China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) will launch new services, such as online appointments and inquiries for foreigners’ visas and other relevant documents, on its service platform starting from Oct.9th.2023.

The platform’s new service menu will feature online appointments for applications for individual visas and other documents, online inquiries about the progress of the issuance of individual visas and other documents, online inquiries about information concerning individual visas and other documents, and online inquiries about China-issued foreign permanent resident ID cards.

It will also feature online inquiries about the passport information of foreigners with permanent residence status, online inquiries about information concerning the authorities issuing the relevant documents, online service guidance, and online assistance for service users’ relatives or friends on behalf of them, said the NIA. 

It includes the following eight functions and services:

1.Online appointments for applications for individual visa and other documents

Foreigners can schedule appointments online to apply for visa extensions, renewals, reissuance, and for stay and residence permits. Time slots and places for having the applications handled offline can be selected in order to save time enhance the efficiency of offline processing.

2.Online inquiries about the progress of the issuance of individual visas and other documents

Foreigners can check online their application statuses for visa extension, renewal and reissuance, and stay and residence permits issued by the exit-entry administrations of public security organs, to help them make better arrangements for their personal affairs.

3.Online inquiries about the information on individual visas and other documents

Foreigners can make online inquiries about the information concerning the extension, renewal, and reissuance of their visas, and stay and residence permits issued by the exit-entry administrations of public security organs, to get their relevant social affairs handled in a more efficient way.

4.Online inquiries about Foreign Permanent Residence ID Cards of the People’s Republic of China

Foreigners with permanent residence status in China can check the details of their Foreign Permanent Resident ID Cards of the People’s Republic of China online, to have their relevant social affairs handled in a more efficient way in China.

5.Online inquiries about the passport information of foreigners with permanent residence status

Foreigners with permanent residence status in China can inquire about their passport information online. The inquiry results can be used to generate electronic documents with the electronic signature of NIA, making the search for the personal passports bound to Foreign Permanent Residence ID Cards possible. This makes it easier for foreigners with permanent residence status to deal with social affairs in the sectors of finance, tax, social sexurity, communications, etc.

6.Online inquiries about the information of the authorities issuing the relevant documents

Foreigners can inquire about the details of the exit-entry administration service centers of the public security organs in China, where services such as visa extension, renewal, reissuance, and issuance of stay and residence permits are handled. Details such as locations, office hours, and inquiry telephone numbers are available. This will offer foreigners convenience in applying for different exit-entry documents.

7.Online service guidance

Foreigners can inquire online about detailed guidelines related to applications for visa extension, renewals, reissuance, and stay and residence permits. The information on the corresponding application material, requirements, procedures and methods, fees, etc., will also be provided. Foreigners can therefore prepare relevant materials in advance and enjoy higher processing efficiency.

8.Online assistance services by relatives or friends

This is for children, elderly and others who have difficulties using NIA’s mobile platform yet need to make relevant applications online. Chinese and foreign users can add the foreigners in need of assistance as the applicants and help them handle relevant matters including making appointments for applications of the relevant documents, inquiring about the status of the applications and the details of the up, innovation, and high-quality development.

Source: NIA