外国人出境中国：证件、不准出境情形与离境前事项

English

Leaving China: Documents, Exit Rules and What to Settle First

When a foreign national's stay in China comes to an end, which documents must be presented at the border, when can departure be stopped under the law, and what should be settled before leaving? This article summarises the provisions of China's Exit and Entry Administration Law that apply directly to foreigners departing the country.

• Departure requires document inspection: a foreigner leaving China must present their passport or other international travel document to the border inspection authority, complete the required procedures and be cleared before departing (Article 27).
• Four situations where departure is not permitted: a person whose criminal sentence has not been fully served, or who is a defendant or suspect in a criminal case (unless the sentenced person is transferred under an agreement between China and another country); a person involved in an unsettled civil case where a people's court has decided that departure is not permitted; a person who owes labour remuneration, where the relevant State Council department or a provincial-level government has decided that departure is not permitted; and other situations stipulated by laws or administrative regulations (Article 28).
• Leave before the permitted period ends: foreigners staying or residing in China may not engage in activities inconsistent with the purpose of their stay or residence, and must leave before the permitted period of stay or residence expires (Article 37).
• Replace damaged or lost documents first: where an ordinary visa, stay permit or residence permit is damaged, lost or stolen, or needs to be replaced for other reasons provided by the state, the holder must apply to the exit-entry administration of the public security authority at or above the county level in the place of stay or residence (Article 35).
• Carry your documents if you are 16 or older: foreigners staying or residing in China must carry their passport or other international travel document, or their stay or residence permit, and present it for inspection by public security authorities (Article 38).

Before heading to the airport, run through five checks: does your passport remain valid for the whole trip; are the permitted stay period and the visa's validity dates still within range; is there any unsettled civil case, or a people's court decision barring your departure; if you worked in China, has all labour remuneration been paid; and if you stayed somewhere other than a hotel, has the accommodation registration been completed.

Do not read anything into the law that is not there. Article 28 lists specific situations, and whether they apply is determined by the competent authority in accordance with the law. If you are unsure about your own situation, ask the authority that issued the relevant decision, or the local exit-entry administration, before you book a ticket, rather than discovering a problem at the airport.

Two common misunderstandings: first, that a valid visa guarantees departure, when departure also requires clearance by the border inspection authority; second, that overstaying by a few days is a minor matter, when overstaying is unlawful, will be handled in accordance with the law, and may affect future Chinese visa applications. Where an extension of the permitted stay is needed, the law requires an application seven days before that period expires (Article 29).

This page is compiled from the text of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China. The full text is available on the website of the National Immigration Administration.

The above is a summary of key points only. Please refer to the official announcement for the authoritative version.