Entering Shenzhen or checking documents
Visa, visa-free entry, transit and permitted stay.
Start this route →On this page8 topics
Immigration rules, with a clearer next step.
Check the document that authorizes your entry, your permitted stay and the activities allowed. Prepare changes early and use the current official procedure for your circumstances.
General information, not legal advice. Editorial imagery—not a verified immigration counter or official document.
1. What is happening?
Choose a situation for clear next steps and official sources.
Starting a job or changing employers
Work permit, residence permission and changes.
Start this route →
2. Know your documents
Different documents serve different purposes. Do not confuse an entry-validity date with permitted stay.
Visa
Entry validityAllows travel to seek entry, subject to its conditions. Check entries and validity separately from the stay granted at entry.
Permitted stay
For each entryThe time allowed after entry. Read the entry record and applicable rule; the visa’s “enter before” date is not necessarily the stay end date.
Stay permit
停留证件A separate document for an approved short-term purpose. Confirm validity and whether another entry is permitted.
Residence permit
居留许可For approved longer-term purposes such as work, study or family. Conditions and the approved purpose still matter.
Work permit
工作许可Separate employment permission. The standard foreign-employment route also needs work-type residence permission.
Accommodation registration
住宿登记An address procedure—not permission to work or reside. Hotels register guests; non-hotel stays generally require registration within 24 hours unless exempt.
Official guidance ↗ · Official guidance ↗ · Official guidance ↗
3. A useful first approach
Read your document
Check visa type, validity, entries and permitted stay together.
Keep a clear record
Copies, entry records, receipts and a simple timeline.
Choose the official route
Confirm the authority, checklist and current procedure.
Get specific help early
Seek qualified advice where safety, family, employment or removal is at stake.
4. Immigration Route Finder
Do not enter a passport number. Nationality or sponsor choices do not determine eligibility. Nothing is submitted. The entered document-expiry date does not replace a separate permitted-stay end date.
5. Deadline planner
Accommodation registration
Generally within 24 hoursNon-hotel stays; official exemptions can apply.
Official guidance ↗Visa-stay extension
At least 7 days beforeBefore the permitted stay ends—not simply the visa entry-validity date.
Official guidance ↗Residence-permit extension
At least 30 days beforeBefore the residence permit expires; verify your actual application.
Official guidance ↗Residence permit after entry
Within 30 days, where requiredIf the visa requires residence formalities after entry.
Official guidance ↗These are general filing rules, not personalised deadlines. Record only confirmed dates below. Booking an appointment or making an enquiry does not itself extend permission.
6. Work and employer changes
- Standard foreign employment generally requires both work permission and work-type residence permission.
- A business visa or job offer is not employment authorisation.
- Check changes before relying on an old employer’s documents.
7. Accommodation registration
- Hotels normally register guests. Ask for confirmation if needed.
- For private homes, generally register within 24 hours unless an official exemption applies.
- Nationwide online registration and local police routes are available; check host-assistance and return-travel rules.
8. Expiry, overstay and lost passport
- Approaching expiry: confirm the correct extension route and evidence early.
- Already expired: contact Shenzhen exit-entry police promptly. 12367 can help identify the responsible route. Enquiries do not guarantee a waiver.
- Lost or replaced passport: contact your embassy or consulate and separately check Chinese reporting, document changes or reissue with exit-entry police.
9. Transit, visa-free entry and port visas differ
- 240-hour transit: eligible passport, confirmed onward journey to a third country or region, approved ports and permitted travel area. Check the current list.
- A Shenzhen SEZ tourist port visa has geographical limits. Do not treat it as permission to travel freely around mainland China.
- None of these labels automatically permits employment. Confirm the exact route before booking.
10. Hong Kong and Macao trips
- Leaving for Hong Kong or Macao is an exit from mainland China.
- Check admission on the other side and your mainland return permission separately.
- A previous single-entry port visa or transit approval does not guarantee re-entry.
11. Use truthful documents and an accurate purpose
- Check invitations and supporting details before submission.
- False documents or statements can cause refusal, entry restrictions or further consequences.
- If plans change, ask whether the document or approved activity must change too.
12. Permanent residence is separate
Temporary renewals do not automatically lead to permanent residence. Separate approval and current eligibility rules apply.
Official guidance ↗13. Keep a clear record
- Passport and clear copies of current and previous relevant visas or permits
- Entry endorsement, current permitted-stay details and previous official decisions
- Accommodation registration record
- Employer, school, invitation or family documents relevant to the actual route
- Short dated timeline, intended activities and onward itinerary where relevant
14. Questions worth asking
Does an appointment or a pending application extend my stay?
An appointment is not an extension. Where police retain your passport during an accepted application, a valid official acceptance receipt can support lawful stay under the regulations. Check its validity and travel limits with the issuing office.
Official guidance ↗Can I visit Hong Kong or Macao and return on the same permission?
Crossing to Hong Kong or Macao is an exit from mainland China. Returning requires a valid mainland entry basis; a previous single-entry port visa or transit approval does not guarantee re-entry. Check both sides before departing.
Official guidance ↗ Official guidance ↗Does visa-free business travel allow me to take a job?
Business visits and employment are different activities. The transit policy expressly requires prior approvals and appropriate visas for work. Confirm the applicable employment route before doing paid or unpaid work that may require authorization.
Official guidance ↗ Official guidance ↗My document checklist
A preparation checklist—not the official requirements for every application. Tick only what you have checked.
Passport and entry record 6 items
Residence / stay documents 4 items
Work / study permissions 4 items
Accommodation registration 3 items
Sponsor and application preparation 5 items
Travel, contact and backup 4 items
Private document organiser
Use short document labels and dates only. Do not enter passport numbers, identity numbers, addresses or case details. Original files are never uploaded or stored by this tool.
Only the chosen file’s name is read. Its contents stay outside this organiser. Even file names can reveal personal information.
No document notes added.
Save a browser copy—only if you choose
Everything starts in this page’s memory. No automatic save or load. A saved browser copy is not encrypted and can be seen by other users of this device. Use a private device and keep exports securely.
Clear all notes on this page and delete the saved browser copy? Unsaved notes will also be lost. Downloaded files are not deleted.
Official sources & verification
Use the current official Chinese text and the instructions for your actual document. Source review: 20 October 2026. Operational eligibility, requirements and procedures can change.
- Exit and Entry Administration Law · official English text ↗
National Immigration Administration
- Foreigners’ Entry and Exit Regulations · amended 2025 ↗
State Council / Ministry of Justice National Administrative Regulations Database
- Shenzhen work residence permits · official application guide ↗
Shenzhen Public Security Bureau / Shenzhen Government Online
- Accommodation registration · September 2026 official guidance ↗
National Immigration Administration
- Visas and stay permits · official application instructions ↗
National Immigration Administration
- Residence permits · official application guide ↗
National Immigration Administration
- Visa-free transit · official August 2026 policy ↗
National Immigration Administration
- Port visas and Shenzhen SEZ tourist-visa limits · official instructions ↗
National Immigration Administration
- Entry and Exit Administration Provisions · effective September 2026 ↗
State Council; official Ministry of Commerce republication
- 12367 immigration help · official language and contact information ↗
National Immigration Administration
Full legal guide, original notes & sources
Common situations
I am entering Shenzhen or reading my immigration documents
A visa’s entry-validity period and number of entries differ from the permitted stay for each visit. A stay permit and a residence permit are separate documents with approved purposes. Accommodation registration is another procedure.
- Read the actual visa, permit and entry endorsement together; keep clear copies.
- For visa-free entry, check the rule for your passport, purpose and complete itinerary before travel.
I have a job offer or am changing employers
For standard foreign employment, plan for both a work permit and a work-type residence permit. A job offer or business visa alone does not complete that route. Check the authorized employer, role and immigration status before starting.
- Ask the employer which official work-permit and residence applications are required.
- If the employer, role or reason for residence changes, check the required changes before relying on existing documents.
I am staying in a hotel or private home
Hotels register guests. Elsewhere, register within 24 hours unless an official exemption applies. Nationwide online registration is available from 21 September 2026; the local police route remains available.
- First online registration needs host assistance except for own-home cases.
- After travel, returns to an already registered own home, or habitual home under the same valid residence or permanent-residence permit, can be exempt; check the FAQ.
My stay or residence permission is approaching expiry
Different applications have different filing periods. For a visa-stay extension, apply at least seven days before the permitted stay expires. For a residence-permit extension, apply at least 30 days before expiry. Confirm the deadline and required route with exit-entry police.
- Where the visa requires a residence permit after entry, apply within 30 days of entry.
- Entered visa-free? Ask about the stay-permit route before the exemption period ends.
- Prepare passport, current permission, accommodation record and evidence supporting the application.
My permission has expired
Contact Shenzhen exit-entry police promptly. Bring your passport, entry record and a clear timeline. Overstay can lead to penalties; seeking help does not guarantee a waiver.
- Use 12367 to confirm the responsible office and immediate procedure.
- Keep official notices and ask for any decision and next steps in writing.
My passport is lost or has been replaced
Passport replacement and Chinese immigration formalities are separate. Ask your embassy or consulate about the passport and Shenzhen exit-entry police about reporting, permit changes or reissue. Keep old-document details and official receipts.
Transit and Shenzhen port visas have different limits
The 240-hour transit route requires an eligible passport, a confirmed onward journey to a third country or region, approved ports and travel within permitted areas. It is separate from ordinary visa-free entry and does not authorize employment.
The Shenzhen special economic-zone tourist port-visa category restricts travel to Shenzhen’s administrative area. It is not permission to visit Guangzhou. Other port-visa categories have their own conditions; confirm the actual category, port and passport eligibility.
Use truthful documents and an accurate purpose
State Council rules effective 15 September 2026 require truthful, lawful reasons and supporting information for entry and stay. False documents or statements can lead to refusal or entry restrictions. Check an invitation’s details before it is submitted.
Permanent residence is a separate route
Permanent residence requires separate approval against the current eligibility rules. Temporary residence renewals do not themselves grant permanent residence.
Official help before you book, work or travel
Call 12367 for immigration-policy and procedure questions; English consultation is available. Ask about your passport, document type, proposed activity and itinerary. Use the linked Shenzhen application guide for the current work-residence route and office instructions.
Questions worth asking
Does an appointment or a pending application extend my stay?
An appointment is not an extension. Where police retain your passport during an accepted application, a valid official acceptance receipt can support lawful stay under the regulations. Check its validity and travel limits with the issuing office.
Can I visit Hong Kong or Macao and return on the same permission?
Crossing to Hong Kong or Macao is an exit from mainland China. Returning requires a valid mainland entry basis; a previous single-entry port visa or transit approval does not guarantee re-entry. Check both sides before departing.
Does visa-free business travel allow me to take a job?
Business visits and employment are different activities. The transit policy expressly requires prior approvals and appropriate visas for work. Confirm the applicable employment route before doing paid or unpaid work that may require authorization.
Official sources & reading notes
Use the official Chinese text to check legal wording. Translations and this guide are reading aids; check the version, effective date and local procedure before acting.
- Foreigners’ Entry and Exit Regulations · amended 2025 State Council / Ministry of Justice National Administrative Regulations Database
- Visas and stay permits · official application instructions National Immigration Administration
- Residence permits · official application guide National Immigration Administration
- Shenzhen work residence permits · official application guide Shenzhen Public Security Bureau / Shenzhen Government Online
- Accommodation registration · September 2026 official guidance National Immigration Administration
- Exit and Entry Administration Law · official English text National Immigration Administration
- 12367 immigration help · official language and contact information National Immigration Administration
- Visa-free transit · official August 2026 policy National Immigration Administration
- Port visas and Shenzhen SEZ tourist-visa limits · official instructions National Immigration Administration
- Entry and Exit Administration Provisions · effective September 2026 State Council; official Ministry of Commerce republication
Explore the other law guides
Civil Law
Contracts, consumer disputes, debts and compensation.
Open guide →Criminal Law
Police reports, investigations, victims and suspects.
Open guide →Real Estate Law
Rental deposits, leases, property and registration.
Open guide →Family Law
Marriage, divorce, children and family safety.
Open guide →Immigration Law
Visas, residence, work permission and registration.
Open guide →Business Law
Company setup, capital, permits and contracts.
Open guide →An independent LifeShenzhen guide, built from the official sources above. About the guide
Report a source or factual correction