Will my Chinese visa still be valid if I renew my passport?

12/23/2022 9:45:52 PM

This is an old question. Post-pandemic, note that (as of this writing) most non-resident visas issued before March 28, 2020 are invalid. That includes L and M (tourist and business visas).

That situation may change during 2023, but for now most such pre-pandemic visas are "suspended". If it does change, such that your class of older visa is no longer suspended, then I would expect you could bring both passports and use the visa just as before.

12/23/2022 9:34:10 PM

The PRC embassy in the UK states as follows:

Q14. I have renewed my passport now but the Chinese visa on my old one is still valid. Can I go to China with both passports without
applying for a new visa?

A: You can travel to China on the expired passport containing [a] valid Chinese visa in combination with the new passport, provided that the identity information (name, date of birth, gender, nationality) on both passport[s is] identical. If there is change to any of the above details, you must apply for a new visa.

This was last updated in July 2020, so one can be fairly confident this rule applies post-COVID as well.

11/16/2015 5:52:41 PM

The China site says you just need to travel with old and new passport:
http://www.mychinavisa.com/china-visa-faq/

3/16/2015 10:54:15 PM

According to the Chinese embassy:

I get a new passport, but I have a valid Chinese visa in my old
passport. Can I travel with both passports to China without applying
for a new visa?

Yes, you may travel with both passports provided that your visa is
still valid and the personal details including your name, sex, date of
birth and nationality on both passports are exactly the same.

3/16/2015 6:34:26 PM

When you renew your passport, you have to send the previous one to the passport office. When they return your old passport, they will invalidate it somehow. I have seen at least the following methods:

  • Clip a corner off the cover (top right)
  • Cut the cover page in half vertically
  • Punch several holes along the right hand edge

If they punch holes in the right hand edge, it destroys the machine-readable area of the passport and any included visas. This will render your visa unusable. Some countries, if you request it, will use a method of invalidating your previous passport that does not destroy any existing visas that you have affixed to your passport. You will want to make sure that you can do this when you renew your passport.

I don’t know specifically about whether or not China will accept a visa affixed to an old passport. Sometimes you will have to request a visa transfer from the foreign consulate, where they will print a new visa label and affix it to your new passport (this will likely cost money, of course).

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Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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