Question

Asked by John from canada | Jan. 04, 2025 15:09

About:SG04-INTL

Is it true that the length of a visa is different from the maximum time that you can stay in China?

Even if you are granted a one year or more Q1 family long-term visa, is it true that you are not allowed to stay in China up to the full duration of your visa without leaving? That is, after a certain number of months, you are required to at least temporarily leave China and then return in order to keep the visa and visit valid.

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Answers (7)

Answered by Emma | Jan. 06, 2025 18:18

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Yes, you understand it right. If your visa says the duration of stay for each entry is 90 days, then you need to leave before the 90 days and re-enter to activate another 90-day. For your convenience, you can exit to Hong Kong or Macao and then re-enter right after.

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Answered by John | Jan. 09, 2025 18:20

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Thank you for the clarification and confirmation, Emma.

Do you know whether any sort of visas are required to enter HK/Macao with a Canadian passport? Or do I simply enter at the border gate?

When returning to mainland China, do I have to do anything in particular like filling out paperwork for visas, or do I simply return?

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Answered by Olivia | Jan. 12, 2025 18:08

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To HK, Canadians enjoy 90-day visa free entry and to Macau, they are granted 30 days. So you can enter the two visa-free and when returning to Mainland China, you just enter with your visa and need to fill in the entry card, no other process.

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Answered by John | Jan. 13, 2025 08:43

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Hello Olivia, thank you for the clarification. When you say "entry card", are you talking about the blue card that you fill out when entering China and going through customs?

Also, if my wife is from mainland China, what process and/or paperwork does she need to go through to travel to Macao/HK?

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Answered by Emma | Jan. 13, 2025 19:01

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Yes, you are right. Your wife does not need a visa for a stay of no more than 7 days in HK/Macau if she flies from a foreign country like Canada with her Chinese Passport but she can't go to Macau or HK after entering the other one with her passport. And She will need to fill in a departure card on the plane or at the immigration counter, no other procedures as I know.

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Answered by John | Jan. 14, 2025 08:52

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Hi Emma. Just to be clear, we would be planning to enter Macau/HK from Mainland China, not from another country. Does that affect her eligibility, with her Chinese passport?

And when you say “the other one”, do you mean she cannot go directly from Macau to HK or vice versa?

What procedure is involved if we end up wanting to stay for more than a week?

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Answered by Emma | Jan. 15, 2025 19:10

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If she enters from Mainland China, the situation will be different. If she has a flight ticket from HK/Macau to a third country within 7 days which means making a transit, then she can enter HK/Macau with her passport and stay for 7 days but if she doesn't have one, then she needs an Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao. "The other one" means, for example, she cannot go to Macau after her stay in HK or vice versa with her passport, but she can do it with the valid permit.

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