Visas & residence permits in Chinese 签证和居留
qiānzhèng hé jūliú
Visa in Chinese is 签证 (qiān zhèng).
Also searched for as: visa in Chinese, residence permit in Chinese, work permit, visa-free entry, visa extension.
The paperwork side of life in China. 15 essential visas & residence permits words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
Sooner or later every foreign resident in China needs the vocabulary of paperwork. It starts with 签证 (qiān zhèng), visa, and 居留许可 (jū liú xǔ kě), the residence permit that work visa holders convert to after arrival. You'll also visit the 出入境管理局 (chū rù jìng guǎn lǐ jú), the exit-entry bureau, with a pile of 材料 (cái liào), the documents every office asks for. Knowing these terms makes appointments far less stressful.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 签证 | qiān zhèng | visa |
| 免签 | miǎn qiān | visa-free |
| 旅游签证 | lǚ yóu qiān zhèng | tourist visa |
| 工作签证 | gōng zuò qiān zhèng | work visa |
| 居留许可 | jū liú xǔ kě | residence permit |
| 工作许可 | gōng zuò xǔ kě | work permit |
| 出入境管理局 | chū rù jìng guǎn lǐ jú | exit-entry administration bureau |
| 有效期 | yǒu xiào qī | period of validity |
| 到期 | dào qī | to expire |
| 延期 | yán qī | to extend; extension |
| 材料 | cái liào | documents; paperwork |
| 住宿登记 | zhù sù dēng jì | accommodation registration |
| 派出所 | pài chū suǒ | local police station |
| 入境 | rù jìng | to enter a country; entry |
| 逾期 | yú qī | to overstay; to be overdue |
Usage tips
- 材料 (cái liào) literally means 'materials', but in any government office it means the documents you have to submit, so 材料带齐了吗 (cái liào dài qí le ma) means 'have you got everything with you?'.
- In conversation people shorten 出入境管理局 to just 出入境 (chū rù jìng), as in 我明天去出入境 (wǒ míng tiān qù chū rù jìng), 'I'm going to the exit-entry bureau tomorrow'.
- Hotels do your 住宿登记 (zhù sù dēng jì) automatically, but if you stay in a rented flat or with friends you normally register at the local 派出所 (pài chū suǒ) yourself, usually within 24 hours of arriving.
Common mistakes
- Saying 我的签证完了 (wǒ de qiān zhèng wán le) for 'my visa has run out'; say 到期了 (dào qī le) or 过期了 (guò qī le) instead.
- Assuming 有效期 (yǒu xiào qī) on a visa is how long you can stay: it's the window in which you can enter, while the length of each permitted stay is the 停留期 (tíng liú qī).
Mini dialogue
- A你的居留许可办好了吗？Nǐ de jū liú xǔ kě bàn hǎo le ma?Has your residence permit come through?
- B还没有，材料不够，明天还要去出入境管理局。Hái méi yǒu, cái liào bù gòu, míng tiān hái yào qù chū rù jìng guǎn lǐ jú.Not yet, I was missing some documents, so I have to go back to the exit-entry bureau tomorrow.
- A缺什么材料？Quē shén me cái liào?What are you missing?
- B住宿登记。我搬家以后忘了去派出所。Zhù sù dēng jì. Wǒ bān jiā yǐ hòu wàng le qù pài chū suǒ.The accommodation registration. I forgot to go to the police station after I moved.
- A那你快去吧。你的签证什么时候到期？Nà nǐ kuài qù ba. Nǐ de qiān zhèng shén me shí hou dào qī?Better go quickly, then. When does your visa expire?
- B下个月，所以不能再拖了。Xià ge yuè, suǒ yǐ bù néng zài tuō le.Next month, so I can't put it off any longer.
Example sentences
- 我的签证下个月到期。My visa expires next month.
- 这次我是免签入境的。I came in visa-free this time.
- 我拿的是旅游签证。I'm on a tourist visa.
- 公司帮我办工作签证。My company is sorting out my work visa.
- 居留许可办好了吗？Has your residence permit come through?
- 没有工作许可不能在中国工作。You can't work in China without a work permit.
- 明天我要去出入境管理局。I have to go to the exit-entry bureau tomorrow.
- 这个签证的有效期是多久？How long is this visa valid for?
- 我的护照明年到期。My passport expires next year.
- 我可以申请延期吗？Can I apply for an extension?
- 材料都带齐了吗？Have you brought all the documents?
- 租房以后一般要去派出所办住宿登记。After renting a flat you usually have to register at the police station.
- 派出所就在小区旁边。The police station is right next to the estate.
- 入境的时候一般要按指纹。You usually have to give your fingerprints on entry.
- 逾期居留会被罚款。You'll be fined for overstaying.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Visas & residence permits speaking island has 8 everyday questions about visas & residence permits to prepare your own answers to.