By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Is it still possible to enter China with two passports?
- an old one with a valid visa and a new one which is blank. According to different forums there were no problems with that before, I wonder if it has change anyhow since the new entry-exit rules came into force. Has anyone entered China with two passports recently? Any problems?
My old passport expires in January 2014, but as I already got my new passport, the old one becomes invalid: they cut out a passport number from one of it's pages. I know that technically I'm supposed to go to an embassy and transfer my visa to my new passport, it is said in all the official sources that I could find. However I didn't find any comment/post/thread anywhere which says that someone was refused entering China in this situation. But as they introduced these new entry-exit rules, I was asking if anyone traveled that way recently.
10 years 36 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
Technically, no. But reality in China is another thing. No two officails will decide the same way in many cses.
First, and again, from a technical point of view, you should not get a visa to enter China or any other country which will still be valid after your passport expires. One of the regulations to obtain a visa for China is that you must have a minimum of six months validity on your passport, and a number of empty visa pages.
Second, and again, technically, when your passport expires, all visas attached on it also expire since they are tied to your passport number.
And as I said above, not because one person managed to do it means that you can also do it.
In fact, to buy the airplane ticket you will need a visa on the passport you are using, and to enter the airplane will also be needed again. And I know someone who was refused on that basis and for the reasons stated above.
Samm11:
My visa expires when my old passport expires - in January 2014. I just decided to get a new passport while I'm in my home country for summer holidays. So what I have now is a new blank passport and an old passport which expires in January 2014 and contains a visa which also expires in January 2014, but which is technically invalid as I already have a new passport and a number was cut from one of the pages of my old passport. Do you think it changes the situation? Cause I don't think I have time to go to the embassy and transfer my visa to my new passport...
Why would you show new (blank) passport at the entry to China?
You enter China with one passport (and valid visa). In the meantime, your old passport expire, and you apply for new passport at your Embassy in Beijing (or bring new one with you to China). Your relatives might mail you new passport, too.
You might need to visit PSB before passport (and visa) expiration. When you exit China, you must show old passport with expired entry visa and valid, new one.
At the entry, you don't need to show new passport. You must show both passports only at the exit.
Samm11:
Because I can't have two valid passports at the same time. I've already got a new passport and the old one automatically becomes invalid after that. Besides, when they gave me my new passport they cut a number out of my old passport thus making it invalid.
Use your old passport which has not expired and show them the new one if they refuse to let you in because of the condition of your old passport. They will then let you in.
Been there and done it.
As has been said above. You shouldn't have a valid visa in an expired passport.
CARLGODWIN1983:
Why is the passport invalid?
Is it damaged? If so, that's why you have the new one, which was my problem before
Samm11:
because when they gave me my new passport, they made the old one invalid by cutting out the number
It's about a year ago since I did this. No problem at the time. Maybe contact your embassy/consulate in China or the PSB where you will enter to make sure. Local enforcement can apply.
I knew someone that had entered CHina with two passports....so from experience I would say yes.
in case anyone is interested, yes it is possible, i had no problems.
