I. Passport Validity Requirements
- Basic Regulations:
- According to China's Exit and Entry Administration Law, foreigners entering China should have an ordinary passport with a validity of at least 6 months (calculated from the date of entry).
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Applicable individuals: All foreign citizens holding ordinary passports entering China (including tourist, business, and family visit visa types).
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Exceptions:
- Countries that have signed bilateral agreements with China: Citizens of some countries may enjoy a special policy requiring only more than 3 months of passport validity to enter. For example:
- Japan, Singapore, Brunei (visa-free entry for 15 days)
- France, Germany, Italy, and other Schengen countries (single/multiple entry visas)
- Urgent humanitarian reasons: In cases such as attending funerals or visiting critically ill relatives, contact Chinese embassies or consulates to apply for emergency visas, which may allow for relaxed validity requirements.
II. Responses to Insufficient Passport Validity
| Situation | Solution |
|---|---|
| Passport validity less than 6 months | 1. Immediately replace your passport in your home country 2. Apply for a Chinese visa with both the old and new passports (the old passport must have complete visa pages) |
| Already purchased tickets but passport is about to expire | Contact the airline to modify travel dates (some airlines allow one free change) |
| In China and passport is about to expire | Contact your country's embassy or consulate in China to replace your passport, and apply for visa extension at the Chinese Exit-Entry Administration |
III. Chinese Visa Application and Passport Validity
- Visa Application Stage:
- When applying for a Chinese visa, the passport validity must cover at least visa validity + 6 months. For example, if applying for a 1-year multiple-entry visa, the passport validity must be more than 1 year and 6 months.
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If the passport validity is insufficient, it is recommended to first replace the passport before applying for the visa.
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Special Case Handling:
- If the old passport has a valid Chinese visa that hasn't expired, you can enter China with both the old and new passports (ensuring that the visa page on the old passport hasn't been cut).
IV. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: My passport has only 5 months of validity left. Can I apply for a Chinese visa?
- No. The Chinese visa requires that the passport validity be at least 6 months (calculated from the application submission date).
Q2: Does the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holder need to follow the 6-month rule?
- Yes. Even if entering visa-free with an APEC card, the passport validity must still be ≥ 6 months.
Q3: Does the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents (Home Return Permit) apply?
- No. The validity of Home Return Permits and Taiwan Compatriot Cards follows the expiration date marked on the document, with no additional 6-month requirement.
V. Official Inquiry Channels
- National Immigration Administration of China:
www.nia.gov.cn → Search "passport validity requirements" - Chinese Embassies and Consulates Abroad:
Check the official website of the relevant embassy or consulate for specific national policies, such as Chinese Embassy in the United States
Suggestion: To ensure a smooth trip, check your passport validity at least 7 months before planning to visit China and replace it if necessary!
