Law of ChinaModule 3
Entering, visiting and staying in China: visas, registration, residence permits, permanent residence, work, study and immigration violations
For most foreigners the first contact with Chinese law is at the **border**. The rules are set by the **Exit and Entry Administration Law** and its regulations, applied by the **National Immigration Administration**, the **public security bureaus** and the **embassies and consulates** abroad. They are **strict and formal**: the **purpose** of your visit decides the **visa**, a long stay needs a **residence permit**, and working, studying and even sleeping at an address are each **registered**. The consequences of a mistake, such as overstaying or working on a tourist visa, can be **fines, detention and deportation**. This module follows the path of a foreign person from the visa to the permit, and explains what to do when something goes wrong. The visa-free lists, fees and processing times **change often**, so always check the current rule of the embassy or the authority concerned.
This course explains the law of China, not US law. Rules that look the same elsewhere may be different. This covers Mainland China. Hong Kong and Macao have separate legal systems, and Taiwan is outside this collection.
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See what is included in the Courses & AI Lab Pass →General education on the law of Mainland China, using invented people and businesses. It states laws and procedures in simplified form and is not legal advice. The law and its practice change, and every case turns on its facts and on the local authority. It does not offer legal representation or a legal opinion on any case. Consult a Chinese-qualified lawyer for any real matter.
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