Exit Regulations of China

Q: What documents should I prepare when exiting China?
✔️ A: When leaving China, foreigners must carry a valid passport and visa or other valid stay credentials. Border inspection officers will check all documents. You are also required to complete a Departure Card and a Customs Declaration Form. Make sure to exit within your visa’s valid period. If you hold other credentials and do not plan to return, they will be revoked upon exit.

Chinese Visa Sample

Q: Can I take items purchased in China out of the country?
✔️ A: Yes, you may take items as long as they are not prohibited and the quantity is reasonable. Always declare your belongings at customs if necessary.

Q: How much money can I carry when leaving China?
✔️ A: You may carry the same amount of money as recorded during your latest entry into China. Without a record, you cannot exceed USD 10,000 or its equivalent in other currencies. For amounts between USD 5,000 and 10,000, a declaration with a Foreign Currency Holding Permit issued by a bank is required. Customs clearance applies to cash amounts up to USD 5,000 or equivalent.

Q: What items are prohibited from being taken out of China?
✔️ A: The following items are strictly prohibited:

  1. Weapons, simulated weapons, ammunition, and explosives

  2. Counterfeit currency and securities

  3. Media, photographs, or digital content harmful to China’s politics, economy, culture, or social morals

  4. Deadly poisons

  5. Narcotics and psychotropic substances, including opium, morphine, heroin, and hemp

  6. Priceless relics and museum pieces

  7. Endangered plants, specimens, seeds, and reproduction materials

  8. Materials containing official state secrets stored on media or computers

Q: Who is prohibited from exiting China?
✔️ A: The following individuals cannot leave China:

  1. Criminal defendants or suspects sanctioned by Chinese authorities

  2. Individuals with unresolved civil cases

  3. Persons who have violated Chinese law and whose cases are under investigation

  4. Holders of invalid or forged exit credentials

  5. Individuals who refuse border inspection

  6. Travelers not using the designated exit port

  7. Persons carrying contraband

  8. Individuals restricted by the Ministry of Public Security or Ministry of State Security

Q: Can children carry money when exiting China?
✔️ A: Children may carry up to USD 5,000 without a declaration.

Q: Can I carry electronic gadgets, such as phones or drones, when leaving China?
✔️ A: Personal electronic devices like phones and drones are allowed. If you carry multiple new devices, you may need to declare them in advance.

Q: Do I need to change my student visa before leaving China?
✔️ A: If your student visa is still valid, you can exit without changing it. However, if you plan to re-enter after the visa expires, you will need a new visa. Re-entry within the valid period is allowed with the current visa.

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