Official Regulations Regarding Passport Validity for Entering China

According to the regulations of China’s National Immigration Administration, foreign citizens entering China must meet the following passport requirements: 1. Validity Requirement: The passport must have at least 6 months of remaining validity from the date of entry into China. 2. Blank Pages Requirement: The passport must have at least 2 blank visa pages (excluding annotation pages).

If your passport has less than 6 months of validity, you may be denied boarding or entry. This regulation applies to most countries and visa types (including tourist visas [L visas], business visas [M visas], etc.), but there may be exceptions for some countries due to special agreements with China (details below).

Exceptional Cases and Special Agreements

The following situations may exempt you from the "6-month validity" requirement, but confirmation in advance is necessary: 1. Visa Waiver Agreement Countries:
Some countries have visa waiver agreements with China (such as Singapore, Japan, Brunei), allowing short-term stays (usually 15-30 days). In such cases, the passport only needs to remain valid during the stay period.
For example: Citizens of Singapore holding ordinary passports can visit China visa-free for up to 15 days, and their passport validity only needs to cover the duration of the stay.

1. Transit Visa-Free Policy:
   Some cities (such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou) allow specific nationalities to transit without a visa for up to 144 hours. In this case, the passport validity must cover the stay period + 1 day.

2. Bilateral Agreement Countries:
   Certain countries have special bilateral agreements with China that may relax the requirements (such as Russia, Belarus, etc.). It is recommended to contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country for confirmation.

Operational Suggestions

1. Pre-check Passport Validity:
   If you plan to enter China soon, please immediately check the validity of your passport. If it is less than 6 months, it is recommended to promptly apply for a new passport through your country’s issuing authority.

2. Contact Embassies or Consulates for Confirmation:
   If your nationality falls under the above exceptional cases or if you are unsure about the policy, you can directly contact the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your country to verify the latest requirements.

3. Airline Regulations:
   Even if the Chinese authorities allow entry, some airlines may impose stricter requirements (such as passport validity covering the entire trip). It is advisable to confirm this with the airline in advance.

Emergency Handling

• If your passport has less than 6 months of validity and cannot be renewed in time, you may try applying for an emergency visa or port visa (landing visa), but you must provide sufficient justification (such as humanitarian reasons), and the approval result will be subject to the discretion of Chinese border inspection authorities.

Useful Contact Information

• China National Immigration Administration Website: https://www.nia.gov.cn
• Global Chinese Embassies and Consulates Lookup: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn