Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China
(Adopted at the 27th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eleventh National People’s Congress on June 30, 2012)
Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Exit and Entry of Chinese Citizens
Chapter III Entry and Exit of Foreigners
Section 1 Visa
Section 2 Entry and Exit
Chapter IV Stay and Residence of Foreigners
Section 1 Stay and Residence
Section 2 Permanent Residence
Chapter V Border Inspection of Transport Vehicles Exiting/Entering
Chapter VI Investigation and Repatriation
Chapter VII Legal Liabilities
Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 In order to regulate exit/entry administration, safeguard the sovereignty, security and social order of the People’s Republic of China, and promote foreign exchanges and opening to the outside world, this Law is hereby formulated.
Article 2 This Law is applicable to the administration of exit and entry of Chinese citizens, entry and exit of foreigners, stay and residence of foreigners in China, and the exit/entry border inspection of transport vehicles.
Article 3 The State protects Chinese citizens’ legitimate rights and interests of exiting and entering the country.
The legitimate rights and interests of foreigners in China shall be protected by laws. Foreigners in China shall abide by the Chinese laws, and shall not endanger China’s national security, harm public interests and disrupt social and public order.
Article 4 The Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall, within the scope of their respective responsibilities, be responsible for administering exit/entry affairs.
Embassies and consulates of the People’s Republic of China and other institutions stationed abroad entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (hereinafter referred to as “the visa-issuing authorities abroad”) shall be responsible for issuance of entry visas to foreigners. Exit/entry border inspection authorities shall be responsible for carrying out exit/entry border inspection. Public security organs under local people’s governments at or above the county level and their exit/entry administrations shall be responsible for the administration of the stay and residence of foreigners.
The Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may, within the scope of their respective responsibilities, entrust exit/entry administrations of public security organs or foreign affairs departments under local people’s governments at or above the county level to accept foreigners’ applications for entry, stay and residence in China.
In the administration of exit/entry affairs, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall strengthen communication and cooperation, cooperate closely with relevant departments under the State Council, and exercise functions and powers and bear liabilities within the scope of their respective responsibilities in accordance with the law.
Article 5 The State shall establish a uniform exit/entry administration information platform to share information among relevant administrative departments.
Article 6 The State shall establish exit/entry border inspection authorities at the ports open to foreign countries.
Chinese citizens, foreigners as well as transport vehicles shall exit or enter China via the ports open to foreign countries, or via the places approved by the State Council or by the departments authorized by the State Council under special circumstances. Personnel and transport vehicles that exit or enter China shall be subject to exit/entry border inspection.
Exit/entry border inspection authorities shall be responsible for relevant administration work in the restricted zones of ports. On the basis of the need for safeguarding national security and maintaining the order of exit/entry administration, exit/entry border inspection authorities may conduct border inspection on the belongings of the persons who exit or enter China. When necessary, exit/entry border inspection authorities may conduct border inspection on the goods carried by transport vehicles that exit or enter China. However, exit/entry border inspection authorities shall notify the Customs of such inspections.
Article 7 Upon approval by the State Council, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may, on the basis of the need for exit/entry administration, set forth regulations on the collection and keep of fingerprints and other biometric identification information of the persons who exit or enter China.
Where foreign governments have special regulations on issuing visas to Chinese citizens or the exit/entry administration of Chinese citizens, the Chinese government may, as the circumstances require, take corresponding and equivalent measures.
Article 8 Departments and institutions that are responsible for the exit/entry administration shall take practical measures, constantly improve service and administration, enforce laws impartially, provide convenient and efficient service and ensure the security and conveyance of the exit/entry procedures.
