Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China

Chapter IV Stay and Residence of Foreigners

Section 1 Stay and Residence

Article 29 Where the duration of stay specified in a visa held by a foreigner does not exceed 180 days, the holder may stay in China within the duration specified therein.

Where the duration of stay needs to be extended, the visa holder shall file an application with the exit/entry administration of public security organ under the local people's government at or above the county level in the place of his stay seven days prior to the expiry of the duration specified in the visa, and shall submit information of specific application matters in accordance with relevant requirements. If upon examination, the reasons for extension are appropriate and sufficient, such extension shall be granted; if an extension is denied, the foreigner shall leave China on the expiry of the duration.

The accumulated length of extension shall not exceed the original duration of stay specified in the visa.

Article 30 Where visas held by foreigners specify that foreigners need to apply for residence permits after entry, such foreigners shall, within 30 days from the date of their entry, apply to the exit/entry administrations of public security organs under local people's governments at or above the county level in the proposed places of residence for foreigners' residence permits.

Applicants for foreigners' residence permits shall submit their passports or other international travel documents, as well as relevant information of specific application matters, and provide biometric identification information such as fingerprints. The exit/entry administrations of public security organs shall, within 15 days upon the date of receipt, conduct examination and make a decision thereupon. Based on the purpose of residence, those administrations shall issue the appropriate types of foreigners' residence permits with the duration.

The validity period of a foreigner's work-type residence permit shall be 90 days at the minimum and five years at the maximum; and the validity period of a non-work-type foreigner's residence permit shall be 180 days at the minimum and five years at the maximum.

Article 31 Under any of the following circumstances, a foreigner's residence permit shall not be issued:

(1) The visa held does not belong to the type for which a foreigner's residence permit should be issued;

(2) Resorts to fraudulent acts in application;

(3) Fails to provide relevant supporting materials in accordance with relevant regulations;

(4) Is not eligible to reside in China because of violation of relevant Chinese laws or administrative regulations; or

(5) Other circumstances in which the issuing authority considers a foreigner's residence permit should not be issued.

Foreigners with expertise and foreign investors who conform to relevant State regulations or foreigners who need to change their status from stay to residence for humanitarian or other reasons, may undergo the formalities for obtaining foreigner's residence permits upon approval by the exit/entry administrations of public security organs under local people's governments at or above the city with districts.

Article 32 Foreigners residing in China who apply for the extension of the duration of residence shall, within 30 days prior to the expiry of the validity period on their residence permits, file applications with the exit/entry administrations of public security organs under local people's governments at or above the county level, and submit relevant information of specific application matters in accordance with relevant requirements. If upon examination, the reasons for extension are appropriate and sufficient, an extension shall be granted; if an extension is denied, the foreigner concerned shall leave China on the expiry of the validity period specified in their residence permits.

Article 33 The registered items of a foreign residence permit shall include name, sex, date of birth, reason for residence and duration of residence of the holder, date and place of issuance, passport number or other international travel documents number.

Where the registered item in a foreigner's residence permit has changed, the holder shall, within 10 days from the date of change, apply to the exit/entry administration of public security organ under the local people's government at or above the county level in the place of residence for going through the formalities for alteration.

Article 34 Where visa-exempt foreigners need to stay in China longer than the visa-free period, or foreign seamen and their accompanying family members need to leave the cities where the ports are located, or under other circumstances in which foreigners' stay permits should be applied for, they shall apply for such permits in accordance with relevant regulations.

The maximum validity period of a foreigner's stay permit shall be 180 days.

Article 35 Where ordinary visas, stay or residence permits held by foreigners need to be reissued due to damage, loss, theft, robbery or other reasons in compliance with relevant State regulations after foreigners enter China, those foreigners shall apply for a reissue with the exit/entry administrations of public security organs under local people's governments at or above the county level in the places of stay or residence in accordance with relevant regulations.

Article 36 Decisions made by the exit/entry administration of public security organ on rejecting applications for visa extension or reissuance, or on not issuing foreigners' stay or residence permits or not extending the duration of residence shall be final.

Article 37 Foreigners who stay or reside in China shall not engage in activities not corresponding to the purpose of stay or residence, and shall leave China prior to the expiry of the prescribed duration of stay or residence.

Article 38 Foreigners having reached the age of 16 who stay or reside in China shall carry with them their passports or other international travel documents, or foreigners' stay or residence permits, and accept the inspection of public security organs.

Foreigners who reside in China shall, within the prescribed time limit, submit foreigners' residence permits to public security organs under local people's governments at or above the county level in the places of residence for examination.

Article 39 Where foreigners stay in hotels in China, the hotels shall register their accommodation in accordance with the regulations on the public security administration of the hotel industry, and submit foreigners' accommodation registration information to the public security organs in the places where the hotels are located.

For foreigners who reside or stay in domiciles other than hotels, they or the persons who accommodate them shall, within 24 hours after the foreigners' arrival, go through the registration formalities with the public security organs in the places of residence.

Article 40 For foreign infants born in China, their parents or agents shall, within 60 days after they are born, on the strength of the birth certificates, go through the formalities for stay or residence registration for them with the exit/entry administrations of public security organs under people's governments at or above the county level in the places of their parents' stay or residence.

For foreigners who decease in China, their relatives, guardians or agents shall, in accordance with relevant regulations, on the strength of the death certificates, report their death to the exit/entry administrations of the public security organs under local people's governments at or above the county level to cancel their stay or residence permits.

Article 41 Foreigners who work in China shall obtain work permits and work-type residence permits in accordance with relevant regulations. No entities or individuals shall employ foreigners who have no work permits or work-type residence permits.

The administrative measures for foreigners working in China shall be stipulated by the State Council.

Article 42 The competent department of human resources and social security and the competent department in charge of foreign experts affairs under the State Council shall, in conjunction with relevant departments under the State Council, formulate and regularly adjust the guiding catalogue for foreigners working in China based on the needs for economic and social development as well as the supply and demand of human resources.

The competent department of education under the State Council shall, in conjunction with relevant departments under the State Council, establish an administrative system for foreign students working to support their study in China and set forth regulations on the scope of jobs and the limit of work time for such foreign students.

Article 43 Any of the following acts of foreigners shall be deemed unlawful employment:

(1) Work in China without obtaining work permits or work-type residence permits in accordance with relevant regulations;

(2) Work in China beyond the scope prescribed in the work permits; or

(3) Foreign students work in violation of the regulations on the administration of foreign students working to support their study in China and work beyond the prescribed scope of jobs or prescribed time limit.

Article 44 On the basis of the need for maintaining national security and public security, public security organs and national security organs may impose restrictions on foreigners and foreign institutions from establishing places of residence or work in certain areas; and may order that established places of residence or work be relocated within a prescribed time limit.

Without approval, foreigners shall not access foreigner-restricted areas.

Article 45 Entities that employ foreigners or enroll foreign students shall report relevant information to local public security organs in accordance with relevant regulations.

Citizens, legal persons or other organizations who find foreigners illegal enter, reside or work in China shall duly report such matter to the local public security organs.

Article 46 Foreigners applying for refugee status may, during the screening process, stay in China on the strength of temporary identity certificates issued by public security organs; foreigners who are recognized as refugees may stay or reside in China on the strength of refugee identity certificates issued by public security organs.

Section 2 Permanent Residence

Article 47 Foreigners who have made remarkable contribution to China's economic and social development or meet other conditions for permanent residence in China may obtain permanent residence status upon application approved by the Ministry of Public Security.

The administrative measures for examination and approval of foreigners' permanent residence in China shall be stipulated by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with relevant departments under the State Council.

Article 48 Foreigners who have obtained permanent residence status may reside or work in China on the strength of permanent residence permits, and exit or enter China on the strength of their passports and permanent residence permits.

Article 49 Where foreigners fall under any of the following circumstances, the Ministry of Public Security shall decide to cancel their permanent residence status in China:

(1) Endanger China's national security or interests;

(2) Are deported;

(3) Obtain permanent residence status in China by fraudulent acts;

(4) Fail to reside in China for the prescribed time limit; or

(5) Other circumstances in which foreigners are not eligible to reside in China permanently.