Acceptance receipt: the paper that covers your stay while your passport is with the exit and entry office
Unofficial entry · Sources checked
An acceptance receipt (受理回执) is the receipt that the exit and entry administration authority of the public security organ issues when an application meets the acceptance provisions. The authority makes its decision on whether to issue the visa within the receipt's validity period. The definition follows Articles 13 and 18 of the Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Decree No. 637), and related rules appear in the Visas and residence section of this site.
Definition
The validity period depends on the kind of application.
| Application | Provision | Validity of the receipt |
|---|---|---|
| Extension, change or reissuance of a visa, or for a stay permit | Regulations, Article 13 | Not exceeding 7 days |
| Residence permit, or extension, change or reissuance of a residence permit | Regulations, Article 18 | Not exceeding 15 days |
What the official text says
Regulations, Articles 13 and 18
Article 13 states that the receipt is issued where the application meets the acceptance provisions, and that the receipt is valid for a period not exceeding 7 days. Article 13 also states that the decision on whether to issue the visa is made within the validity period of the receipt.
Article 13 states that, while the applicant's passport or other international travel documents are retained for processing a visa or permit application, the applicant may stay in China legally on the strength of the receipt of acceptance.
Article 18 states that the receipt for a residence permit application, or for its extension, change or reissuance, is valid for a period not exceeding 15 days. Article 18 also states that the decision on whether to issue the visa is made within the validity period of the receipt.
Article 18 states that, while the applicant's passport or other international travel documents are retained for processing a residence permit application, the applicant may reside in China legally on the strength of the receipt of acceptance.
Service guide, Chinese text (National Immigration Administration)
Section 七（二） of the Chinese service guide on issuing, extending, replacing and reissuing foreigners' residence permits states that the validity period of the receipt for a residence permit application does not exceed 15 working days from the date of acceptance. The English wording here is this site's translation of the Chinese text: "The validity period of the receipt for a residence permit application does not exceed 15 working days from the date of acceptance."
Section 八 of the same guide, under the heading 办结时限, repeats that the decision is made within the validity period of the receipt, which does not exceed 15 working days from the date of acceptance.
Service guide, English text (National Immigration Administration)
Section Ⅶ, item 2 of the English service guide on residence permits for foreigners states that the validity period of the acceptance receipt for an application for residence permit "shall not exceed 15 working days after the date of acceptance."
Section Ⅷ of the same English guide, under "Time Limit", states that the decision on whether to issue a residence permit is made within the validity period of the acceptance receipt, which "shall not exceed 15 working days after the date of acceptance."
Comparison of the periods
Article 18 of the Regulations gives the residence permit period as "not exceeding 15 days". Section 七（二） of the Chinese guide and Section Ⅶ, item 2 of the English guide each give 15 working days. Each figure is stated by the document that contains it.
Related terms
- Residence permit for study
- X1 and X2 visa
- Admission and documents
- Visa extension, change or reissuance
- Stay permit
- Exit and entry administration authority of the public security organ
Sources
- Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (English text). National Immigration Administration.
- National Immigration Administration service guide for issuing, extending, replacing and reissuing foreigners' residence permits (Chinese). National Immigration Administration.
- National Immigration Administration Service Guide on residence permits for foreigners (English). National Immigration Administration.
Checked 11 October 2026.
This entry is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, and is not published by the bodies named. The official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail if they differ.