Refused entry at the Chinese border: the grounds in Article 25

Yes. A valid visa does not by itself settle entry into mainland China. Under Article 24 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law, a foreigner's documents go to border inspection, and entry is allowed only after examination and approval. Article 25 lists the grounds on which foreigners shall not be allowed to enter China, and its final sentence says border inspection is not required to give reasons for a refusal.

Entry is decided at the border

Article 24 reads: "Foreigners who enter China shall submit their passports, other international travel documents, visas or other entry permits to the exit/entry border inspection authorities for examination, go through the prescribed formalities, and may enter upon examination and approval."

The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom says in Q13 of its FAQ that after you obtain a visa, you should be able to enter China through a port open to foreign citizens. The same answer adds: "However, it is up to the border authority to decide whether or not a specific visa holder can enter China."

The four grounds in Article 25

Article 25 begins: "Under any of the following circumstances, foreigners shall not be allowed to enter China:"

1. Hold no valid exit/entry documents, or refuse or evade border inspection;
2. Are involved in any of the circumstances specified in Subparagraph (1) through (4) of the first paragraph of Article 21 of this Law;
3. May engage in activities not conform to the types of visa after entering China; or
4. Other circumstances in which entry is not allowed in accordance with laws or administrative regulations.

Each item is a separate ground. Item (1) concerns documents and refusing or evading border inspection. Item (2) refers to the circumstances in Article 21, first paragraph, subparagraphs (1) to (4), so read that provision in the full text of the Law. Item (3) refers to the types of visa and the activities after entry, and it names no visa class. Item (4) points to other laws or administrative regulations, and Article 25 names none of them.

No reasons have to be given

The last sentence of Article 25 reads: "Exit/entry border inspection authorities are not required to give reasons for denying an entry."

This sentence sits in the same article as the four grounds. A refusal can therefore come without a written explanation of which ground applied.

What follows a refusal

Article 26 reads: "Exit/entry border inspection authorities shall order foreigners who are denied entry in China to return, and shall force the return of those who refuse to do so. While waiting for return, those foreigners shall not leave the restricted zones."

Article 26 separates two steps: the order to return, and forced return for those who refuse to comply with it.

For the entry decision as a whole, see Entry decision at the border.

Questions people ask

Can border inspection refuse entry even if I hold a valid visa?

Article 24 says visas are submitted to border inspection for examination, and that foreigners "may enter upon examination and approval." The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom says in Q13 of its FAQ that "it is up to the border authority to decide whether or not a specific visa holder can enter China."

Does border inspection have to explain a refusal?

No. The last sentence of Article 25 states that the exit/entry border inspection authorities are not required to give reasons for denying an entry.

Sources

• Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China (English text published by the National Immigration Administration) — National Immigration Administration
• Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom — Part Seven: FAQs and Answers — Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom

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 and the current notice of the office handling your case differ, the official text and that notice prevail.