1. Who needs to apply for a Chinese visa?

Except for cases where visa exemption applies under relevant agreements and regulations, all foreign nationals travelling to the Chinese mainland must obtain a visa.

2. I have obtained a Chinese visa, but my travel plan has changed. Can I modify or extend my visa at the Embassy or Consulate?

Once a visa is approved, it cannot be amended or extended, and visa fees are non-refundable. If your purpose of travel to China changes, you may submit a new visa application to the Embassy or Consulate by completing the application procedures and paying the fee again; your existing valid visa will be revoked accordingly. If you have already entered China, you shall apply to the local Exit and Entry Administration Department of Public Security Authorities for a change of visa category or extension of stay before your permitted stay expires. The Public Security Authorities will decide whether to approve the amendment or extension in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations.

3. Does a valid visa issued by the Embassy or Consulate guarantee entry into China?

No. Holding a visa does not guarantee entry into China. China’s border inspection authorities at ports of entry will make a decision on whether to grant you entry into China in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations.

4. Why is the visa category issued to me different from what I applied for?

Consular officers decide on visa issuance as well as the visa category, validity period, duration of stay and number of entries on a case-by-case basis. Unless there is a technical issue, decisions made by consular officers are final. 

5. How to interpret the information marked on the visa?

Date of Issue: The visa shall take effect as of this date. You may use this visa to enter China after this date and before the expiry of its validity.

Valid Until (Entry must be made on or before this date): The visa shall become invalid at 24:00 Beijing Time on this date. Attempts to enter China with this visa after that time will result in refusal of entry. 

Duration of Stay (May stay XX days after entry): Calculated from the day following entry, it indicates the maximum permitted length of stay in China. The duration of stay recalculates upon each entry and is not cumulative. After entering China, you may still stay in China within your permitted stay period even if the visa’s validity period has expired. 

Number of Entries: Single (01), Double (02), Multiple (M). It refers to the number of times you may enter and exit China using this visa within its validity period. 

Remarks: Pay attention to any additional notes on the visa. Holders of visas such as Z (except for Z visas marked “May stay 30 days after entry”), X1, Q1, S1, J1 and D must complete residence formalities with local public security authorities within 30 days upon entry into China.

6. Do I need to submit my application in person? Can I authorize another person to submit on my behalf?

If an applicant is unable to visit the Visa Application Center in person,  relevant supporting documents may be submitted by an authorized  person or agency. Applicants required to provide biometric fingerprints must visit the Visa Application Center in person. Please note that the Embassy or Consulate may request the applicant to attend an interview if deemed necessary. 

The following categories of persons are exempt from fingerprint collection (persons exempt from fingerprint collection may authorize others to submit applications):

(1) Persons under 14 years of age or over 70 years of age;

(2) Holders of diplomatic passports, or persons eligible for Chinese diplomatic, official or courtesy visas;

(3) Applicants who have previously applied for a visa with the same passport at the Chinese Embassy in Singapore or the Chinese Visa Application Service Center and had their fingerprints retained within the past five years;

(4) Persons with all ten fingers missing or whose fingerprints of all ten fingers cannot be captured;

(5) In accordance with the announcement of the Chinese Government, fingerprint collection is waived for all applicants applying for single-entry or double-entry short-term visas (stay not exceeding 180 days) at Chinese overseas visa-issuing authorities on or before 31 December 2026.

7. Do I need an appointment for visa application?

No appointment is required. Unless special requirements are specified by the Embassy or Consulate, you may submit your application or collect your visa at the Visa Application Center during our public opening hours upon completion of online pre-check.

8. Can I submit my visa application by post? Can my passport with the issued visa be sent back to me by post?

Visa applications submitted by post are not accepted. The Visa Application Center offers passport return-by-post service. You may also entrust another person to pay the fees and collect your visa on your behalf.

9. How far in advance should I apply for a visa?

Under normal circumstances, the Embassy completes visa assessment within 4 working days. Certain individual cases may require longer processing time, for which the Embassy or Consulate will notify the applicant upon acceptance or during assessment. It is generally recommended to submit your visa application at least one month prior to your planned entry into China.

10. Is expedited visa service available?

Expedited service is available at an additional fee. Please request the service from counter staff upon submission of your application. Please note that certain visa applications require lengthy assessment and expedited service cannot be offered.

11. What should I do if I accidentally lose my Singaporean passport while in China?

Report the loss to the local Chinese public security authorities as soon as possible, apply for a new passport or other international travel document at Singapore’s Embassy or Consulate in China, then apply to Chinese public security authorities for replacement of stay documents or exit formalities.

12. I am currently in China and my visa is about to expire. Can I ask my friend to take my Singaporean passport back to Singapore and apply for a new visa at your Visa Application Center?

No. You must depart China before your visa expires and submit a new visa application afterwards, or apply for an extension from the local public security authorities.

13. How do foreign nationals apply for entry to the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions?

Pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions exercise independent authority over immigration control. Their entry policies are formulated independently. Please refer to their official government websites for details.

Immigration Department of Hong Kong SAR: www.immd.gov.hk; Hotline: 00852-28246111.

Public Security Police Force of Macao SAR: http://www.fsm.gov.mo/; Hotline: 00853-28725488.

14. How should foreign nationals apply for visa when plan to travel to the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR simultaneously?

Foreign nationals travelling to the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR at the same time must separately apply for a mainland visa, a Hong Kong visa and a Macao visa.

15. What does “visa exemption for holders of residence documents” mean?

Foreign nationals holding valid residence documents (normally endorsed in passports) may reside in China and make multiple entries and exits within the validity period of their residence documents without applying for additional visas.

Holders of the valid People’s Republic of China Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card may reside in China and make multiple entries and exits without applying for additional visas.