How to Tell If Your Chinese Visa Is Still Valid

It is essential that you make sure your Chinese visa is still valid when planning a trip to China. The steps below are important items to go over when checking for the validity of your Chinese visa.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Passport

1. Assess the situation. Was your visa issued for three months or six months? Look at your visa to find the words "Good Before" and to the right of this there will be a date. Will you be entering China before this date? As long as you enter China before this date, your visa will be valid until you leave.
2. Look at your entries. Will your trip exceed the numbers of entries permitted? Look at your visa to find the word "Entries" and to the right of this will be a number. If, for example, you see the number "2," then you are permitted to enter China twice in the dates specified on the visa. Be sure that you have not already used these allowed entries and if you have, you will need to obtain another visa.
3. Understand that your allowed duration of stay is also on your visa. Underneath "Entries," you will find the words "Duration of Each Stay." Most visas say "30 Days After Entry," but find this on your visa to be sure. Will your trip be less than 30 days? This is important, because staying in China longer than the allowed duration can result in a hefty fine.
4. Check the expiration date of your passport. Will your passport expire before the end of you trip? It is possible that your visa will expire before your return trip, so double-check that your passport will not expire. You can find the "Date of Expiration" on the Photo and Information Page of your passport.
5. If your visa (passport) don't meet the criteria above making it valid, be sure to renew it at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in time to have a stress-free trip.

Tips & Warnings

• The Chinese policies on obtaining visas changed in April 2008, but these new rules were not retroactive. This means that visas issued before the new rules are still valid if they have not yet expired.
• Be sure not to start longer then the time period specified on your visa with out permission, or you may be struck with harsh fines.