Are Visas and Residence Permits the Same Document?

签证和居留许可是一个证件吗？

Many people think that residence permits and visas are the same, but they are not; there is a difference between them.

许多人以为居留许可和签证是一样的，其实并不然，居留许可和签证是有区别的。

Foreigner Visas

外国人签证

A visa is a document issued by a country's immigration management authority (such as an immigration bureau or its overseas embassies and consulates) to approve the entry of foreign citizens. It includes various short-term and long-term visas. It is a permission certificate issued by the competent authorities of a sovereign state to foreigners and allows them to enter the country. After being inspected and approved by the immigration management authority at the port, foreigners can legally enter another country with a valid passport and visa.

签证是一个国家的出入境管理机构（例如移民局或其驻外使领馆），对外国公民表示批准入境所签发的一种文件。包括各种短期签证和长期签证。是主权国家主管机关发给外国人并允许其入境的许可凭证。经口岸移民管理机构查验准许后，外国人可持有效护照、签证合法进入他国。

签证则通常由中国驻外使领馆签发。签证均有明显“签证（VISA）”标识。

Currently, there are four main types of visas in China, namely diplomatic visas, courtesy visas, official visas, and ordinary visas.

Most foreigners need to apply for ordinary visas. Ordinary visas are mainly divided into sixteen categories, basically covering all the reasons for coming to China.

大部分外国人需要办理的都是普通签证。而普通签证又主要有十六类，基本涵盖了因各种原因来中国的情况。

For foreigners holding visas that indicate the need to handle residence documents after entry in accordance with national regulations, specialized talents and investors, as well as those who need to change from staying to residing for humanitarian and other reasonable reasons, residence documents can be issued. After the implementation of two standards by the Ministry of Public Security in September 2013, the residence documents were adjusted from the original seven categories to five categories: work, study, journalist, reunion, and private affairs.

对外国人所持签证注明入境后需要办理居留证件符合国家规定的专门人才和投资者以及出于人道和其他合理事由需由停留变更为居留，可以签发居留证件。2013年9月公安部两个规范执行后，居留证件由原来7类调整为工作、学习、记者、团聚和私人事务5类。

Foreigner Residence Permits

外国人居留许可

A residence permit is a residence document applied for by foreigners after entering China with the above five types of related visas, to the Chinese immigration and exit-entry management departments. The residence permit is marked with "Foreigner's Residence Permit (FOREIGNER’S RESIDENCE PERMIT)" at the top, and the purpose for residence (PURPOSE FOR RESIDENCE) represents the type of residence permit. The "Purpose for Residence" column is marked with "Work," "Private Affairs," or "Reunion."

居留许可是外国人持上述的5类相关签证入境中国后，向中国出入境管理部门申办的居留证件。居留许可正上方标注有“外国人居留许可（ FOREIGNER’S RESIDENCE PERMIT ）”字样，居留事由（ PURPOSE FOR RESIDENCE ）代表居留许可的种类。“居留事由”一栏标注“工作”“私人事务”或“团聚”字样的。

Note: Holders of "Z," "X1," "J1," "Q1," and "S1" visas must apply for residence procedures at the local public security bureau within 30 days of entry. Specifically, "Z" is transferred to a work-type residence permit, "X1" to a study-type residence permit, "J1" to a journalist-type residence permit, "Q1" to a reunion-type residence permit, and "S1" to a private affairs-type residence permit.

注意：持“Z”、“X1”、“J1”、“Q1”、“S1”字签证人员自入境之日起30日内，必须前往当地公安机关申办居留手续。其中，Z转工作类居留许可，X1转学习类居留许可，J1转记者类居留许可，Q1转团聚类居留许可，S1转私人事务类居留许可。

What are the differences between these two documents?

这两个证件有何区别呢？

(1) Different Issuing Targets

（一）签发对象不同

Visa: Issued to foreigners coming to China.

签证：签发给来华外国人。

Residence Permit: Issued to foreigners who meet the conditions and need to reside in China for more than 180 days.

居留许可：签发给符合条件需要来华长期居留超过180天的外国人。

(2) Different Issuing Authorities

（二）签发机关不同

Visa: Issued by overseas embassies and consulates and domestic public security organs.

签证：签发机关是驻外使领馆和国内公安机关。

Residence Permit: Issued by domestic public security organs.

居留许可：签发机关为国内公安机关。

(3) Different Nature of the Document

（三）证件性质不同

Visa: Short-term visas have a stay period not exceeding 180 days. The holder can stay in China according to the visa period, and the main nature is a document for foreigners to enter and exit the country.

签证：短期签证停留期不超过180天。持有人可凭签证停留期在华停留，主要性质是外国人入出境证件。

Residence Permit: The holder can enter and exit China multiple times during the validity period of the residence permit, and the main nature is a document for foreigners to reside.

居留许可：持有人可在居留许可有效期多次出入境中国，主要性质是外国人居留证件。

(4) Different Stay Period and Number of Entries

（四）停留期和入境次数不同

Visa: There are restrictions on the stay period and the number of entries; the holder needs to exit and re-enter before the stay period expires.

签证：有停留期及停留次数限制，停留期到期前需要出境后再入境。

Residence Permit: There are no restrictions on the stay period and the number of entries; the holder can enter and exit China an unlimited number of times within the validity period.

居留许可：无停留期及停留次数限制，有效期内可不限次数出入中国。