Validity of a visa: the period in which you may enter China
Unofficial entry · Sources checked
The validity period of entry is the valid period of time during which a visa holder may enter China. Article 36(2) of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Decree No. 637) defines the term. For other visa terms, see Visas and residence.
Definition
Article 36(2) reads: "The validity period of the entry specified in the visa means the valid period of time during which the visa holder may enter China. Unless otherwise specified by the issuing authority, a visa is valid from the date of issuance until Beijing time 24:00 on the expiring day."
Article 36 defines three related terms in separate paragraphs:
| Term | Provision | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Validity period of entry | Article 36(2) | The period during which the visa holder may enter China |
| Number of entries | Article 36(1) | The number of times the holder may enter within the validity period of entry |
| Duration of stay | Article 36(3) | The period the holder is allowed to stay in China after each entry, beginning from the next day of entry |
What the official text says
Part One of the Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom's visa guide describes the validity period as "enter before", shown on the biometric visa as "expiry date". The page states: "Unless otherwise specified by the issuing authority, a visa is valid from the date of issuance until Beijing time 24:00 on the expiring day, so long as the entries granted on the visa have not been used up."
On entries, the same page states that when the entries have been used up, the visa is no longer valid. It also states that even if unused entries remain, the visa is not valid if its validity has already expired. In either case, the page says the visa holder should apply for a new visa if another visit to China is planned. It states that holders of an invalid visa will be refused entry to China.
Section 3 of the same page defines duration of stay as "the period of time during which the visa holder is allowed to stay in China after each entry. It begins from the next day of entry."
Questions
When will my visa start to take effect? When does it expire?
Q9 of Part Seven: FAQs and Answers, published by the Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom, states that unless otherwise specified, a visa is valid from the date of issue. The answer lists four situations in which a visa expires:
- the time of your arrival in China is later than 24:00 (Beijing Time) of the expiry date given on the visa page;
- the number of entries has been used up;
- the visa has been cancelled or declared invalid by the authorities of the Chinese government;
- other circumstances in compliance with the Chinese laws and regulations.
If the visa expires while I am in China, can I still stay?
Q15 of the same FAQ states: "As long as you enter China before the expiry date of the visa, you may stay for the full length of the duration of each stay allowed by the visa." The answer concerns the duration of each stay, which Article 36(3) of the Regulations defines separately from validity.
Related terms
- Number of entries
- Duration of stay
- Residence permit for study
Sources
- Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (English text published by the National Immigration Administration), National Immigration Administration
- Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom — Part One: Visa for China (Mainland only), Ministry of Foreign Affairs mission
- Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom — Part Seven: FAQs and Answers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs mission
Checked 11 October 2026.
This entry is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice, it is not published by the bodies named, and the official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail if they differ.