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000 on a China visa: what a zero duration of stay tells the holder

Unofficial entry · Sources checked

'000' is the figure the Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom uses in its visa guide and FAQ to describe the duration-of-stay field of certain Chinese visas. The embassy states that holders of those visas must apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entry. This entry sets out what the two embassy pages say, what Article 30 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law says, and what Article 36 of Order No. 42 says. For the wider framework, see Visas and residence.

Definition

In Q11 of the embassy's FAQ (Part Seven), "Duration of Each Stay" refers to the maximum number of days a holder is permitted to stay in China after each entry. The same answer uses the form "a duration of stay for 000 days" for the visa categories it lists. The figure is therefore a duration-of-stay entry, and the embassy's text attaches the residence-permit requirement to it.

What the official text says

Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom, visa page (Part One: Visa for China, Mainland only). The page states that holders of D visa, J1 visa, Q1 visa, S1 visa, X1 visa and Z visa with the "000" duration of stay shall, within 30 days from the date of their entry, apply to the exit/entry administrations of public security organs of local people's governments at or above the county level in the proposed places of residence for foreigners' residence permits. This is the statement of this embassy. It is not a rule stated for all Chinese missions.

Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom, FAQ (Part Seven), Q11. The answer repeats the list of visa categories (D, J1, Q1, S1, X1 and Z) and the 30-day period. It says that failure to apply in that period will count as illegal overstay. It says that overstaying what the visa permits is a breach of Chinese laws and regulations, and that the overstayer may face fines or other penalties.

Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, Article 30 (English text published by the National Immigration Administration). Paragraph 1 states that where a visa specifies that a foreigner needs to apply for a residence permit after entry, the foreigner shall, within 30 days from the date of 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 place of residence. Paragraph 2 states that the administrations shall, within 15 days upon the date of receipt, conduct examination and make a decision. Article 30 does not refer to the figure "000".

Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (学校招收和培养国际学生管理办法), Order No. 42 of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security, Article 36. The English rendering below is this site's translation of the Chinese text. Article 36 states that where a study-type visa held by an international student specifies that a residence document must be obtained after entry, the student shall apply for a study-type foreigner's residence document within 30 days from the date of entry, to the exit and entry administration of the public security authority in the intended place of residence. Article 36 does not refer to the figure "000".

Related terms

Sources

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.

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