing in China for work, study or other purposes who apply for a long-term visit to China, as well as for persons who need to reside in China for other personal matters; the S2 visa is for family members of foreigners staying or residing in China for work, study or other purposes who apply for a short-term visit to China, as well as for persons who need to stay in China for other personal matters;
- X1 visa is issued to persons who apply for long-term study in China; the X2 visa is for persons who apply for short-term study in China; and
- Z visa is issued to persons who apply for work in China.
3. Work Permit / Alien Employment Permit / Foreign Expert Permit
Beginning in 2017, work permits (工作许可) are issued by a local Human Resources and Social Security bureau in the format of a card. In the bottom right corner is a QR code. Scan it for information about the authorized employment.
Prior to 2017, work permits were issued by several different agencies.
Human Resource and Social Security bureaus issued documents with the title Alien Employment Permit (外国人就业证):
Foreign expert bureaus issued documents with the title Foreign Expert Certificate (外国专家证):
Upon completion of the employment, the agency that issued the work permit or foreign expert permit should issue a Cancellation or Transfer Certificate of Work Permit (工作许可注销或迁移证明):
4. China Immigration Documents for Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau residents
Hong Kong and Macau residents with Chinese nationality typically enter China with a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (港澳居民来往内地通行证), also known as a Home Return Permit (回乡证). This is issued by the Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration of the Ministry of Public Security through China Travel Service sub-branches in Hong Kong and Macau.
Taiwan residents typically enter with a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents (台湾居民来往大陆通行证, also known as a 台胞证) card issued by the PRC Ministry of Public Security. Prior to Sept. 2015, the permit was in the form of a booklet including an entry endorsement (签注) specifying the duration of stay in the mainland. This permit is used instead of a Taiwan passport.
Effective July 10, 2024, China has begun issuing Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens) (港澳居民来往内地通行证((非中国籍)). The card is issued to permanent residents of these regions who are not Chinese citizens and who desire to travel to mainland China for up to 90 days for short-term purposes such as investment, visiting relatives, tourism, seminars, and exchanges. The card does not authorize work, study, or news reporting activities in the Mainland. It is valid for 5 years. The card has a 9-digit number, which is unique to each person and will remain unchanged for life.
The PRC government previously issued China Work Permits for Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao Residents (台港澳人员就业证). However, effective Sept. 2018, residents of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau no longer require work permits to work in mainland China.
Under rules effective Sept. 1, 2018, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan residents can also apply to the Public Security Bureau for a Mainland Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents (港澳台居民居住证), if they meet certain conditions. The card can be used to access mainland social security and housing schemes and basic public services.
5. Residence Permit
A residence permit (居留许可) is stamped into a foreign national’s passport by a public security bureau (PSB) exit-entry administration office. Residence permits are divided into the following types:
- Work: issued to persons who work in China;
- Study: issued to persons who pursue long-term studies in China;
- Journalist: issued to resident foreign journalists of permanent offices of foreign news agencies in China;
- Family Reunion: issued to family members of Chinese citizens and family members of foreigners with permanent residence status in China who need to reside in China for family reunion, and to persons who need to reside in China for fosterage or other purposes; and
- Personal matters: issued to spouses, parents, children under the age of 18 or parents-in-law of foreigners residing in China for work, study or other purposes, who apply for long-term visit to China, as well as for persons who need to reside in China for other personal matters.
Before about 2005, residence permits were sometimes issued as separate booklets rather than as passport stamps:
6. Form JW202, Visa Application for Study in China
(外国留学人员来华签证申请表)
7. Student ID Card
(学生证)
