Passport expires in less than 6 months... can I return to China?

Posted Nov 18, 2009 4:44pm by Nidaye

Joined: Mar 18th, 2008
Posts: 807

I have less than 6 months remaining on my Cdn passport. I was wondering if my passport needs to have 6 months validity to enter China, or if they just care about having a valid visa/residence permit? I'm guessing the latter, as the China consulate websites only state that 6 months passport validity is needed in order to apply for a visa - they say nothing about this being required for entry into China. But I'd like to hear from someone who's had 1st-hand experience with this.

By the way, I just got my residence permit renewed - so apparently the 6 month rule doesn't apply to that (the new permit expires when my passport expires).

Also, I will be making a trip back home early next year, so I was planning to renew my passport while I'm there. However, since my residence permit will be in my old passport will they let me back into China if I also show them my old passport along with my new one? I believe this is how it works for F visas, just not sure if the same rules apply for residence permits.

Thanks!

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beijingleeo

Joined: Nov 8th, 2006
Posts: 257

Re: Passport expires in less than 6 months... can I return ...

Posted by: beijingleeo on Nov 18, 2009 6:18pm

It is required to have at least 6 months left on the passports only when you apply for new visas in the Chinese embassies/ consulates/ visa offices.

When you are in China mainland, the visas issued can be valid until the expiration dates of passports.

In case you have the valid visas, the customs will allow you to enter into China mainland.

It is required to transfer the Residence Permits to the new passports within 10 days of receiving the passports. Since you will get the new passport when you are in your home country, please do the residence permit transfer within 10 days of re-entry into China mainland.
You need to use both passports to come back to China.

Better Service, Easier Life!
http://www.cn-visa.com

Nidaye

Joined: Mar 18th, 2008
Posts: 807

Re: Passport expires in less than 6 months... can I return ...

Posted by: Nidaye on Nov 18, 2009 10:06pm

beijingleeo wrote:

It is required to have at least 6 months left on the passports only when you apply for new visas in the Chinese embassies/ consulates/ visa offices.

When you are in China mainland, the visas issued can be valid until the expiration dates of passports.

In case you have the valid visas, the customs will allow you to enter into China mainland.

It is required to transfer the Residence Permits to the new passports within 10 days of receiving the passports. Since you will get the new passport when you are in your home country, please do the residence permit transfer within 10 days of re-entry into China mainland.
You need to use both passports to come back to China.

Thanks again, beijingleeo - I really appreciate the help you've given me.

I'm also very glad to hear that I won't have any problems returning on a new passport (with my residence permit in my old one).

TradersLink-BeiJing

Joined: Nov 19th, 2009
Posts: 19

Re: Passport expires in less than 6 months... can I return ...

Posted by: TradersLink-BeiJing on Nov 19, 2009 6:15pm

When you come back from Canada to China, pls hold your old and new passports.Please ask the Customs officer to stamp the entry seal on your new passport.

For your safe, pls do as the follows:
Changing the passport number on your work permit;
Transfering the residence permit to your new passport with same validity.

For more assistance please contact Traders-Link Customer Care hotline at 400 610 8585 or browse our website: www.traders-link.com

Tel: +86 (10) 6597 8585
Hotline: 400 610 8585
Email: info@traders-link.com
Website:www.traders-link.com

marywu

Joined: Mar 25th, 2009
Posts: 227

Re: Passport expires in less than 6 months... can I return ...

Posted by: marywu on Nov 20, 2009 10:30am

Hello,
You need to get old and new passports to come back to China. But you have to transfer the Residence Permits to the new passports within 10 days when you get new passport.

Mary

Mary Wu
MSN /Email: marywu007@hotmail.com
Cell Phone:+86-18600224833
Tel Number:+86-10-58156222 ext.120
Add.：Room707-708,CYTS Plaza,No.5 Dongzhimen South Avenue,Dongcheng District,Beijing,P.R.C 100007

Nidaye

Joined: Mar 18th, 2008
Posts: 807

Re: Passport expires in less than 6 months... can I return ...

Posted by: Nidaye on May 7, 2010 11:49am

TradersLink-BeiJing wrote:

When you come back from Canada to China, pls hold your old and new passports.Please ask the Customs officer to stamp the entry seal on your new passport.

For your safe, pls do as the follows:
Changing the passport number on your work permit;
Transfering the residence permit to your new passport with same validity.

I just wanted to thank all of you for your help, and update this thread for the benefit of others.

I ended up getting a new passport while I was overseas, and like the people here said I just needed to show my old and new passports to the China immigration officer when I landed.

My employer has an agent who takes care of our residence permits, and like you said I got the passport number changed in my work permit (the red book). Instead of transferring my existing residence permit, they just applied for a new one as the old one was about to expire in a week with my old passport.

Also don't forget to inform your payroll department of your new passport #, as the tax bureau uses that to identify you.

Irina Lyan

Joined: Aug 13th, 2009
Posts: 19

Re: Passport expires in less than 6 months... can I return ...

Posted by: Irina Lyan on May 28, 2010 3:44pm

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