China entry requirements, by passport

Vaccinations

• No mandatory vaccines for general entry. A yellow fever certificate is required from travellers over 9 months of age arriving from a country with risk of transmission, or who have transited through the airport of one of those countries (any length of layover).

Customs limits

Cash

Foreign currency cash above the equivalent of USD 5,000 must be declared in writing to customs, and so must yuan cash above CNY 20,000, which is also the most each person may carry on each entry or exit.

Alcohol

On entry, up to 1.5 litres of alcoholic drinks of 12% ABV or more without declaring; above that they must be declared.

Tobacco

On entry, up to 400 cigarettes, or 100 cigars, or 500 g of loose tobacco without declaring; above that they must be declared.

Overstay penalties

The Exit and Entry Administration Law (art. 78) punishes illegal stay with a warning and, in serious cases, a fine of CNY 500 per day up to a maximum of CNY 10,000, or detention of 5 to 15 days. Illegal stay is also a ground for repatriation, and anyone repatriated may not enter China again for one to five years (art. 62). Where the violation is serious but does not constitute a crime, the Ministry of Public Security may deport the foreigner, with a ten-year entry ban (art. 81).

Grounds for refusal

• Not holding valid exit/entry documents, or refusing or evading border inspection.
• The authority forming the view that you may engage in activities in China that do not match the type of visa you hold.
• Falling under one of subparagraphs 1 to 4 of the first paragraph of Article 21, including having knowingly falsified information during the application.
• Any other ground for refusal provided by law or administrative regulation. One thing worth knowing: the law expressly states that border inspection authorities are not required to give reasons for refusing entry.

What to do if you are refused entry →