Entry & Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of China for the most up to date information.

If travelling to China, your passport must be valid for at least six months after the duration of your intended stay and you must also be able to provide evidence of a return or onward ticket. A visa is required for all travellers to China whether for tourism, business, employment or study purposes. You should ensure that you obtain the appropriate visa for the purpose of your visit. It is very difficult to obtain a visa at Chinese border entry points.

Chinese Visa Policy Tightens – Police authorities (Public Security Bureau) have tightened regulations and are stringently enforcing regulations for the issue and renewal of visas.

Major changes include:

• It is no longer possible to change tourist (L) and business (F) visas to other types.
• Many visa applications now must be conducted in person by the applicant.
• Express visa service is no longer available.

Travellers who have lost or had their passport stolen in China should not expect the Chinese visa renewal or replacement process to be expedited for them to meet travel or flight schedules. We encourage you to keep a copy of your passport in a safe place when travelling in China.

The Chinese authorities have tightened enforcement of documentation requirements for tourist (L) and business (F) visa applications. Visa applicants may be required to provide letters of invitation, certificates of family relationships, evidence confirming Chinese hotel room reservations and return or onward air tickets. You should seek detailed information from the nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate well in advance of your intended travel date.

Authorities have also tightened enforcement of penalties for entry and exit violations. Current regulations include a 500RMB fine (not to exceed 5,000RMB) for each day overstayed, and/or detention. The period of detention can range from 5 to 30 days depending on the severity of the violation. Recently we have received reports that authorities have fined, detained or deported Australians who have overstayed or breached the conditions of their visa.

We recommend that travellers ensure they depart China before their visa expiry date.

Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Regions (SAR) and have separate visa and entry administration. Travellers who exit mainland China to visit Hong Kong or Macau may require a new Chinese visa to re-enter mainland China. Travellers with a single entry visa for China should be particularly diligent to this requirement. Some travel permits, issued in Hong Kong or at Hong Kong-Macau-Chinese mainland border crossings, are valid for limited travel to designated areas only such as Shenzhen, Zhuhai or other areas in Guangdong Province. It is illegal to use these permits to travel to other parts of China. Travellers should carefully check the details on their visa.

You may need a visa to transit China if your stopover requires you to leave the airport. However, if you are staying within the confines of the airport for less than 24 hours while transiting China enroute to a third country, you do not need a transit visa. You should check these requirements with the Embassy or Consulate of China for the most up to date information.

If you are entering China for a stay of over six months, you are required to present a health certificate, which includes a blood test for HIV.

As a preventative measure against SARS and Avian Influenza, local quarantine measures on entry into China include completion of a health and quarantine declaration form and may include a body temperature check. In some cases, an additional medical examination may be required.

Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity and carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.