New passport, old visa: can you still travel to China?

If your Chinese visa is in an old passport and you now hold a new one, the answer depends on where you are and which rule you are under. The embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom says you can travel on the expired passport that contains a valid Chinese visa together with the new passport, provided the identity information on both is identical. Inside China, Article 10 of the Regulations says a foreigner who starts using a new passport may apply for a change of visa.

What the UK embassy says

The embassy in the United Kingdom answers the question in its FAQ, Q14. Its answer reads:

"You can travel to China on the expired passport containing valid Chinese visa in combination with the new passport, provided that the identity information (name, date of birth, gender, nationality) on both passport identical. If there is change to any of the above details, you must apply for a new visa."

The answer is the embassy's own statement for applicants in the United Kingdom. It sets two conditions: the identity information must be the same on both passports, and the four items it lists are name, date of birth, gender and nationality. If any of those details has changed, the embassy says you must apply for a new visa.

Changing the visa inside China

Two Chinese texts cover the change inside China. The first is Article 10 of the Regulations, in the English text published by the National Immigration Administration. It says:

"Where, after entry with a visa, a foreigner changes his or her purpose of stay or is granted entry conveniences in accordance with relevant provisions of the State, or where a foreigner starts using a new passport or needs to stay separately from his or her tour group after entering China with a group visa due to objective reasons, the applicant may apply to the exit and entry administration authority of the public security organ of the local people's government at or above the county level in the place of his or her stay for a change of visa."

Under Article 10, the application goes to the exit and entry administration authority of the public security organ in the place where you stay. The word "may" means the article gives you the right to apply. It does not say the change will be granted.

The second text is item h of the National Immigration Administration's service guide on visa extension, change and reissuance for foreigners. It says:

"A foreigner who starts using a new passport because the original one is about to expire or is running out of visa pages may apply for a change of visa by submitting the original passport for the latest entry or relevant certificates issued by the embassy or consulate of the applicant's country in China specifying that the original passport has been withdrawn. A visa that is consistent with the original visas in type, validity period of entry, duration of stay and the remaining valid entry times may be issued. The entry times of the new visa will be decided in accordance with the remaining valid entry times of the original visa."

Item h sets out two points. The first is the documents to submit: the original passport for the latest entry, or the relevant certificates from the embassy or consulate of your country in China stating that the original passport has been withdrawn. The second is what the new visa may match: the type, the validity period of entry, the duration of stay and the remaining valid entry times of the original visa. Item h says the entry times of the new visa "will be decided in accordance with the remaining valid entry times of the original visa."

Which rule applies to you

• If you are already in China and your visa is in an old passport, Article 10 of the Regulations and item h of the service guide are the Chinese rules that address a change of visa.
• If you are planning from outside China, the UK embassy's answer is the position of that embassy for its applicants. The embassy's answer and the Chinese provisions above are different sources, and this article does not combine them into one rule.
• The embassy's answer depends on the identity information being identical. Article 10 does not list identity details; it covers a foreigner who "starts using a new passport."

Planning suggestion, not a rule: carry the old passport with the visa together with the new passport if you travel, so that both documents can be shown together.

Questions people ask

Can I travel to China with the old passport and the new one?

The embassy in the United Kingdom says yes, provided the identity information on both passports is identical. Its answer lists name, date of birth, gender and nationality as the items to compare.

Where is the change of visa applied for inside China?

Article 10 of the Regulations says the application goes to the exit and entry administration authority of the public security organ of the local people's government at or above the county level in the place of stay.

Sources

• Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom — Part Seven: FAQs and Answers (Ministry of Foreign Affairs mission)
• Service Guide on visa extension, change and reissuance for foreigners (National Immigration Administration)
• Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (National Immigration Administration)

Checked 10 and 11 October 2026

This 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, and it is not legal or immigration advice. If the official text differs from this summary, the official text and the current notice of the office handling your case prevail.