China sits in Eastern Asia. Its immigration system runs 63 distinct routes — led by short stay & visit, family and work, each set out in official law. 62 of them cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
1 further route is recorded for China but not shown here — its details are still under review.
All 63 routes, grouped by purpose — 62 of 63 cite an official government source directly. Any route below without one says so on the route.
Ordinary visa for crew performing duties on international trains, aircraft or vessels, accompanying vessel-crew family members, and international road-transport drivers.
In-country work residence permit for a foreign employee with a work permit who did not have enough time to obtain a Z visa before entry.
Work authorization for a foreign professional meeting the occupational, education, experience, salary, specialist or points criteria.
Work authorization for other foreign personnel meeting domestic labour-market needs and national policy, including qualifying short-term work.
Long-term pathway for a resident foreign journalist assigned to a permanent office of a foreign news agency in China.
Short-term ordinary visa for a foreign journalist undertaking approved temporary news coverage in China.
Permanent residence for a qualifying senior manager, senior professional or equivalently paid employee with sustained work, residence and tax records.
For a foreign national aged 18 or over performing a defined working task of no more than 90 days for a confirmed Chinese host entity — technical, research, management or advisory assignments, film production, commercial shoots or performances. No residence permit is issued.
Stay permit of up to 30 days for foreign crew and accompanying family who need to leave the port city during their stay.
Permanent residence for a foreign national with direct and stable investment in China and a good tax record for three consecutive years.
Visa-free business entry for a foreign APEC Business Travel Card holder whose card lists China as an approved economy.
Two-to-five-year residence permit for an outstanding foreign graduate with at least a bachelor's degree from a key Chinese university who undertakes innovation or a business start-up.
Residence permit of up to two years for a foreign graduate of an internationally renowned university coming to China for innovation or a business start-up within two years after graduation.
Short-stay ordinary visa for a person invited to China for commercial or trade activities.
For a foreign national who needs to reside in China to run their own registered private business, holding the corresponding entry visa and able to produce the certificates or guarantees relating to that business.
Visa-free entry from overseas into Shanghai's closed business cooperation zone for an invited meeting, conference, exhibition, training or short business visit.
Work authorization for high-end foreign talent meeting a national talent programme, recognized achievement, market, entrepreneurship, young-talent or points basis.
Visa category created by the State Council amendment effective 1 October 2025 for young foreign science and technology talent holding a bachelor degree or above in science, technology, engineering or mathematics from a renowned university or research institution, or working in such education or research roles. Unlike other Chinese work visas it requires no Chinese employer or inviting entity.
Residence permit of up to five years for foreign talent in a key development sector or a member of a qualifying innovation or start-up group.
Long-term visa or residence permit for a foreign team member or supporting professional recommended by a person with an outstanding contribution or urgent-need status.
Permanent residence for a foreign national who made a significant outstanding contribution to China or is especially needed by the country.
Talent visa for a high-level foreign talent needed by the state or an urgently needed specialist.
Residence permit for a foreign student entering China for an internship under an intergovernmental agreement.
Visa of up to one year for an overseas university student invited to intern with a well-known Chinese enterprise or public institution.
Endorsement allowing a student residence-permit holder to undertake approved part-time work or an off-campus internship.
Long-term study pathway for a foreign student admitted to a Chinese institution for a programme exceeding 180 days.
Ordinary visa for study in China for no more than 180 days.
Permanent residence for a foreign national aged 60 or over with no direct relatives abroad who lives with a direct relative in China.
Derived permanent residence for an unmarried child under 18 of a person approved under the investor, senior employee or special-talent grounds.
Permanent residence for the spouse of a Chinese citizen or foreign permanent resident after the published marriage and residence period.
Derived permanent residence for the spouse of a person approved under the investor, senior employee or special-talent grounds.
Permanent residence for an unmarried foreign child under 18 dependent on a Chinese parent or a foreign parent with Chinese permanent residence.
Long-term family-reunion pathway for a family member of a Chinese citizen or a foreigner with permanent residence in China.
Long-term residence pathway for a foreign child under 18 placed in custodial or foster care in China.
Short-term family-visit visa for a relative of a Chinese citizen residing in China or a foreign permanent resident.
Long-term family pathway for the spouse, parent, parent-in-law or child under 18 of a foreigner residing in China for work, study or another purpose.
Short-term family-visit visa for a family member of a foreigner staying or residing in China for work, study or another purpose.
Stay permit for a foreign infant born in China, aligned with the parents' authorized stay.
Residence permit of up to three years for a foreign national of Chinese origin aged 60 or over who owns residential property in China and proves income.
Residence permit of up to five years on the third application for a worker who held two consecutive work residence permits longer than one year without violations.
Stay permit of up to 180 days for a person approved to renounce Chinese nationality who needs time to remain in China.
In-country stay permit for a visa-exempt entrant who needs to remain beyond the visa-free period for a supported non-diplomatic or non-official reason.
Six-day visa-free group tour in Guilin for ordinary-passport nationals of ASEAN member states.
Six-day visa-free group tour in Xishuangbanna for ordinary-passport nationals of ASEAN member states.
Short-stay ordinary visa for exchanges, visits, study tours or other relevant non-work activities.
Visa-free short stay in Hainan for an ordinary-passport national of one of 59 countries.
Six-day visa-free visit to Hainan for an organized foreign tourist group entering from Hong Kong or Macao.
Ordinary visa for individual or organized group tourism in mainland China.
Five-year multiple-entry permit for a non-Chinese permanent resident of Hong Kong or Macao making short visits to mainland China.
Short visa-free entry for a traveller whose nationality and passport type are covered by an effective bilateral or multilateral visa-exemption agreement with China.
— No eligibility summary published for this route yet
Restricted port tourist visa for a short visit limited to the issuing special economic zone city.
Visa-free entry for an ordinary-passport national of a country on China's current unilateral list for business, tourism, family or friend visits, exchange or transit.
Visa-free coastal visit for an organized foreign tourist group of at least two people arriving and departing on the same cruise ship.
Discretionary conversion from stay status to residence status for a foreign national with qualifying humanitarian reasons.
Stay permit of up to 30 days for a foreign resident whose residence basis has ended but who needs a further period for humanitarian reasons.
Mainland-China asylum procedure in which UNHCR registers an eligible person in China and conducts refugee status determination.
Residence permit of up to one year for a foreign national receiving medical assistance or services in China for more than six months.
Worldwide visa-free direct transit through an open Chinese port for no more than 24 hours without leaving the restricted port area.
Visa-free transit for nationals of 55 eligible countries entering through a designated port, travelling onward to a third country or region and remaining within the permitted area.
Ordinary transit visa for a foreign national passing through mainland China to another country or region.
Long-term residence for another qualifying private matter supported by the required purpose-specific evidence.
Short-term visa for another qualifying personal or private matter in China.
This page is about moving to China. If you are looking at it from the other side, we keep a separate guide to leaving.
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