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Lost passport or residence permit in China: what the rules say

Unofficial summary · Sources checked

A lost, damaged or stolen passport, visa or residence permit in China is handled by separate provisions. For a lost passport, a foreigner who cannot get a replacement from their own country's institution in China may apply for exit formalities to the local exit/entry administration (Regulations, Article 23). For a lost visa or residence permit, the foreigner shall apply for a reissue with the same administration (Exit and Entry Administration Law, Article 35).

Check your visa type before you travel with the X1 or X2 visa check; it prints the documents and the after-entry steps for the study length and housing you enter.

Lost passport

Exit formalities. A foreigner who does not hold a valid passport or other international travel document due to loss, damage, destruction, theft, robbery or other reasons, and cannot get the document reissued by the relevant institution of their own country stationed in China, may apply for exit formalities to the exit/entry administration authority of the public security organ of the local people's government at or above the county level in the place of stay or residence. Source: Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, Article 23.

UK embassy guidance. The Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom states that you should report to the local Chinese public security authority as soon as possible and apply for a new passport (or an international travel document) from the embassy or consulate of your home country in China before applying for the re-issuance of a visa from that public security authority. Source: Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom, Part Seven: FAQs and Answers, Q16.

Note on scope. Exit and Entry Administration Law, Article 35 covers ordinary visas, stay permits and residence permits that are damaged, lost or stolen; it is not the provision for a lost passport. For a lost passport use Regulations Article 23 and the embassy FAQ above, each under its own number.

Lost residence permit

Reissue application. For foreigners whose residence permit is lost, damaged or stolen, the applicant shall submit a certification for passport loss report, or a note from the embassy or consulate of the country of residence in China, or the damaged passport, together with the new passport or other international travel document; a residence permit may be re-issued. Source: National Immigration Administration, Service Guide on residence permits for foreigners, section 4.

Filing authority. The reissue is applied for with the exit/entry administration of the public security organ under the local people's government at or above the county level in the place of stay or residence. Source: Exit and Entry Administration Law, Article 35.

Lost visa

Reissue application. After entry, a foreigner whose visa is lost, damaged or stolen shall submit the proof materials below to the exit/entry administration; a visa may be reissued consistent with the original visa type, entry validity, duration of stay and remaining valid entries. Source: National Immigration Administration, service guide for the extension, change and reissue of foreigners' visas, section 6(4).

English wording for this National Immigration Administration Chinese visa guide is this site's translation of the Chinese text.

Required materials:

  1. Visa lost or stolen: passport loss report certificate, or a note from the home country's embassy or consulate in China, together with the new valid passport or other international travel document.
  2. Visa damaged: the damaged passport, or a note from the home country's embassy or consulate in China, together with the new valid passport or other international travel document.
  3. Group visa lost, stolen or damaged: a certificate letter from the local receiving travel agency and a copy of the group visa.

Filing authority. The reissue is applied for with the exit/entry administration of the public security organ under the local people's government at or above the county level in the place of stay or residence. Source: Exit and Entry Administration Law, Article 35.

Reissue decisions are final

A decision by the exit/entry administration of a public security organ to reject an application for visa extension or reissuance, or not to issue a foreigner's stay or residence permit or not to extend the duration of residence, is final. Source: Exit and Entry Administration Law, Article 36.

Questions people ask

Is a rejected reissue application reviewed?

A decision by the exit/entry administration of a public security organ to reject an application for visa reissuance, or not to issue a stay or residence permit or not to extend the duration of residence, is final. Source: Exit and Entry Administration Law, Article 36.

Sources

Checked 10 October 2026 and 11 October 2026. This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, is not published by the bodies named, and the official text and the instructions of the body handling your application prevail if they differ.

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