What Will Happen After The 60 Days Automatic Visa Extension ?

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Chinese government has adopted a policy of lockdown across China. People are required to quarantine themselves at home to slow down the spread of disease. Many foreigners who are holding different visa types are stuck in China for the same reason. Considering the special situation, the National Immigration Administration announced measures of a 60-day automatic visa extension for all foreigners in China. As it’s been almost 60 days since the policy was launched, you might be wondering what will happen afterwards, another automatic extension, or having to leave the country when the visa has expired?

After consulting the Exit and Entry Administration in different cities, here are some suggestions which might help you to figure out how to make the next move:

Apply for a 30-day extension based on your current visa at the local Exit and Entry Administration. It requires the same procedure as always. For example, if you are holding an M visa valid for 10 years with multiple entries and 60 days for each stay, as opposed to having to leave China every 60 days, you can apply for a 30 days extension inside China. Therefore, getting the relevant documents prepared would be one of the best solutions.

Turn your visa into a long-term visa which allows you to stay in China for a long time such as family visa or work visa. In this case, you may be required to provide many documents or sponsors to support your visa. Please note that it may take time for you to prepare certain documents such as a criminal background check, or to find sponsors who can provide you with a job offer.

There will be new policies released around the 29th of April regarding foreign nationals whose visas are about to expire soon. Please subscribe to our official WeChat account for the latest update from the government. If your visa is about to expire it would be better to be proactive than just waiting for the new policies as it may not be beneficial for the visa you are holding.

If none of these suggestions applies to your current situation, you may also consider setting up your own business in China so that you can support yourself with a long-term visa to stay in China legally. Contact us for more details, we can provide you with the best solutions based on your situation.