Guide on Visa Extension, Change and Reissuance for Foreigners

I.Scope of Application

Applicable to foreigners applying for visa extension, change and reissuance after entry with a regular visa
II.Legal Basis
Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners
III.Accepting Authorities
The National Immigration Administration (NIA) entrusts the exit-entry departments of public security organs at or above the prefecture-level cities (including counties and districts under the jurisdiction of municipalities directly under the central government) to accept and issue the foreigners' visa affairs
The exit-entry departments of public security organs at the county level, upon the request of the exit-entry departments of the provincial level public security organs and the approval of NIA, are authorized and may accept and issue the visa application of foreigners.
IV.Conditions of Application
For a foreign national entering China with a visa, if the original reason for the entry has not been terminated or if there are other legitimate reasons for staying beyond the expiration date of the visa, with no change in visa type required, the period of stay may be extended.
For a foreign national, after entering China with a visa, if he/she changes the purpose of stay or is granted entry conveniences in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state, or he/she uses a new passport or needs to stay separately from his/her tour group after entering China with a group visa due to objective reasons, a visa change can be applied for.
For a foreign national who has entered China, if his/her visa has been lost, damaged, destroyed, stolen or robbed, the individual shall apply for a replacement of the visa. The applicant shall personally go through the relevant procedures at the exit and entry administration authority of the public security bureau of the local people's government at or above the county level of his or her place of residence.
In any of the following cases, the inviting entity or relatives of the applicant may apply on behalf of the applicant:
1.The applicant is under the age of 16 or over the age of 60 or it would unduly inconvenience the applicant due to illness or other reasons;
2.The applicant's current entry is not his or her first entry into China and the applicant has good records of stay or residence in China;
3.The inviting entity or individual has guaranteed to cover the necessary expenses of the applicant incurred in China.
V.Prohibited Requirements
The applicant does not meet relevant provisions of visa issuance according to the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners and other relevant laws and regulations, extension, renewal and reissuance of visas are not approved.
VI. Application Materials
1.Applications for visa of foreigners may be accepted upon completion of relevant formalities and submission of relevant materials
a.Valid passport or other international travel documents
b.Fill in a visa application form for foreign nationals and submit a photo that meets the specific requirements;
c.Supporting materials related to reasons of application
d.Other formalities to be completed and supporting materials to be submitted.
Original documents can be submitted for inspection and their photocopies will be retained.
2.Documents required for visa extension
To apply for extension of a stay, a foreigner shall apply to the exit and entry departments of public security organs 7 days prior to the expiration date of the stay specified in the visa, and submit relevant supporting materials as required:
a.Holder of C visa shall submit a letter of certificate issued by the competent departments of the people's government at or above the county level or the local civil aviation, railway, road and port transportation companies. The stay may be extended for no more than 30 days.
b.Holder of F visa shall submit a letter of certificate issued by the inviting and receiving entities. The entities that have not filed for records shall also submit the registration certificate. The stay may be extended for no more than 180 days.
c.Holder of G visa shall submit a letter of certificate issued by the receiving entity and a connecting ticket (flight, bus or ship) to the destination country (region) with confirmed seat and date. The stay may be extended for no more than 30 days.
d.The holder of J2 visa shall submit a letter of certificate issued by the foreign affairs departments of the people's government at the provincial level. The stay may be extended for no more than 30 days.
e.Holder of L visa shall submit a travel plan and itinerary, and for a group tour, also a letter of certificate issued by the travel agency. The stay may be extended for no more 30 days.
f.Holder of M visa shall submit a letter of certificate issued by the local inviting and receiving entities or individuals, and the entities that have not filed the record shall also submit the registration certificate. The inviting individual shall put signature in the letter and submit local household registration or a certificate of the actual residence. The stay may be extended for no more than 180 days.
g.Holder of Q2 visa shall submit an invitation letter provided by the individuals to be visited, the identity certificate, and proof of family relationship. The stay may be extended for no more than 180 days.
h.Holder of R visa shall submit a certificate letter issued by the inviting and receiving entities, and the entities that have not filed for records shall also submit the registration certificate. The stay may be extended for no more than 180 days.
i.For the S2 visa holders, the visiting personnel shall submit an invitation letter provided by the individuals to be visited, a foreigner residence permit and proof of family relationship. Foreigners visiting for other purposes shall submit certificates stating the nature of the private affairs or humanitarian causes. The duration of stay may be extended to no more than 180 days for those visiting relatives, and no more than 90 days for those visiting for other purposes.
j.Holder of X2 visa shall submit a current study certificate issued by an education or training institution within the territory of China. The stay may be extended for no more than 180 days.
Note: The accumulated extension of stay shall not exceed the original duration of stay specified in the visa.
3.Documents required for visa change
Where a foreigner changes purpose of stay, is granted entry conveniences in accordance with relevant provisions of the State, starts using a new passport, or needs to stay separately from his or her tour group after entering China with a group visa due to objective reasons, the applicant may apply for a change of visa by submitting the following documents:
a. To apply for the change to F visa, the applicant shall submit a letter of certificate issued by the inviting entities, and may be issued the zero-entry, single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry visa with a valid period upon entry no more than one year and a stay no more than 180 days.
b. To apply for the change to J2 visa, a letter of certificate issued by the foreign affairs department of the people's government at the provincial level shall be submitted. A zero-entry visa with a stay of no more than 30 days can be issued.
c. To apply for the change to M visa, the applicant shall submit a letter of certificate issued by the inviting entities, and may be issued the zero-entry, single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry visa with a validity period of entry no more than one year and a stay not exceeding 180 days.
d. To apply for the change to Q2 visa, the applicant shall submit an inviting letter provided by the individual to be visited, identity certificates and proof of family relationship. And the zero-entry, single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry visas with a validity period of entry no more than one year and a stay no more than 180 days may be issued.
e. To apply for the change to R visa, the applicant shall meet the qualifications and requirements set by the competent authorities of the Chinese government for inviting high-level foreign talents or urgently needed specialists, and submit relevant certificates and supporting materials in accordance with the provisions, as well as certification letter issued by the inviting and receiving entities. And the zero-entry, single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry visas with a validity period of entry no more than five years and a stay no more than 180 days may be issued.
f. To apply for the change to S2 visa, the visiting individual shall submit an inviting letter provided by the person to be visited, foreigner's residence permit and proof of family relationship. Foreigners visiting for other purposes shall submit relevant supporting materials stating the nature of the humanitarian causes. And the zero-entry or single-entry visas with a validity period of entry no more than three months and a stay no more than 180 days may be issued.
g. To apply for the change to X2 visa, the applicant shall submit an official letter and a certificate of admission and enrollment issued by an education or training institution within Chinese territory, and may be issued a zero-entry, single-entry or double-entry visa with a validity period of no more than one year and a stay of no more than 180 days.
h. A foreigner who starts using a new passport because the original one is about to expire or is running out of visa pages may apply for a change of visa by submitting the original passport for the latest entry or relevant certificates issued by the embassy or consulate of the applicant's country in China specifying that the original passport has been withdrawn. A visa that is consistent with the original visas in type, validity period of entry, duration of stay and the remaining valid entry times may be issued. The entry times of the new visa will be decided in accordance with the remaining valid entry times of the original visa.
i. Foreigners who need to stay separately from the tour group after entering China with a group visa shall submit a letter of certificate issued by the hosting travel agency. The visa may be changed in accordance with the provisions in the preceding paragraph.
The accumulated stay period of the changed visas shall not exceed one year since the date of current entry.
4.Documents required for visa reissuance
Where a foreigner needs to apply for reissuance of visa because the original visa is lost, damaged, destroyed, stolen or robbed after entering China, the applicant shall submit the following supporting materials:
4.Documents required for visa reissuance
For a foreign national in China, who applies for a replacement of visa due to loss, destruction or theft of the visa he/she holds, a visa can be issued with the same type, validity of entry and period of stay as the original visa, and the number of entries to be issued will correspond to the remaining valid entry times of the original visa., the applicant shall submit the following supporting materials:
a.If the visa is lost, stolen or robbed, the applicant shall submit the certificate of reporting the loss of passport or the official note issued by the embassy or consulates of the applicant's country in China, and the new valid passport or other international travel documents.
b.If the visa is damaged, the applicant shall submit the damaged passport or the official note issued by the embassy or consulates of the applicant's country in China, and the new valid passport or other international travel documents.
c.If the group visa is lost, stolen, robbed or damaged, the applicant shall submit a certification letter issued by the hosting travel agency and a copy of the original group visa.
VII.Basic Process and Method of Handling
1.Application. Foreigners who apply for extension, change or reissuance of visa, shall go to exit-entry departments of public security organs in person to go through relevant formalities. For cases complying with relevant provisions, the inviting entities or individual, families or relatives of the applicant or specialized service agencies may file the application on behalf of the applicant.
2.Acceptance. The accepting authority decides whether to accept or not after examining the application. The applying matters shall fall within the functions and powers of the administrative authority. If the application materials are complete and meet the requirements, the application shall be accepted on the spot and a receipt of acceptance shall be issued. If the formalities or materials required for the application for a visa are incomplete, the applicant shall be notified regarding the formalities to be completed and the materials to be supplemented at one time.
3.Review and verification. The exit- and entry departments of public security organs shall strengthen verification. The authenticity of the application shall be confirmed through means of interviews, telephone inquiries, field investigations and others. Verification shall also be taken to confirm whether the applicant is of foreign nationality. If an applicant or relevant entity, individual is notified to take an interview but fails to do that at the agreed time without justifiable reasons, the application may be denied by law.
4.Decision-making. If the conditions and standards are met, the authority in charge shall make the decision on granting administrative permits and issue visas of corresponding categories.
VIII.Time Limit for Issuance
Upon examination and verification, if the foreigner's application complies with the conditions of acceptance, the application shall be accepted, and an acceptance receipt shall be provided. The decision on whether or not to issue a visa shall be made within the validity period of the acceptance receipt. The validity period of the acceptance receipt for visa application shall be no more than seven working days from the date of acceptance.
IX.Charging Basis and Standards
1.Charging Basis
Reply of the State Development Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance on Approving the Adjustment to the Visa Charging Standards of Public Security Organs of the Mainland (Ji Jia Ge [2003] No. 392).
2.Charging Standards
Based on the Notice of Public Security Organs to Adjust Charging Standards to Foreigners' Visas (Gong Ming Fa [2011] No. 470)
Zero-entry Visa (of non-reciprocal countries): CNY 160 per person
Single-entry Visa (of non-reciprocal countries): CNY 168 per person
Double-entry Visa (of non-reciprocal countries): CNY 252 per person
Multiple-entry Visa valid for no more than half a year (of non-reciprocal countries): CNY 420 per person
Multiple-entry Visa valid for no more than one year (of non-reciprocal countries): CNY 672 per person
Adding or reducing accompanying persons (non-reciprocal countries): CNY 160 per person
For reciprocal countries, the fees shall be charged in accordance with standards stipulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
X.Results Delivery
Issued Visas for foreigners after approval, shall be claimed by the applicants in person at relevant exit-entry departments of public security organs with the acceptance receipts.
XI.Rights and Obligations of the Administrative Counterpart
1.In accordance with relevant laws and regulations, an applicant shall be entitled to the following rights:
a.Those who meet the legal conditions and criteria are entitled to equal rights to obtain an administrative license in accordance with law;
b.They shall have the right to make statements and defend against implementation of the administrative license by an administrative authority;
c.Other rights stipulated by laws and regulations.
2.In accordance with relevant laws and regulations, an applicant shall perform the following obligations:
a.Applicants shall submit relevant materials and reflect the reality truthfully to the administrative authority, and shall be held responsible for authenticity of substantive content of the application materials;
b.Applicant shall cooperate with administrative authorities to verify the authenticity of the application materials through interviews, telephone inquiries, field investigations, etc.;
c.Other obligations stipulated by laws and regulations.
XIII.Other Matters for Attention
1.Definition of family members: spouse, parents, spouse's parents, children, siblings, paternal grandparents, maternal grandparents, paternal grandchildren, maternal grandchildren, and children's spouses.
2.Proof of family relationship and kinship shall include marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption certificate and other kinship certificate issued by competent authorities of relevant countries and related notary public authentication; or the marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship certificate and certification on the change of name or other personal information issued by the embassy or consulates of the applicant's country in China.
3.Marriage certificates, birth certificates, kinship certificates, or certifications on the change of name or other personal information issued by the competent authorities or notary authorities of a foreign country shall be authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate in that country.
4.Identity certificates. Identity certificates of Chinese mainland residents refer to household register certificates or certificate of residence that prove the actual places of residence for over 6 months as well as resident ID cards. Overseas Chinese identity certificates refer to Chinese passports and certificates of overseas residence. Identity certificates of Hong Kong and Macao residents refer to the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents. Taiwan resident identity certificates refer to the Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents. Foreigner identity certificates refer to the Foreigner's Permanent Residence Card. Overseas Chinese as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents shall also submit the certificate of residence that prove the actual places of residence for over 6 months.
Relevant supporting materials in foreign languages shall be translated into Chinese.
Appendix：
1.Flow Chart for Visa Extension, Change and Reissuance for Foreigners
2.VISA/STAY PERMIT/RESIDENCE PERMIT Applicaton Form
3.Sample text of application materials
Flow Chart for Visa Extension, Change and Reissuance for Foreigners

Source: National Immigration Administration