hi all, wanting to make sure my itinerary works for the transit w/o visa before booking any flights. thanks in advance for advice!

taipei -> hk -> shanghai, 2 days in shanghai, then shanghai -> taipei

just want to make sure the layover in hong kong will qualify me for the transit without visa, or if they will check that i originally came from taiwan before that?

Hi I'm flying to Shanghai for 4 days to meet a manufacturer, I'm then flying onwards to Seoul, can I use the 144 hour visa for this purpose or is it just for tourists?

Wondering if application expires once submitted. Trying to time when I’m able to go to the embassy but won’t really know until I can see what availability they have to book with them…I think I can go around April sometime. Can I submit application now?

Tangentially related to this sub:

Effective December 1, 2024:
Work Permit and Social Security cards will be integrated for foreign workers

A big difference is this part:

"Foreigners entering China with a Z-visa and a work permit notification letter will be able to proceed directly with their residence permit applications."

I.e. no more Work Permit cards required per se; a step less for all who enter on a Z-Visa.

More reading:
https://newlandchase.com/china-work-permit-and-social-security-cards-will-be-integrated-for-foreign-workers-from-december-1-2024/

I’m considering leaving my current job for a better position in another province, and I’ve heard from one other foreigner that documents previously notarized now need to be apostille documents to apply for a visa. I also heard that your non-criminal record check expires after 9 months, and that is something I needed when I got my original visa nearly 6 years ago now. I want to get a head start on all of this stuff considering the window between jobs on a temporary residence visa is only 30 days. What documents will I need?

I have a 10 year multiple entry visa that expires in Feb 2025. Can anyone tell me what the process is to get the 3 year extension? I can't find any application for it. Do I just apply for a new visa? Thanks

Hello, I'm about to apply for a tourism visa for a trip to Chongqing and Chengdu in January, but I'm a little confused about the registration process.

I have my flight booked to arrive in Chongqing on a Thursday evening, where I'm planning to stay with a friend who's working there for a couple nights, leaving for Chengdu on the Monday and spending a couple nights in a hotel there, coming back to stay with my friend on the Wednesday, and then leaving on Monday.

I've heard that it would be easiest to book then cancel a hotel in Chongqing instead of getting an invitation letter from my friend, but I just want to clarify what I should do about registration. Do I need to do it in Chongqing when I arrive, have it done automatically at my Chengdu hotel, and then redo it when I get back to Chongqing? And is there an online form/wechat app I can use for Chongqing (neither of us speak much Chinese)?

I appreciate any help.

Hi, I have a flight booked from SIN-TFU-NRT via the same airline with an overnight layover of 12 hours (arrive at 9:30pm, depart next morning at 9:35am). I booked a hotel near the airport to rest as I would be travelling with my senior parent. However I've been seeing threads with people being denied exiting the airport while on the 24 hour visa free transit (because you're supposed to stay in the port of entry).

However, I am from Singapore where there is also a 30 day mutual visa free agreement between the two countries. So I am a little confused if this would superceed the 24 hour policy and allow me to safely exit the airport.

For L Visa:

I'm going to have my father drop off my Chinese visa application forms for me. Regarding the proof of residency - since I will need my drivers license, I am giving him (1) an old utility bill, (2) bank statement, (3) photo copy of my drivers license, and (4) lease agreements for my two previous apartments. In theory this should be fine, but I have just moved, so my COVA application has my new address while my bills have my old address (which is why I also printed out both lease agreements.) Does anyone know if this is sufficient?

Not sure if this has already been reported or if it fits in this subreddit, my apologies for any mistake.

I recently entered China from Shanghai Pudong and I purchased a temporary sim card from the booths immediately outside the arrival zone. Quite insistently, the lady selling me the sim card pushed for a "Free VPN" claiming that "No other VPN works in China" and that it was "necessary to use Google and Facebook". Curious about what she'd do, I let her proceed and it seems that the process (on Android) involves downloading a sketchy "Leaf VPN" APK which has to be installed bypassing the Google play store.

I stopped her there before installing the app, as I know that my VPN works fine in China (even though she insisted the opposite). Still that took me by surprise: the suspicion that the sketchy app is just a fake VPN which rather tracks your online activity for the government is quite strong. Any other experiences similar to mine?

My personal take is: Do NOT accept VPNs given to you in china, especially from telecom companies. Get your own well before entering the country (they work just fine if you do your research).

Hi all! Hope someone who had experience applying for the Chinese visa in Hong Kong could give me some advice. I am attempting to get a 10-year multiple entries Chinese visa (I currently have one in my passport, expiring in Jan 2025) There is a section asking about the below (this was not on the previous form):

Expected to travel to China within X month(s)

Entries: Single/Double/ Multiple

Expected stay for XX day(s)per entry

https://preview.redd.it/0lnrk8m7y64e1.png?width=913&format=png&auto=webp&s=11d3a054de4afa9eeb738f0d97933696ae20176f

What number should I put in this case for a higher chance to get a 10-year visa? (I know it may be difficult, but just give it a try)

I will be going for a 2-week trip in Chinese in Jan, then another trip in Feb, then another trip probably around year end.

Thank you!

hello! my family’s (all filipino citizens) applying for a chinese visa soon but i’ve sort of started overthinking things so i hope i can get some clarifications here before we submit it to the visa center. we plan to stay for 4 days only, taking the train in shenzhen to guilin.

1. we are going to meet up with our father who works in hongkong and we plan to ride the train going to shenzhen. we have visa free travel in hongkong. would this still need an invitation letter from him?

2. do we have to include our trip to hongkong in the chinese visa application, or would only our trip details to china suffice?

3. since proof of booking is needed, would our roundtrip tickets to and from hongkong be alright? or would we also need to show our train tickets to shenzhen?

thanks a lot!

Hi all - I know my post will be frustrating to some of you as variations will have been posted on this sub. I have googled and searched the sub but I’m dyslexic so I’m still a bit confused and was hoping someone could explain in very simple terms for me

I am a UK citizen with UK passport and trying to understand if I can visit China without a visa as the visa process is difficult and would require me to travel to London which is a long way and expensive.

I am trying to understand if I can buy a uk to Beijing return flight and then a separate return flight from Beijing to, for example Singapore.

Or do I have to buy Uk to Singapore flight that has a layover in Beijing of 144 hours ?

If I can do the first example I have some additional questions

1. will it be ok for me to re-enter and use a new 144 transit exemption ?

For example can I do Uk-Beijing-Singapore-Beijing-uk

Or would it need to be Uk-Beijing-Singapore-uk

2. can the flights be with diffrent airlines or do all the flights need to be with the same airline ?

For example I use British Airlines for the UK -Beijing flights and Singapore Airlines for the Beijing to Singapore flights

Thank you for your help

Hi, Im a UK passport holder and im traveling to Vietnam in January and I'm looking to visit a friend in Guangzhou.

I've seen online that a tour guide will allow you to enter and exit from Hong kong for 144 hours, visa free but from what I've seen on here it looks like I need proof of onward travel. I was looking to fly to hong kong from Vietnam, get a train to Guangzhou and then get the train back to hong kong then back to Vietnam, there will also be 2 of us traveling. I'm all a bit confused by it atm so I have a few questions.

1. It is possible to fly into Hong kong and get the train or fly into Guangzhou and then fly from there back to Vietnam? all visa free?

2. Is there any prerequisite for visa free entry? like do I have to ring a tour guide and arrange dates for travel or can I just enter when I get to China/Hong Kong?

3. Does this allow for travel around the Guangdong Province?

4. Do i need proof of accommodation? We're planning to stay with a friend, is this allowed?

I saw some old posts about being on a resident permit and getting an STD check. What if anything happens if you test positive for things like Chlamydia or gonorrhea? I've seen a range from nothing happens to you lose your residence permit and get deported.

Hi, Im a NZ permanent resident and still have mainland chinese passport(only go china for travel occasionally though). Im planning to fly in just under a month from nz to a city in mainland then going to hongkong for a few days to travel and finally going back to mainland before flying back to nz. Would I need to apply for any permits to enter HK? And if I do, how long will it usually take to process and where can I apply. Thank you

My husband and I are U.S. citizens, but he’s a former Chinese citizen with a family still in China. His Q2 visa is valid, and we need to visit his ailing grandmother as soon as possible. I don’t have a visa yet.

I could apply for a Q2 visa (family visit visa), but we can’t find our marriage license, and I’m unsure how long it would take to get a certified copy (we'd have to go physically request one due to our marriage date and we now live states away). On the other hand, I could apply for an L visa (tourist visa), valid for 10 years, and doesn’t require proof of plane tickets, hotel bookings, or other documents anymore.

I know the Q2 visa allows for visits up to 180 days, and the L is much shorter, which is fine. My main concern is that if I enter China with an L visa and my husband enters with his Q2 visa, could this cause any issues if something urgent happens while we’re there? Is there any downside to traveling with different visa types? Which option would be better (and faster) for our situation?

I appreciate any insights or advice—thank you!

HHAAAALLOOOO AND HOWDY everyone. I'm from Texas and Houston consulate/embassy is closed (BOOOOO)... so. How do I get a visa from here? Potential trip is in May 2025...

Thanks a bunch!

Its my first time coming to China for a long period of time and I have a long overnight layover in Shanghai on the way to Guilin Airport (KWL) all on China Eastern Airline. With an X2 Visa I know you only get one entry, will going out of the Airport in Shanghai to explore during my long layover use up that entry or will I be fine to continue on to Guilin?

• I have Chinese spouse & currently a long duration Q visa.
• I'm considering the possibility of opening a WOFE or otherwise a partly-owned company in China with my partner, and contracting with companies from China, sponsoring my own visa.
• I want to just pay taxes here and live a stable life, rather than to do the usual foreign partner way of doing things here which seems to be getting less and less safe a route.
• I have nearing 2 years work experience in my industry, constituting initially a 1-2 day per week internship for ~5 months, followed by a year of ~18-50hpw zero hour contract (usu. around 22hpw), and I'm about to start a fixed 40hpw full-time job.
• These two initial jobs have been quite informal; I'd likely need to have a contract drafted retroactively.
• No degree relevant to the industry; have a 3-year degree in a different field.
• After a trial period, this FT job borders on/is able to be signed on as a fully-remote contractor role. I am as such considering this WOFE route & working as a contractor.
• Experience/my spouse/other Chinese pals tell me if I have support from locals & I'm in China when I do it, this process & the requirements could be more flexible.

I'd value any advice or information about the viability of or possible complications to this route, particularly from experienced parties or those based in China who know those with similar circumstances.

Hello guys,

I got a Category-C working permit (6 months) and I would like to know if it's possible to renew it many times. I don't have the 2-year of work experience required for the Category-B working permit (which is safer) so my idea would be to renew the category-C working permit until I get the 2-year of work experience. Do you think that is likely to happen or they usually don't want to renew it many times?
Thank you.

My agent informed me China cancelled total 8 visas which agent forwarded all together. So he reapplied. Not sure the exact reason behind cancellation. Is it Bec Chinese new year is very close

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help - let's say a "friend" of mine's Chinese bank account was frozen a few months in advance of his Hukuo expiring. He has been a naturalized US citizen for years and hasn't updated his status in China, and was hoping to have all the money withdrawn before the expiration date while on a trip in China - but didn't expect the account to be frozen so far in advance. What can he do to best unfreeze his account or retrieve his funds? I know it's a lot to ask - but if you have any advice, any possible sources would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all!

Hi all, I have an itinerary on Hainan airlines from Mexico to Bangkok next weekend, with a 20hr layover at PEK Beijing. I arrive at 2pm on a Friday and depart at 10am the following day (I'm an American citizen). From my research, it seems like I'll be able to get a TWOV to leave the airport. Couple questions:

• Will I have to get my checked luggage, or does that stay airside with the airline?
• I've never been to Beijing, is it an all-night type of place in certain districts? I could get a hotel, but I know myself with jet lag, and I won't be sleeping that night, so I might prefer to just experience as much as I can while there.
• Any general recommendations on what I should do? I'm a foodie. Enjoy just walking around. Getting a cocktail in an interesting bar. I don't imagine I'll be venturing outside of the city for sight seeing, considering it's an overnight layover.

Thanks!

Hi all,

Going to get straight to the point- I have got a flight that goes from EU to Guangzhou and then I am meant to transit and go to Beijing. However what I want to do is stay in Guangzhou on the 144hr TWOV for 6 days. Can I just say to the check in desk that I do not want to use the Guangzhou to Beijing segment.

I am leaving Guangzhou to go to Hanoi on the 6th day, and I would meet all requirements for the 144 TWOV, i am just a bit concerned that I will not be allowed to board the plane as I plan to not use the Guangzhou to Beijing part of my flight.

Any help appreciated, thanks!

I’m applying for an L visa with an invitation letter from the UK, I’ve entered into the itinerary section with:

Flight Arrival : Shanghai 7/1 Destination 1: Shanghai - Arrive 7/1 Depart 9/1 Destination 2: Chengdu - Arrive 9/1, Depart 12/1 Destination 3: Chongqing - Arrive 12/1, Depart 14/1 Destination 4: Heifei - Arrive 14/1 - Depart 18/1 Destination 5: Shanghai - Arrive 18/1 - Depart 20/1 Flight Arrival Departure 20/1

After I complete the application form, the PDF download only shows:

Destination 5: Shanghai - Arrive 18/1 - Depart 20/1 Destination 2: Chengdu - Arrive 9/1, Depart 12/1 Destination 3: Chongqing - Arrive 12/1, Depart 14/1

Is this something to be concerned about? I’ve tried a few more attempts of doing the form but the PDF never shows the full list, has anyone else had this issue before? I’m worried that the visa will get rejected if the full itinerary isn’t on the form

I was born in China but currently have US citizenship. The problem is that my parents forgot to cancel my hukou, will the embassy reject my visa?

I had a flight booked from aus to pvg to the UK. I ended up in japan and was wondering if I could fly from Japan to china and pick up the flight I have from pvg to lgw. I'd need to check in at pvg so id have to go through immigration and don't have a visa for china. Could I get that flight or should I just fly japan to the UK.