Legally speaking, for most visas for China, oneĀ cannot applyĀ for an extension.
Even when talking about aĀ work-related residence permit, for example, a new one is issued with the issuance of a new work permit.
However, if you areĀ currently holding a tourist visaĀ andĀ would like to spend more timeĀ in China, you may, under certain circumstances,Ā apply for tourist visa extensionĀ within China.
Please note:
- The tourist visa extension isĀ not an automatic rightĀ and is subject at the discretion of the Public Security Bureau (PSB) officer. If the extension is given, then the extended stay willĀ not exceed the durationĀ of stay on theĀ visa issued initiallyĀ and would most likely be for justĀ thirty days.
- Please see our article regardingĀ the humanitarian visa, also known as aĀ stay permit, which is an appropriateĀ temporary visa solutionĀ when renewing oneās work permit and residence permit if the proceduresĀ cannot be done in time. This tourist visa is not a replacement to such a visa.
What are the required documents for the Tourist Visa Extension?
To apply forĀ the extension of a tourist visa, you will need to prepareĀ the following documents:
- Local Police Registration Form: You need to provide a valid and up-to-date registration at the time of the application.Ā Click hereĀ toĀ see our recent article with details to obtain one.
- Deposit: In some locations, you will be asked to present aĀ deposit amountĀ calculated asĀ $100 per day of extension. So in the case of a 30-day extension, you will need to show a $3,000 deposit. The amount can be presented as either inĀ cashĀ orĀ bank statement. In the case of cash, just showing the amount to the officer when processing the application would be sufficient. In the case of a bank statement, the statement has to be an official statement from a Chinese bank located in Mainland China and stamped with an official stamp. If a bank statement is presented, an equivalent amount can be shown in RMB or any other major currency.
- Completed Visa Application
- Itinerary Detailing Reason of Extension: For this, you need to provide aĀ detailed itinerary plan during the extensionĀ preferably done by a travel agency andĀ list the contact detailsĀ of said agency for the PSB to contact them in case of extra information is needed.
- Two 2-inch photosĀ with a white backgroundĀ
Where and when to apply?
The application needs to beĀ filed at the Public Security Bureau Entry and Exit AdministrationĀ (PSB), and the application must beĀ submitted at the very least seven days beforeĀ your current tourist visa expiration date.
If you applyĀ in less than seven daysĀ and the claim lasts longer than that, then you mayĀ be considered an overstayerĀ for which you may receive further consequences.
Once you apply, the PSB will give youĀ a receiptĀ that can be used as valid ID while awaiting the final decision.
How much does the visa extension cost?
The visa fee isĀ 160 RMBĀ in most cases. However,Ā US citizensĀ need to payĀ 760 RMBĀ for an extension whileĀ UK citizensĀ needĀ 469 RMBĀ for the same extension.
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