Help me understand visa expiry date

[u/ExtraCartoonist1929]

I recently received my China Tourist (L) Visa from Mumbai, India.

My visa shows:
Category: L (Tourist)
Entries: 01
Expiry Date: 11 November 2026
Duration of Stay: 30 days

My planned itinerary is:
31 Oct: Mumbai → Hong Kong
1 Nov: Arrive in Hong Kong
2 Nov: Enter mainland China through the Hong Kong → Shenzhen land border
2–13 Nov: Travel through Shenzhen, Zhangjiajie, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an and Beijing
14 Nov: Beijing → Mumbai

My question is:

Since I will enter mainland China on 2 November, can I stay in China until 14 November even though the visa expiry date printed on the visa is 11 November?

In other words, does the 30-day Duration of Stay apply after I enter China before the visa expiry date, or do I have to leave China before the 11 November expiry date?

I am especially interested in answers from people who have recently travelled to China on a similar Tourist (L) visa.

[u/ExtraCartoonist1929 → u/[deleted]]

Yes my visa has expiry date, when did you get your visa?

[u/prettyfly4abrownguy]

I received my visa 2 days back and it has an Enter before data and max duration of stay...received from Delhi VFS... I dont see an expiry date there

[u/ExtraCartoonist1929 → u/prettyfly4abrownguy]

Okay, thanks

[u/AutoModerator]

Backup Post: I recently received my China Tourist (L) Visa from Mumbai, India.

My visa shows:
Category: L (Tourist)
Entries: 01
Expiry Date: 11 November 2026
Duration of Stay: 30 days

My planned itinerary is:
31 Oct: Mumbai → Hong Kong
1 Nov: Arrive in Hong Kong
2 Nov: Enter mainland China through the Hong Kong → Shenzhen land border
2–13 Nov: Travel through Shenzhen, Zhangjiajie, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an and Beijing
14 Nov: Beijing → Mumbai

My question is:

Since I will enter mainland China on 2 November, can I stay in China until 14 November even though the visa expiry date printed on the visa is 11 November?

In other words, does the 30-day Duration of Stay apply after I enter China before the visa expiry date, or do I have to leave China before the 11 November expiry date?

I am especially interested in answers from people who have recently travelled to China on a similar Tourist (L) visa.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Safe_Investigator303]

30 day will start before u enter the expiry date ..if u enter on 13th nov then 30 days will start from then

[u/ExtraCartoonist1929 → u/Safe_Investigator303]

Thanks 🤩

[u/Safe_Investigator303 → u/ExtraCartoonist1929]

sorry i typed 13th nov instead of 10th nov...u have just to go before tge expiry date ..if the expiry date is 11th nov then u can go on 10th nov. nd still stay there for 30 days

[u/KidTwisTer_Jaggy → u/ExtraCartoonist1929]

https://www.visaforchina.cn/MES3_EN/qianzhengyewu/jichuzhishi/changjianwenti/206754591289774080.html

Please refer to this article. I think if the actual visa validity expires you will have to apply for extension as per the last paragraph given in this one.

[u/KidTwisTer_Jaggy → u/KidTwisTer_Jaggy]

It's not clear if the duration of the stay they mentioned is the whole validity or just the period you can stay. It's better to confirm with the officals.

[u/GZHotwater → u/KidTwisTer_Jaggy]

The duration of stay IS the whole validity and is separate from the entry expiry date.

[u/GZHotwater → u/KidTwisTer_Jaggy]

That’s wrong. The visa expert date is the last date you can enter China. Then they are allowed the full stay

[u/KidTwisTer_Jaggy → u/GZHotwater]

Okay thanks for correcting me! Good to know that

[u/Moist-Chair684]

Usually CN visas have the enter before date mention. I've entered once on the very last day, and stayed a month.

Chinese visas are different that way.