If you are inside China and your visa is about to expire, you usually cannot simply "renew" it; instead you apply for a visa extension or a new visa type at the exit-entry administration of the county-level public security bureau or above.
Extension conditions: apply within 7 days before expiry (15 days at some ports), with a valid reason such as hospitalisation, cancelled flights or extended business talks. Tourist visa extensions are normally granted once, for no longer than the original stay.
Documents: passport and copy, visa page and entry stamp, accommodation registration (from hotel or police station), and written explanation plus proof (hospital certificate, rebooked tickets).
Where and cost: at the exit-entry hall (booking via WeChat/app in big cities); about 160-200 yuan; processing takes 5-7 working days.
Warning: overstaying costs 500 yuan per day (max 10,000 yuan); serious cases may lead to deportation orders or blacklisting. If you do overstay, report voluntarily to the authorities quickly and honestly - leniency is common.
Visa expiring while you are in China? Do not panic. This article explains "extension" and "renewal".
First, define your situation: do you want to "extend the current stay" or "get a new visa to stay on"? Different natures, different procedures.
Case one: extend the stay. For those whose stay expires but who genuinely cannot leave. Apply to the local exit-entry administration with truthful reasons (illness, cancelled flights).
Extensions are generally applied seven days before the stay expires; tourist visas usually allow one extension, not long.
Case two: renew/convert the visa. Staying long (family visits, business), you may convert the current visa to a longer-stay type, e.g. L to Q.
Conversion needs a legal basis: direct relatives in China (Q), business cooperation (M), etc. Tourism reasons generally do not support conversion.
Another common move: exit and reapply. Many "go out and come back" for a new visa, but frequent crossings may draw questioning and record risk.
Either way, prepare: passport, current visa, application form, proof of reasons (hospital certificates, invitation letters), photo.
Where: the local exit-entry administration (immigration) service hall; appear in person; usually a few working days.
Fees: both cost, varying slightly by locality.
Key warning: never overstay. Overstay fines accrue daily; severe cases mean deportation and blacklisting, harming all future China visa applications.
If only the "validity period" is near expiry but the "stay" remains (multi-entry visa), relax - validity governs entry, stay governs departure.
Final advice: planning ahead always beats fixing later. Check official sites, call to ask, and use professional agents for complex cases.
