Extending your stay in China: apply seven days before, and the cap on extensions

2026-10-11

Under Article 29 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law, an extension application is filed seven days before the visa's stay expires, and total extensions may not exceed the original stay in the visa.

To stay longer than the duration of stay specified in your visa, you apply to the exit/entry administration of the public security organ at or above the county level in your place of stay, "seven days prior to the expiry of the duration specified in the visa" (Law, Article 29). The accumulated length of extension "shall not exceed the original duration of stay specified in the visa" (Law, Article 29). If an extension is denied, you "shall leave China on the expiry of the duration" (Law, Article 29), and that decision is final (Law, Article 36).

This page quotes the English text published by the National Immigration Administration, which is the Administration's own English version of the Law and the Regulations.

The rule in Article 29

Article 29 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law has three paragraphs. The first paragraph covers the stay itself. It says that where "the duration of stay specified in a visa held by a foreigner does not exceed 180 days, the holder may stay in China within the duration specified therein" (Law, Article 29).

The second paragraph covers the extension. It says that where the stay "needs to be extended, the visa holder shall file an application" with the exit/entry administration of the public security organ at or above the county level in the place of stay. The application is filed "seven days prior to the expiry of the duration specified in the visa." The visa holder "shall submit information of specific application matters in accordance with relevant requirements" (Law, Article 29).

The second paragraph also sets the decision rule. "If upon examination, the reasons for extension are appropriate and sufficient, such extension shall be granted" (Law, Article 29).

The third paragraph sets the cap, which is covered in its own section below.

When to apply

The Law sets the filing point at seven days before the expiry of the duration in your visa (Law, Article 29).

The English service guide on visa extension, in section 2 "Documents required for visa extension", uses the same number of days. It says that a foreigner "shall apply to the exit and entry departments of public security organs 7 days prior to the expiration date of the stay specified in the visa, and submit relevant supporting materials as required."

Planning suggestion, not a rule: count back seven days from the expiry date of your stay and put that date in your calendar.

What to submit

Regulations, Article 12 says that to apply for an extension, a foreigner "shall fill out an application form and submit his or her passport or other international travel documents, qualified photos, and material relating to the purpose of application."

In short, the items are:

an application form;
your passport or other international travel document;
qualified photos;
material relating to the purpose of application.

Regulations, Article 12 describes the last item only as "material relating to the purpose of application". The service guide adds the words "as required" to its own list of supporting materials in section 2.

How the decision is recorded

Regulations, Article 14 says that the decision to extend "is only valid for the current entry and does not affect the number of entries or the validity period of the entry specified in the visa."

The same article says that once the stay is extended, "a foreigner shall adhere to the purpose specified in the original visa and stay within the extended duration of stay."

The cap on extensions

Law, Article 29 states the cap as follows: "The accumulated length of extension shall not exceed the original duration of stay specified in the visa."

Regulations, Article 14 uses the same limit in different words: "the total period of extension shall not exceed the original duration of stay specified in the visa."

If the extension is refused

Law, Article 29 says that if an extension is denied, "the foreigner shall leave China on the expiry of the duration."

Law, Article 36 says that decisions "rejecting applications for visa extension or reissuance" shall be final.

Questions people ask

How long can my total extension be?

The accumulated length of extension "shall not exceed the original duration of stay specified in the visa" (Law, Article 29). Regulations, Article 14 uses the same limit.

Does an extension change the number of entries on my visa?

Regulations, Article 14 says the extension decision "is only valid for the current entry and does not affect the number of entries or the validity period of the entry specified in the visa."

What happens if my extension is refused?

Law, Article 29 says that if an extension is denied, the foreigner "shall leave China on the expiry of the duration." Law, Article 36 says the refusal decision shall be final.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the National Immigration Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, any embassy, consulate or visa application service centre. It is not legal or immigration advice. If the official text or the current notice of the office handling your case differs from this page, the official text and that notice prevail.