China · Other
Issuance of Exit-Entry Permits for Foreigners
Issuance of Exit-Entry Permits for Foreigners is issued by National Immigration Administration (NIA). VisaAI tracks 16 official requirements for it, each traced to the government page that states it.
Last verified against the official source on .
VisaAI is not a government body and does not issue visas. It cannot decide, predict or guarantee the outcome of an application, and this page is not legal or immigration advice.
Requirements change. Confirm every item on National Immigration Administration (NIA)’s own page before you apply.
Each requirement below is written in plain English by VisaAI. The indented text beneath it is quoted from National Immigration Administration (NIA)’s own page, so you can check what we say against what they say. Where a quotation shows “ ... ”, text has been left out.
Conditions you must meet
- Scope: foreigners applying for exit-entry permitsThe guide states its own scope.
This service guide is applicable to foreigners applying for exit-entry permits.
- Legal basis: the Exit and Entry Administration Law and the Exit-Entry RegulationsThe two instruments this guide is written under.
Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Exit and Entry of Foreigners.
- Where it is accepted: prefecture-level and above public security exit-entry authoritiesThe NIA entrusts acceptance rather than accepting directly.
The National Immigration Administration (NIA) has entrusted the exit-entry administration authorities of public security organs at the prefecture-level (including districts and counties under the administration of municipalities directly under the central government) and above to accept applications for exit-entry permits of foreigners.
- County-level authorities may be authorised by the NIA to accept applicationsA second channel, on provincial request and NIA approval.
With the approval of NIA at the request of exit-entry administration authorities under provincial public security organs, exit-entry administration authorities of county-level public security organs may be authorized by NIA to accept applications for exit-entry permits of foreigners.
- Eligibility: no valid passport through loss, damage, theft or robbery, and no replacement obtainable from your own embassyThe predicament and the three documentary alternatives are one sentence and are quoted whole.
1. Where a foreigner in China has no valid passport or other international travel document due to loss, damage, theft and robbery and is not able to obtain reissued documents from the embassy or consulate of his/her country in China, he/she shall submit a certification of passport loss report or a note from the embassy or consulate of his/her country in China or present invalidated or expired documents and any temporary identity document in use instead of a passport.
- Other circumstances the NIA considers necessary are governed by the relevant provisionsThe authority does not enumerate them and none is invented.
2. For other circumstances where NIA considers it necessary to issue exit-entry permits for foreigners., relevant provisions shall prevail.
- Refused if the conditions are not met, or under Article 28 of the Exit and Entry Administration LawThe guide names the article rather than restating it, and so does this.
Where an applicant does not comply with the aforementioned conditions for application or falls within the circumstances stipulated in Article 28 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, the exit-entry permits for foreigners shall not be issued.
- Failing to attend an interview without justifiable reason may itself defeat the applicationThe authority names interviews, telephone inquiries and field investigation as its verification means.
3. Review and Verification. The public security organs shall strengthen the verification process to ensure authenticity of the application reasons through interviews, telephone inquiries, field investigations and other means, and confirm whether the applicant is of foreign nationality. Where 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.
- A decision within 30 WORKING days of acceptanceWorking days, not calendar days, and measured from acceptance rather than submission.
A decision shall be made within 30 working days from the date of accepting the application for exit-entry permit for foreigners.
Official forms
- The visa/stay permit/residence permit application form and a compliant photoThe photo must comply with the exit-entry document photograph guidelines.
1. Applicants shall fill in the Visa/Stay Permit/Residence Permit Application Form and submit a photo that complies with the Guidelines for Exit and Entry Documents Photographs.
Documents you must provide
- A passport-loss certification, an embassy note, or invalidated documents plus a temporary identity documentThe three alternatives, quoted as alternatives rather than as a checklist.
2. Applicants shall submit a certification for passport loss report or a note from the embassy or consulate of his/her country of residence in China, or present invalidated or expired document and any temporary identity document in use instead of a passport.
- Other supporting materials the NIA deems necessaryStated by the authority without enumeration.
3. Other supporting materials deemed necessary by NIA.
Steps in the process
- Apply IN PERSON and accept an interview at the public security exit-entry authorityBoth the personal attendance and the interview are stated in the same sentence.
1. Application. To apply for foreigners' exit-entry permit, foreigners shall complete relevant procedures and accept interview in person at the exit-entry administration authority of public security organs.
- On acceptance a receipt is issued; missing items must be notified to you AT ONE TIMEThe one-time rule is a protection: the authority may not send an applicant away twice for different omissions.
2. Acceptance. The competent authority shall review and decide whether or not to accept an application. Where the application falls within the scope of the administrative authority, and the application materials are complete and comply with the requirements, the application shall be accepted on the spot and an acceptance receipt shall be issued. Where the formalities and materials required for the application for exit-entry permit are incomplete, the competent authority shall inform the applicant of the formalities to be completed and the materials to be supplemented at one time.
- Collected IN PERSON with the acceptance receiptThe receipt issued at acceptance is what the permit is exchanged for.
Approved and issued exit-entry permit for foreigners shall be collected by the applicant in person at the relevant exit-entry administration authority of public security organs with the acceptance receipt.
Government fees
- Exit-entry permit for foreigners: CNY 100CNY 100From the guide's own charging-standards section.
Exit-entry permit for foreigners: CNY 100
Official sources
- Service Guide on Issuance of Exit-Entry Permits for Foreigners — Requirements, National Immigration Administration (NIA)