Foreigners must abide by the laws and regulations of PRC.

1. Applicants shall ensure the validity and sufficient number of entries of the visa before coming to China. If the visa expires or the number of entries is exhausted, the applicants shall re-apply for a new visa.

2. If foreigners carry animals, plants, currencies and other articles into China, they must abide by relevant laws of China and the regulations made by the Department of Health Quarantine, the Department of Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine, the Customs and the Financial Supervision and Regulation Department.

3. Foreigners shall not be engaged in activities irrelevant to the subject specified in applying for the visa in China.

4. Foreign citizens shall only stay in China within the staying period. Therefore, they shall pay attention to the valid period of their passport and the staying period of the visa. For a longer residence time, they must apply to the local public security authority for an extension prior to the expiration date.

5. If foreigners go for a trip in some cities and counties close to them, they must apply to the local public security bureau for a travel certificate in advance. They can only go there with prior approval. Foreigners shall not enter the premises which are not open to the public without permission.

6. Attention: The following passengers may get such punishments as being denied boarding or entry, or being fined, etc.

(1) Those coming to China before a visa is completed (except when a waiver is obtained);

(2) Those coming to China with an expired visa;

(3) Those staying in China with the visa exceeding the staying period;

(4) Those whose passport expires during their stay in China. (regardless of the validity of the staying period of the visa)

See the following for additional details:

Types of Visas

Chinese visas are classified as: Diplomatic visas, Courtesy visas, Business visas, and general visas. Classified by the purpose of visiting China, general visas issued to foreign nationals are further classified into eight types: Residency visas, Professional visas, Study visas, Visit visas, Tourist visas, Transit visas, Crew-member visas, and Journalist visas. Each type of visa is  designated by the first phonetic letter of its Hanyu Pinyin, a combination of letters and numbers for certain types of visas, such as the: D, Z, X, F, L, G, C, J-1 and J-2 classes. General visas are issued to the following foreign nationals:

1. D Visas are issued to foreign nationals granted permanent residency in China.

2. Z Visas are issued to foreign nationals taking up employment in China and are also issued to their accompanying family.

3. X Visas are issued to foreign nationals who will stay in China for education, advanced studies or internship for six months.

4. F Visas are issued to foreign nationals who are invited to China for visits, inspection tours, lectures, business, science and technology exchanges, short-term advanced studies or internships for a period of up to six months.

5. L Visas are issued to foreign nationals who are coming to China for sightseeing, family visits or for private purposes. A tourist group with more than nine members may be granted a group visa.

6. G Visas are issued to foreign nationals who are transiting through China.

7. C Visas are issued to crew members of trains, aircraft and ships on international travels, flights or voyages and may be issued to their accompanying family members.

8. J-1 Visas are issued to foreign journalists to be posted in China, and J-2 Visas are issued to foreign journalists on specific reporting assignments to China.

Foreign nationals in China are only allowed to engage in activities that match the type of visas that they have been granted.

Documents Required for Visa Applications

To obtain a visa to China, a foreign national is required to provide a valid passport or an alternative identification document, respond to the relevant questions asked, fill out the visa application form, submit 2X2 inch recent photos (full face without hat), and provide a certificate attesting to the purpose of entry or transit.

A foreign national who intends to reside in China permanently or stay in China for more than one year should provide a health certificate (valid for six months) of a kind which is satisfactory to Chinese authorities when applying for an entry visa.

Visa Exempted Personnel

To facilitate international travel, many countries exempt each other's citizens from visa requirements. The following foreign nationals are granted visa-free entry into mainland China.

1. Holders of passports issued by countries which have entered into a mutual visa exemption agreement with the Chinese government. At present, China has mutual visa exemption agreements with 53 countries, including Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela. Under such agreements, holders of ordinary passports, other than diplomatic or service passports, are allowed to enter mainland China without visas.

2. International passengers who hold a ticket for a connecting flight and are transiting directly through China on an international flight are exempted from transit visas, if they stay in the city of transit for not more than 24 hours and do not leave the airport. To leave the airport, an international passenger must obtain permission from the border inspection station at the airport.

3. Foreign crews of vessels on international voyages and their accompanying family who want to come ashore during the vessel's call at a Chinese port and who will not travel beyond the city where the port is located may apply for a landing permit from the border inspection station. And those who wish to stay ashore overnight should obtain an overnight stay permit (this rule is not applicable to those planning to travel beyond the city or those who are unable to exit onboard their original vessel).

4. Citizens of Russia, Byelorussia, Turkmenistan and Moldova who are visiting China as part of a tour group are exempted from visas.

5. Citizens of Japan, Singapore and Brunei holding a regular passport are granted visa-free stay in China for up to 15 days.

Visa Replacement and Extension Procedures

1. Visa Replacement
 
(1) A foreign visitor whose passport is lost or stolen should provide a certificate issued by the entry and exit department of the local public security bureau or a statement from the embassy or consulate of his or her home country in China proving that his or her passport has been lost or stolen.

A foreign visitor whose passport is about to expire or passport visa pages are close to full and therefore must request a new passport, should present his or her passport with which he or she has entered China, to the proper authorities for replacement or renewal.

(2) In the case of an infant born in China and thus bearing an independent passport, his or her birth certificate and a photocopy of his or her parents' foreign passports should be presented.

2. Visa Extension
 
A foreign visitor who wants to extend his or her stay in the PRC or change the type or content of his or her visa should file an application with the relevant government agency in a timely manner according to the following procedures:
 
(1) Present his or her passport, visa and other required identification papers;

(2) Fill out the visa extension or visa change application form;

(3) Provide a certificate justifying the reason for the visa extension or change.

※ Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office provides visa services for officers and staff members of consulates in Guangzhou who hold diplomatic, courtesy and service passports and for other foreign nationals who are paying short-term visits to Guangzhou.

Address: 2/F, Bldg. 3, Government Compound, No. 1, Fuqian Road
Tel: 83125519
Website: www.gzfao.gov.cn/

※ Entry and Exit Administration Office of the Guangzhou Public Security Bureau handles visa and residence applications by foreign nationals who hold valid identification papers (passports and other travel documents).

Address: 6/F, No. 155, South Jiefang Road
Website: www.gzjd.gov.cn
Inquiries: 96110110
Please note that it takes five workdays to process, approve and issue visas and other travel documents.

As approved by the State Council, starting in August 1, 2013, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport will implement the policy of 72-hour visa-free transit for passengers from 51 countries who hold a third-country visa.

What does the 72-hour visa-free transit mean?

It means that foreign passengers with a flight ticket and visa to a third country in transit to the third country via the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport can stay in Guangdong for up to 72 hours without a Chinese visa.

For example, before the policy is introduced, a passenger who was traveling to Australia via Guangzhou could only wait for his connecting flight at the airport, but after the policy is implemented, he may leave the airport and stay in Guangdong for up to three days before departing for Australia.

The 51 countries entitled to the 72-hour visa-free policy

European Schengen Agreement countries (24 in total): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia , Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland

Other European countries (13): Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine,Serbia,Croatia,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Montenegro,Macedonia,Albania。

American countries (6): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile

Oceania countries (2): Australia, and New Zealand

Asian countries (6): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar

How to apply

Q: What foreigners can apply for 72 hours visa-free transit?

A: (a) Citizens of the 51 countries entitled to the 72-hour visa-free transit (passengers' city of arrival or destination does not have to be one of these 51 countries; (2) passengers who hold valid international travel documents, a visa from a third country or region, and a ticket for a connecting flight within 72 hours from Guangzhou to a third country or region; and (3) eligible passengers cannot travel beyond Guangdong.

Scope of Applicability

Q: Does this policy apply to passengers from a third country or region to Guangzhou who hold a ticket for a return flight within 72 hours?

A: This policy is only applicable to passengers in transit to a third country or region and therefore does not apply to foreign visitors who travel on round trip flights.

How long can I stay

Q: How is the 72-hour period defined?

A: The 72-hour period starts from zero hours on the day immediately following the passenger's entry. In theory, an eligible foreign passenger can stay in Guangzhou for up to 96 hours. For example, for a passenger arriving at the Baiyun Airport at 00:01 on August 1, his 72-hour visa-free period starts from 00:00 of August 2; he may depart at 23:59 on August 4.

What is the procedure

Q: What is the procedure for the visa-free stay?

A: Eligible passengers can inform their carrier of their eligibility for the 72-hour visa-free policy and make a request to complete the procedure for the stay. The carrier will forward their requests to the border control authorities at the Baiyun Airport. Passengers who have not made a request before landing in the airport may make a request after landing.

Special Circumstances

Q: Can I enter Guangzhou by train or bus from Hong Kong or Macao and then depart from the Baiyun Airport within 72 hours?

A: No, you can't. This policy is only implemented at the Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. Passengers entitle to the 72-hour visa-free transit policy can only complete their transit procedure at the Baiyun Airport.

● According to the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China and PRC Customs' Supervision and Management on Inward and Outward Passengers' Luggage, the luggage carried by inward and outward passengers shall enter or leave the territory at a place where there is a Customs office, and must be declared to Customs officers as required.

● Unless otherwise specified by laws and regulations, no luggage carried by both inwards and outwards passengers shall be exempt from being inspected and released by China Customs. Customs inspection of such luggage is based on the principle of "clearing articles of reasonable quantity for personal use only". Different types of luggage carried by passengers shall be given different limited value and amount for levying and exemption of duties.

● In the event passengers carry some articles which are required to be declared to the Customs for entry or exit, those passengers shall submit the form entitled "Declaration on PRC Customs Inward and Outward Passengers' Luggage" or Customs declaration documents at the declaration desk, such that they truthfully declare the luggage as required, and submit them to the Customs to handle articles entry or exit formalities. In a double-channel Customs office, the above-mentioned passengers shall choose the channel of "declaration" (e.g. "red channel") for clearance and passengers who carry articles which are not required to be declared to the Customs shall choose the channel of "non-declaration" (e.g. "green channel") for clearance.

● Please note declaration documents with the Customs' inspection and signature must  be kept properly, so that the passengers can handle relevant formalities well based on their production of those documents if needed for return or after entry.

Luggage carrying a Customs seal cannot be unpacked. Likewise Customs seals affixed to luggage cannot be damaged or broken. A passenger may be committing an offence under the Laws of China in doing so.

Health Declaration at Border Crossings

1. When there is no major epidemic reported in China or abroad, inbound and outbound personnel do not need to fill out an "Entry-Exit Quarantine and Health Declaration Card". However, inbound and outbound personnel exhibiting symptoms of fever, vomiting, cough, breathing difficulty, diarrhea, contagious disease or psychiatric disorders or who may be judged to be carrying microorganisms, human tissues, biological products, blood or its products shall verbally declare their status to an quarantine officer at the passenger inspection lane and subject themselves to inspection and quarantine. (Excerpt from 2008 No. 62 Notice on Streamlining Health Declaration Procedures for Inbound and Outbound Passengers at Border Crossings Nationwide, issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China)

2. When there is a major epidemic reported in China or abroad, temporary compulsory inspection and quarantine measures announced by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China with regard to inbound and outbound personnel shall apply, and inbound and outbound personnel shall truthfully fill out the "Entry-Exit Quarantine and Health Declaration Card", enter or exit through the dedicated lane for inspection and quarantine, and have their luggage scanned by an X-ray machine. (Excerpt from 2008 No. 62 Notice on Streamlining Health Declaration Procedures for Inbound and Outbound Passengers at Border Crossings Nationwide, issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China)

Inspection & Quarantine Instructions to Inbound Personnel
  
1. A foreign national planning to reside in China for more than a year shall, when applying for an entry visa, present a health certificate issued by a medical organization designated by the government of his or her home country, or a health certificate issued by any medical organization and notarized by a notary public. The health certificate shall be valid for at least six months from the date of issuance. (Excerpt from The Rules Governing the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit of Aliens)

2. An inbound Chinese national who has resided abroad for more than three months or an overseas Chinese from Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan who has been approved to relocate back to China to take up residency or employment, shall present a health certificate issued by the inspection and quarantine authority or a public hospital in the country of his or her residence prior to returning to China (the health certificate shall include AIDS and venereal disease serology test results). If he or she is unable to produce a valid certificate, he or she shall undergo a physical examination at an inspection and quarantine agency after reentry; local public security authorities shall urge he or she to undergo the physical examination and provide necessary assistance to satisfy all relevant requirements assuring good health. (Excerpt from Health Inspection [89] No. 5 Notice of the Ministries of Health and Public Security on the Presentation of Health Certificates by Inbound and Outbound Chinese Citizens)

3. An inbound Chinese national who has resided abroad for more than a year shall declare his or her physical condition to the inspection and quarantine authority upon reentry. He or she shall undergo a physical examination at the nearest inspection and quarantine agency or hospital above the county level within one month of reentry. (Excerpt from The Rules for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Frontier Health and Quarantine)
 
4. Passengers coming from areas infected by Yellow Fever shall present a valid vaccination certificate to the inspection and quarantine authority upon entry. (Excerpt from The Rules Governing the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit of Aliens)

Inspection & Quarantine Instructions to Outbound Personnel
 
1. An outbound passenger who has been approved to take up employment, pursue studies or reside in a foreign country for more than a year shall undergo a physical examination, receive vaccinations and health certification at an inspection and quarantine agency before his or her departure. (Excerpt from Health Inspection [89] No. 5 Notice of the Ministries of Health and Public Security on the Presentation of Health Certificates by Inbound and Outbound Chinese Citizens)
 
2. A passenger bound for a foreign country infected with Yellow Fever shall present a vaccination certificate on departure and return. (Excerpt from The Health and Quarantine Inspection Rules for Inbound and Outbound Personnel, SN/T 1344-2003)
 
3. An outbound passenger shall provide a relevant vaccination certificate according to the requirements of his or her destination country. (Excerpt from The Health and Quarantine Inspection Rules for Inbound and Outbound Personnel, SN/T 1344-2003)

Luggage Instructions to Inbound and Outbound Personnel
 
(Except from the No. 56 Decree of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China: The Administrative Provisions on Quarantine of Luggage Carried by Inbound and Outbound Personnel)

1. An inbound or outbound passenger carrying the following objects shall declare same to the quarantine and inspection authority and subject the objects to quarantine. Objects which have not been declared and quarantined are barred from entry or exit.
 
(1) Inbound: animal and plant products and other objects subject to quarantine;
 
(2) Inbound and outbound: microorganisms, human tissues, biological products, blood, blood products, and other special objects;
 
(3) Inbound and outbound: skeletons, ashes, corpses, and coffins;

(4) Inbound and outbound: luggage and objects originating from epidemic areas or contaminated by a contagious disease or deemed likely to transmit a contagious disease;
 
(5) Other carry-on luggage which shall be declared to the quarantine and inspection authority and be subject to quarantine.

2. The following objects are prohibited from entry: objects listed in Paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Quarantine of Inbound and Outbound Animals and Plants, in the Catalog of the People's Republic of China for Plants Prohibited from Entry, and in the Catalog of the People's Republic of China for Animals, Animal Products and Other Quarantine Objects Prohibited from Entry into China as Carry-on Luggage or Postal Parcels, and blood products, wastes and other objects expressly prohibited from entering China by the Chinese Government.

※ Guangzhou Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau
Add: No. 66, Huacheng Avenue, Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou
PC 510623
Inquires: 36066924 (Baiyun Airport Checkpoint), 61311681 (Tianhe East Railway Station Checkpoint)

Luggage and goods carried by inbound and outbound passengers should be for personal use only and in a reasonable quantity and should be declared as actual personal items to the Customs and subjected to inspection by the Customs officials.

The duty-paid value of inbound and outbound goods is determined by the Customs officers according to the law.

Short-term passengers (those approved to stay in or outside China for not more than one year) may carry the following goods into or out of China, subject to the following restrictions:

Goods in Category I should be for personal use only and in a reasonable quantity.

An inbound passenger may carry 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco and two bottles of alcoholic beverage (of higher than 12 percent alcohol and less than 1.5 liters) free of duty.

An inbound passenger with Category III goods will be subject to customs duties.

Each inbound passenger may carry a camera, a portable tape recorder, a small movie camera, a portable video camera, and a portable word processor for personal use. If exceeding the pre-stated scope, he or she should make a declaration to the Customs officials present.

Inbound and outbound passengers carrying more than RMB 20,000 or more than USD 5,000 or an equivalent amount in other foreign currencies, in cash, or who are carrying more than 50 grams of gold or silver and/or their related products should make a declaration to the Customs officials. For foreign passengers who undertake multiple trips to and from Hong Kong or Macao over a period of 15 days and for persons undertaking frequent inbound and outbound trips, the Customs officials will only release articles they need for their journey.

Inbound and outbound passengers holding a diplomatic or courtesy visa granted by the competent authority of the Government of the People's Republic of China, are not required to fill out the declaration form; however, they should show their valid identity papers to the Customs officials so that Customs can exempt them from inspection.

A passenger may not carry more than RMB 150 worth of Chinese medicinal materials and prepared Chinese medicines if bound for Hong Kong or Macao and not more than RMB 300 if bound for a foreign country. 

1. Identity papers

2. Long-term residence permit

3. Completed Application Forms of the Customs Office of the People's Republic of China for Importation and Exportation of Articles for Personal Use

4. Bill of lading (waybill), packing list and other required documents

Customs levies duties on dutiable articles imported by non-resident, long-term visitors that are designated for personal use in accordance with the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Duties. The Customs Office does not levy duties on articles which are imported by long-term, non-resident visitors for personal use and which are exempted from duty under intergovernmental protocols. (For more information, please visit the China Customs website at www.customs.gov.cn)

Domestic articles, in a reasonable quantity, which are imported into China by staff members of foreign consulates, the United Nations and its affiliations, and representative offices of international organizations in China, as well as by their family, are exempted from duty and inspection.

Books and teaching and scientific research materials/objects in a reasonable quantity which are imported into China by foreign experts (including experts from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) serving in the nation's educational institutions are exempted from import duty.

For regulations and procedures, please contact:

※ Luggage & Mail Section, Luggage & Mail Supervision Department, Guangzhou Customs
Add: No. 83, Huacheng Avenue, Zhujiang New Town
Tel: 81102626, 38920179, 38920180

※ Non-Trade Administration Section, Supervision & Clearance Department, Huangpu Customs
Add: No. 327, Zhicheng Avenue, Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone
Tel: 82130300, 82130621
Website: http://huangpu.customs.gov.cn

● Tobacco & Alcohol

Articles for personal use are limited to a camera, a portable cassette player, a minicam, a portable video cam and a word processor for non-residential passengers and residential passengers with a re-entry visa for entering the country or region of destination. Articles beyond those limits must be truthfully declared to the Customs and must go through the relevant formalities. Passengers must carry the articles released by the Customs with them when leaving China.

● Gold, silver and their products

Gold, silver and their products carried into China by passengers are limited to reasonable quantities for personal use. If they are over 50 grams, passengers shall fill out a declaration document to declare to the Customs. The Customs will release the same amount of products declared when the passengers go out of China, and will also release the gold, silver and their products (including new crafts like inlaid jewelries and utensils, etc.) bought in China in light of the "special invoice" issued by the People's Bank of China.

● Foreign exchange

Foreign currencies, traveler's checks and credit cards carried into China by passengers are unlimited. If more than 1,000 USD or an equivalent amount of other foreign currency is carried into China by residential passengers (5,000 USD by non-residential passengers), it should be declared to the Customs. The Customs will release the same amount of currencies declared when the passengers go out of China. The foreign exchange in excess of the above amount carried out of China by passengers will be inspected and released by the Customs in light of the "License for Carrying Outward Foreign Exchange" issued by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

● RMB

No more than 6000 RMB is allowed to be carried into or out of China by passengers.

● Cultural relics (including the works of deceased famous modern painters)

If passengers carry the inward cultural relics out of China, they shall declare to the Customs in detail. And the relics carried out must be identified by the Administrative Department of Chinese Culture.

Passengers shall declare to the Customs in detail when carrying cultural relics out. Cultural relics bought in any stores in China should be inspected and released by the Customs in light of the identification marker affixed and the invoice for exporting cultural relics issued by the Administrative Department of Chinese Culture. Cultural relics got through other means in China should be inspected and released by the Customs in light of the identification marker affixed and the export license issued by the Administrative Department of Chinese Culture. No unidentified cultural relics are allowed to be carried out. If one carries the relics out without actual declaration to the Custom, he will be punished according to the law.

● Chinese medicinal plant and Chinese patent medicine

Passengers are allowed to carry Chinese medicinal plant and Chinese patent medicine with the value of no more than 300RMB to foreign countries and of no more than 150 RMB to Hong Kong and Macao. They are also allowed to post Chinese medicinal plant and Chinese patent medicine with the value of less than 200 RMB to foreign countries and of less than 100 RMB to Hong Kong and Macao.

When inward passengers go out of China with reasonable quantity of Chinese medicinal plant and Chinese patent medicine for personal use, they will be released by the Customs in light of relevant invoice and foreign exchange memo.

Musk, Chinese medicinal plant and Chinese patent medicine in excess of the afore mentioned limited value are not permitted to be carried out.

● Tourist commodities

If passengers carry tourist souvenirs and crafts (excluding articles in need of export license or export duty as required by the State) bought in China with foreign currency out, they will be released by the Customs in light of relevant invoice and foreign exchange memo.

● Arms, imitation arms, ammunition and explosives of all kinds;

● Counterfeit currencies and counterfeit valuable securities;

● Publications, films, photographs, gramophone records, movies, audio and video tapes, laser discs, computer storage media and other articles that are detrimental to the political, economic, cultural and moral interests of the People's Republic of China.;

● Deadly poison of all kinds;

● Opium, morphine, heroin, marijuana and other addictive kef and psychotropic substance;

● Animals, plants and products thereof infected with or carrying pathogenic germs, insect pests and other harmful organisms;

● Unsanitary foodstuff, medicines and other articles coming from epidemic stricken areas and those harmful to man and livestock or those capable of spreading diseases;

● All the articles that are prohibited from being carried into China;

● Manuscripts, publications, films, photographs, gramophone records, movies, audio and video tapes, laser discs and computer storage media that are connected with State secrets;

● Valuable cultural relics and other cultural relics that are prohibited from being carried out of China;

● Animals in danger of becoming extinct, rare animals and plants (including respective specimens), their seeds and reproducing materials.

To simplify the procedures of tax-setting and for the convenience of taxpayers, China Customs has enforced special tax regulations and tax rates for the import duty on inward passengers' luggage contents and personal postal articles in their possession. The current levy rates can be classified into five categories: duty free, 20%, 50%, 100% and 200%. The import duty shall be levied by ad valorem and duty-paid price shall be determined by China Customs based on international market retail price and shall be made public.

Office Equipment and Vehicles of Resident Offices

Resident offices may apply for the importation and exportation of office equipment and motor vehicles for resident offices and permanent personnel may apply for the importation of duty-free motor vehicles in accordance with relevant Customs regulations.

A motor vehicle which has been imported duty free as described above may be transferred to another resident officer/official or to another staff member of the resident office or sold to an authorized operating entity if more than four years have elapsed since the vehicle was released by the Customs Office and the term of office of the original staff member who imported the vehicle has expired. At the end of the six-year period of customs supervision, the vehicle may be also transferred, sold or devoted to another purpose.

Motor Vehicles for Personal Use

Permanent personnel may, after obtaining residence permits, apply for importation of one motor vehicle each. Applications for this purpose should be in writing and submitted by the permanent personnel or their appointed customs declaration agency to the responsible customs office. The motor vehicle will be released after the application is reviewed and approved by the responsible customs office and upon presentation of approval and/or other required documents. The vehicle will be subject to duties according to the relevant regulations.

1. Identity papers;

2. Long-term residence permits;

3. Completed Application Form of the Customs of the People's Republic of China for Importation and Exportation of Articles for Personal Use;

4. Bill of lading (waybill), packing list and other required documents.

5. Applicants who are permanent China-based personnel, other than experts, should provide a photocopy of their identity papers and long-term residence permits and submit, through their resident offices, the Filing Certificate of the Customs Bureau of the People's Republic of China for Resident Offices, or their foreign-invested enterprise's Registration Certificate of the People's Republic of China for Consignor and Consignee Customs Declaration of Cargo Imports and Exports.

Permanent personnel who are importing motor vehicles should, within 10 days of the release of such vehicles by the Customs, obtain a Notice of the Customs Bureau of the People's Republic of China on the Issuance/Cancellation of Licenses for Imported/Exported Vehicles from the responsible customs office, and complete the formalities for obtaining a license for said motor vehicle.

Motor vehicles imported by permanent personnel may not transfer the titles to their vehicles until they have completed vehicle registration formalities with the competent public security and traffic administration authorities for one year.

1. Identity papers;

2. Long-term residence permits;

3. The Motor Vehicle Operation Permit for the imported motor vehicle;

4. Their resident office's Filing Certificate of the Customs Bureau of the People's Republic of China for Resident Offices or their foreign-invested enterprise's Registration Certificate of the People's Republic of China for Consignor and Consignee Customs Declaration of Cargo Imports and Exports, and/or other certification documents as required by Customs officials.

After being approved by Customs and obtaining a Notice of the Customs Bureau of the People's Republic of China on the Issuance/Revocation of Licenses for Supervised Inbound/Outbound Vehicles, permanent personnel may complete the formalities for the transfer of the titles to their vehicles with the competent public security and traffic administration authority.

For regulations and procedures, please contact:

※ Luggage & Mail Section, Luggage & Mail Supervision Department, Guangzhou Customs
Add: No. 83, Huacheng Avenue, Zhujiang New Town
Tel: 81102626, 38920179, 38920180

※ Non-Trade Administration Section, Supervision & Clearance Department, Huangpu Customs
Add: No. 327, Zhicheng Avenue, Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone
Tel: 82130300, 82130621
Website: http://huangpu.customs.gov.cn

Cultural Relics

The Chinese law expressly prohibits valuable cultural relics and other protected cultural relics from exiting the territorial boundries of China.

To take a cultural relic out of China, an application form should be filled out and submitted to the cultural relics entry and exit supervision authority for review and approval before the cultural relic exits China. The supervision authority should respond to the application within 15 workdays.

If a cultural relic is approved to be taken out of China, the cultural relics entry and exit supervision authority will affix an exit mark to said cultural relic and issue a cultural relic exit permit. The cultural relic will be allowed to leave China upon the presentation of its exit permit after the Customs authorities check its exit label. If the cultural relic is prohibited from leaving China, the cultural relic entry and exit supervision authority will record the event and return said relic to its original site.

Upon request by the customs office at the port of exit or by the carrier, the cultural relic entry and exit supervision authority may issue certificates for declared objects which have been identified as replicas of cultural relics.

Cultural relics of private owners carried by outbound passengers will be released by Customs upon the presentation of the Cultural Relic Exit Permit and the verification of the 1994 version wax mark beginning with the letter "B" stamped by the cultural relics appraisal institution.

※ Guangdong Cultural Relics Appraisal Institution
Add: No. 1, Shuiyinheng Road
PC 510075
Tel: 87047165

A foreign national holding a D, Z, X or J-1 visa should initiate residence formalities with the Entry and Exit Administration Department of Guangzhou Municipal Public Bureau within 30 days of his or her arrival in China.

A foreign national who is taking up employment and filling a position in China should initiate residence formalities with the Entry and Exit Administration Department of Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau by presenting his or her "Z" visa and his or her "Alien Work Permit" issued by the labor authority or "Foreign Expert Certificate" issued by the Foreign Experts Bureau.

1. The original and one photocopy of his or her valid passport and visa;

2. Completed Foreign National Visa and Residence Application Form, with a recent 2-inch photo attached (full face without hat);

3. The Overseas Personnel Temporary Accommodation Form issued by the local police station (this requirement is not applicable to those staying in international student buildings on campus and hotels);

4. An original Health Certificate issued by Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau;

5. Other certification and documentation required for residence.

1. Foreign technical and managerial personnel directly recruited and paid by the Chinese Government and those who are recruited and paid by national authorities and institutions, possess advanced technical qualifications or special skills certificates issued by a national or international authoritative technology administration agency or industry association, and hold a Foreign Expert Certificate issued by the Foreign Experts Bureau.

2. Laborers of foreign nationalities who hold a Permit for Foreign Nationals to Engage in Offshore Oil Operations in the People's Republic of China, those engaging in offshore oil operations do not need to come ashore but must possess special skills;

3. Foreign nationals who hold a Temporary Commercial Performance Permit issued by the Ministry of Culture and who are engaged in commercial cultural performances.

Note:

A foreign national who wishes to stay or reside in China after his or her visa or residence permit expires should apply for an extension of said visa or residence permit before it expires.

During his/her residence in China, if a foreign national is found to carry a disease which would have disqualified him or her from entry into China, the Chinese health authority may request the public security authority to order the foreign national to leave China before said residence permit expires.

A foreign national who has settled down in a certain area in China and wishes to relocate elsewhere in China should apply for a relocation approval with the public security bureau of his or her intended destination, and complete the relocation formalities according to the procedures set forth in the preceding paragraph.

To protect national security, public order or other public interests, public security bureaus at the city and county levels may prohibit foreign nationals and foreign organizations from setting up residences and offices in certain areas.

Parents of a foreign baby born in China or their appointed agent should initiate registration formalities with the local public security bureau by presenting the baby's birth certificate within one month of the baby's birth.

The family of a foreign national who dies in China or the appointed custodian or their agent, should present the death certificate and surrender the residence permit or visa of the deceased to the local public security bureau within three days of the death.

Foreign nationals aged 16 and upwards who stay or reside in China should carry the originals of their residence permits or passports with them at all times and present them for inspection when requiredc to do so.

1. In the event of any change to the statement of justification for residence, passport number, residence address and the accompanying family, the holder of the residence permit should apply for a new residence permit with the Entry and Exit Administration Department of the Municipal Public Security Bureau within 10 days of the occurrence of said change.

2. In the event of any change to residential address, attending school, job position or employer, the holder of a residence permit should initiate formalities for such change with the Entry and Exit Administration Department of the Municipal Public Security Bureau within 10 days of the occurrence of the change.

3. To relocate elsewhere, the holder of a residence permit should initiate relocation formalities with the Entry and Exit Administration Department of the Public Security Bureau in his or her current city or new destination within 10 days of his or her relocation.

4. Foreign nationals who are terminating their studies or employment in Guangzhou for any reason should surrender their residence permit and obtain the relevant visa immediately.

5. Foreign nationals who hold a residence permit may reside in China or undertake multiple entries into and exits from China within the stated validity period of their residence permit.

6. Employers may apply for residence permits for their employees. However, first-time residence permit applicants should apply in person.

※ Guangzhou Public Security Bureau
Website: www.gzjd.gov.cn
Inquiries: 96110100