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Law of the People's Republic of China on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens

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(Adopted at the 13th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Sixth National People's Congress, promulgated by Order No. 31 of the President of the People's Republic of China on November 22, 1985, and effective as of February 1, 1986)

Chapter I

General Provisions

Article 1 This Law is formulated with a view to safeguarding the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China, maintaining its security and public order and facilitating international exchange. This Law is applicable to aliens entering, leaving and transiting the territory of the People's Republic of China and to those residing and travelling in China.

Article 2 Aliens must obtain the permission of the competent authorities of the Chinese Government in order to enter, transit or reside in China.

Article 3 For entry, exit and transit, aliens must pass through ports open to aliens or other designated ports and must be subject to inspection by the frontier inspection offices. For entry, exit and transit, foreign-owned means of transport must pass through ports open to aliens or other designated ports and must be subject to inspection and supervision by the frontier inspection offices.

Article 4 The Chinese Government shall protect the lawful rights and interests of aliens on Chinese territory. Freedom of the person of aliens is inviolable. No alien may be arrested except with the approval or by decision of a people's procuratorate or by decision of a people's court, and arrest must be made by a public security organ or state security organ.

Article 5 Aliens in China must abide by Chinese laws and may not endanger the state security of China, harm public interests or disrupt public order.

Chapter II

Entry into the Country

Article 6 For entry into China, aliens shall apply for visas from Chinese diplomatic missions, consular offices or other resident agencies abroad authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In specific situations aliens may, in compliance with the provisions of the State Council, apply for visas to visa-granting offices at ports designated by the competent authorities of the Chinese Government. The entry of nationals from countries having visa agreements with the Chinese Government shall be handled in accordance with those agreements. In cases where another country has special provisions for Chinese citizens entering and transiting that country, the competent authorities of the Chinese Government may adopt reciprocal measures contingent on the circumstances. Visas are not required for aliens in immediate transit on connected international flights who hold passenger tickets and stay for no more than24 hours in China entirely within airport boundaries. Anyone desiring to leave the airport temporarily must obtain permission from the frontier inspection office.

Article 7 When applying for various kinds of visas, aliens shall present valid passports and, if necessary, provide pertinent evidence.

Article 8 Aliens who have been invited or hired to work in China shall, when applying for visas, produce evidence of the invitation or employment.

Article 9 Aliens desiring to reside permanently in China shall, when applying for visas, present status-of-residence identification forms. Applicants may obtain such forms from public security organs at the place where they intend to reside.

Article 10 The competent authorities of the Chinese Government shall issue appropriate visas to aliens according to the purposes stated in their entry applications.

Article 11 When an aircraft or a vessel navigating international routes arrives at a Chinese port, the captain or his agent must submit a passenger name list to the frontier inspection office; a foreign aircraft or vessel must also provide a name list of its crew members.

Article 12 Aliens who are considered a possible threat to China's state security and public order shall not be permitted to enter China.

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