Period of Validity & Period of Stay
Period of Validity of a visa refers to the period starting from the issuing date to last day before a person may enter China. For example, if your visa is issued on May 1st with a period of validity of 90 days. It means you have to enter China before August 1st.
The Period of Stay refers to the period starting from the entering date on which a traveler enters into China to the last day, on which he has to leave the country. Take the previous example again. If the period of stay of the visa you apply for is 30 days and you enter China on May 10, it means you can stay in China till June 9.
Most tourist visas are usually valid for three months with a stay period of 30 days. The period of validity can be extended for an extra month. We suggest that you apply for your visa one month prior to your travel date.
Extension of Visa
Foreigners who want to stay in China beyond the period which is allowed by their L visas, need to apply for an extension of their visas with appropriate reasons.
Documents of your valid passport, visa and certificate of residence registration, a completed visa extension application form and materials supporting the reasons of extension are required when you have the extension processed at the municipal public security bureau seven days before your visa expires. Also the certificates of your travel expenditures such traveler's check or other financial supports are needed to show you have an economic guarantee of your further stay.
The multiple entry visas cannot be extended.
The L visa held by visitors could be extended once with duration of not more than one month; L visa held by family visitors could be extended three times with the duration of each under three months.
For visitors who are purposely on traveling, with L visa, the stay period can be extended once with the maximum duration no more than one month and for family visitors, the visas could be extended two or three times with the duration of each less than three months. However, for the latter cases, more detailed materials are required to provide reasonable grounds of your extending stay in the country.
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Reply1/4/2012 8:32:00 PMathena, Malaysia
hi, i am malaysian chinese and i just get marry with a china guy in malaysia.we plan to stay back china for future.currently i having visa L multi entry for 30 days..what the procedure and visa i need for stay and working in china ,thank you
1/5/2012 8:13:00 PMLisa :
You can go to China to find a work there, and then go back to Malaysia to apply for a work visa, and finally you can stay and work in China.Reply12/7/2011 2:20:00 AMs, Philippines
Hi, my name is sandra my husband is relocate for work here in macau.this is my second time to enter in macau, my firs tvisit i came from dubai for tourist visa and i stay for 25 days, then i go back for 2 weeks in philippines, then comeback again to visit my husband for second time but they only allowed me to stay for 20 day??..our papers is on the way to apply dependents visa for my husband, isnt possible ?if i can extend my visa atleast for one week..?? please advice me what to do? and where to go??
12/7/2011 7:14:00 PMsummer :
hi S,if you are only granted 20 days, you need to leave before it expires. you can try to extend your stay for one more week, but i'm not sure whether your application will be accepted. if not, you have to go back to the Philippines and wait for your dependent visa.
Reply10/27/2011 12:09:00 PMYaa Ama, Ghana
Am from Ghana and want to travel to malaysia in febuary 2012 for a six months stay. Can i extend my stay if i gain employment and how?
10/27/2011 6:55:00 PMKevin :
Extension of Social/Business pass is not allowed unless approved by the Director General or Deputy Director General of the Immigration Department of Malaysia.I'm afraid you will be not able to get an extension even if you are employed.
Reply10/21/2011 6:08:00 PMDS, India
My Parents are looking at visiting Hkg ( am a HKID Card holder) working and living in Hk. They will get a 14 day visit visa on arrival. If we are looking for an extention , how much maximum days can it extended after initial 14 days and what is the procedure.
10/21/2011 8:25:00 PMBobby :
I think your parents can apply for the extension of stay in Hk from the Immigration Department of Hk around 1 week before the validity of their approved duration on present visa.10/27/2011 6:44:00 PMCarlos :
You can extend your duration of stay from the local public security bureau around one week before the validity of the approved duration on your visa.Reply10/27/2011 2:45:00 AMsee, Malaysia
Hi, I just applied my China Visa with 2 entries. My schedule is i am going to Shanghai on 19Nov and leaving from SH to HK on 22Dec. And going back to SH from HK on 27Dec. My question is, the duration that i can stay in China is only 30days but i am going to stay more than that which is 19nov-22Dec. Can i extend this in SH even my visa is twice entries? Where should i go to extend my visa?
Reply10/16/2011 5:45:00 PMtanner joy, Philippines
hi, Joy from Phil.,what are the requirements if i intended to extend my tourist visa to business visa? and usaully how much will it cost?
thanks..
urgent reply appreciated
10/16/2011 8:57:00 PMIris :
hi Joy,you can not change the type of your visa during your trip. if you want to get a business visa, you need to go back to your country and apply a new one.
Reply9/5/2011 8:36:00 PMMaria, Philippines
Hello There! Im from the Philippines and i just have a questions
i have a 14 days duration of stay.I enjoyed my 14 days to the fullest.
My question is how soon can I come back? It's double entry anyhow.. will that be possible?
thank you!
9/6/2011 7:40:00 PMCandy :
someone said you can go back after 3 months, but you may be allowed to enter one or two weeks later if you have the hotel reservation and the round-trip air tickets.Reply9/4/2011 8:33:00 PMAm, Hong Kong, China
hi there! i am non-permanent resident in hong kong but staying here for continuous period of nearly six years n also divorced here n got permanent custody of two kids born here now i want to remarry indian guy can i sponsor him n can he land here n stay with me will he get stay n hk.id here plz help me in this
9/5/2011 7:23:00 PMDella :
i think you can get married in Hong Kong.Reply8/25/2011 12:27:00 AMbryan, Malaysia
can malaysian passport holder apply for china visa other then from their resident country? in my case is singapore.
if i am in macau for holiday, and decided to visit China either zhuhai or shenchen, can i apply my China visa from the china embassy in macau?
8/28/2011 12:45:00 AMTracy :
hi Bryan,you can not apply the Chinese Visa in Macau or Hong Kong, but you can get it in singapore.
Reply8/22/2011 11:18:00 PMcecile, Philippines
Hi,
My name is Cecile Tan, from Manila Philippines and holding Chinese Business visa, multiple entry... I am eligible to stay here for a max of 30 days and need to exit.
I entered Aug 15... I was wondering if I can extend my stay to another 5 days, Sept 21 instead of Sept 14... The Furniture exhibit will be on Sept 12-17 and I will be handling that project then we need to do some final evaluation...
I request if I can extend my stay for another week, to exit Shanghai Sept 21 instead of Sep 14.
Pls adv what to do? or who to call?
Thanks,
Cecile
8/23/2011 8:19:00 PMWendy :
you can extend your visa in the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau.