Chinese Visa Example, validation period and duration of stay

Read your Chinese visa

Upon receiving your visa, you should check the information on your visa for accuracy.

Visa type: L for tourist, F for business ...
Number of entries: 'M' means multiple entry, '01' means single entry, '02' means double entry.
Visa validation period: you must enter China before this date.
Duration of stay: the number of days you may stay in China upon each entry. For some work visa (Z) or student visa (X), it may be '000', indicating the duration of stay will be determined upon entering China.
Date of issue: the date your visa was issued.
Place of issue: in this example, Houston.
Your name: only the first initial will be printed here.
Date of birth
Passport number
Machine coded region
Visa number

Chinese Visa Example

Chinese visa validation

Validation is the period of time, during which a visa is good for the holder to enter China. Validation starts from the date of issurance and the expiration date is shown as ENTER BEFORE on the visa. This date is not the date that you must leave China, but the date you must enter China. The validation period is usually 90 days for single entry visa, 180 days for double entry visa or 6-month multiple entry visa, 1 year or 2-years for 1-year multiple or 2-year multiple entry visa.

Number of entries designates how many times a visa can be used to enter China (mainland) within the validation period. For those who enter from Hong Kong or Macau into mainland China, please note that each time you do so it counts as one entry.

Duration of stay

The duration of stay sets the maximum days of stay in China counting from the date of entry. For example, John has a single entry visa showing ENTER BEFORE Nov-20-2007 and with a duration of stay 30 days. If John enters China on November 18, 2007, he can still stay in China for 30 days, that is, until December 17.

It is very common for the consulate to issue an tourist visa (L) with a 60-day duration of stay for US citizens, but for non-US citizens mostly it is still 30 days.

Can I stay in China for more than 30 days with a tourist/family visit visa?

Yes, you can. The duration of stay for a tourist/family visit visa is normally 30-60 days. If you can justify longer stay (e.g. born in China and have family tie there) and indicate the expected dates of stay in China on the application form, you may be issued a visa with a longer duration of stay, upto 180 days for single entry visa, or 90 days double or multiple entry visa. For ordinary tourist, it is very hard to get more than 60 days stay.

If you are issued a visa with duration of stay less than you applied, and still want to stay even longer, you may apply for extension at local public security bureau (police station). The cost is about $150 equivalent.

Please note that although requests for longer stay are usually granted, the consulate officers have the right not to issue a visa for the duration you requested, and their decisions are final.

General notes on visa application

The applicant must submit the original passport with blank visa pages and valid for at least six months beyond the date of application, the completed visa application form, one passport photo and other documents related to application.
The application form must be filled out faithfully, completely and the applicant shall bear the responsibility for all information provided. Application may be declined if the applicant failed to provide faithful information or documents.
Holders of category X, Z, D or J-1 visa shall go through residential formalities in the local public security bureau within 30 days as of the date of entry into China.
Activities irrelevant to applicant's statement made on the application form are not permitted.

How to apply

please follow the "step by step procedures" at the bottom of the main page.

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General visa information
Tourist/family visit visa
2-year family visit visa
Business visa
2-year business visa
Study/student visa
Employment/work visa
Transit visa
Non-US passport holder

Document authentication

Born in China? read
for more targeted information
Notarization & Authentication
Chinese passport
American born Chinese children

Tips

You may use self-taken pictures for visa application (please print at photo stores), see visa photo requirement.

For US citizens, a 1-year multiple visa is as easy to get as a single visa, and costs the same.

Frequent travelers, please make sure you have at least one blank visa page.

You may make a single payment to us for consular fee, service fee and shipping.

Chinese Visa Example, Validation and Duration of Stay