Application for visa extension and renewal shall be made 7 days before the expiration of the visa validity. The applicants shall respond to questions and provide the following documents during the application:
1. Valid passport or other international travel documents and the original and photocopy of his or her valid passport and visa;
2. Completed Foreign National Visa Application Form;
3. A digital photo for the purpose of Guangdong entry/exit documents and its Inspection Note;
4. The Overseas Personnel Temporary Accommodation Form;
5. Other relevant supporting documents;
6. Other certificates as required by the public security authority.
The extension of the visa stay may not exceed, in aggregate, the period of stay originally indicated in the visa. The period of stay for renewed visa may not exceed one year in total from the date of the current entry.
Residence Permit
A visa is a permit issued by an authorized government agency in accordance with its own laws and regulations for foreigners applying for entry, exit, or transit. Foreigners can enter China with a valid visa. After entering China, they must apply to the exit-entry administration department of the public security organ for a residence permit according to the regulations if they plan to stay in China for non-diplomatic or non-official reasons. Professionals and investors who meet China’s regulations, or foreigners who need to change to a residence permit for humanitarian reasons can apply for a permanent residence permits for foreigners upon approval.
Residence permits are mainly applicable to five types of visa holders: “employment (Z), student (X1), journalist (J1), family reunion (Q1) and personal affairs (S1)”. The residence permit of corresponding type shall be applied within 30 days after entry.
Service Guide for Issuing Residence Permits for Foreigners
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Stay permit
Foreigners with visa-free access who need to stay in China beyond the visa-free period, foreign crew members and their accompanying family members who need to leave the docked port city when staying in China, or those in other circumstances that require stay permits, must apply for a foreigner stay permit in accordance with regulations.
If an employee needs to remain in China after leaving their position due to humanitarian reasons, he may apply to the local exit and entry administration department of the public security organ for an extended stay certificate.
Service Guide for Issuing Stay Permits for Foreigners
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If the ordinary visas, stay permits, or residence permits of foreigners are lost, damaged, or stolen in Zhongshan, they can apply for a replacement permit consistent with the original one. The available number of entries shall remain the same as in the original.
Service Guide for the Examination and Approval of Visa Extension, Replacement, and Reissuance for Foreigners
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Foreigners applying for visas, stay, and residence permits need to go to the foreign expert service area in the Exit-Entry Hall of the Zhongshan Municipal Public Security Bureau for on-site filing and registration. Work units that have passed the filing review do not need to submit a registration certificate when applying for a foreigner visa, stay, or residence permit.
应当在签证停留期届满7日前申请签证延期或换发。申请时需回答有关询问并提供以下材料：
1. 本人有效护照或其他国际旅行证件及签证的原件和复印件；
2. 填写“外国人签证证件申请表”；
3. 广东省出入境证件数码相片1张及该相片的“检测回执”；
4. “境外人员临时住宿登记表”；
5. 与签证事由有关的证明材料；
6. 公安机关认为需要提供的其他证明。
延长签证停留期限，累计不得超过签证原注明的停留期限。签 证换发的停留期限自本次入境之曰起连续累计不得超过1年。
居留证件
签证是一国政府授权机关依照本国法律法规，为申请入、出或过境本国的外国人颁发的一种许可证明。有了签证，外国朋友们可以进入中国。入境后，如果没有外交和公务事由，但需要在中国境内居留，就要按照规定向公安机关出入境管理机构申请居留证件了。符合国家规定的专门人才、投资者或者出于人道等原因确需由停留变更为居留的外国人，经批准也可以办理外国人居留证件。
居留证件主要适用于“工作（Z）、学习（X1）、记者（J1）、团聚（Q1）和私人事务（S1）”五类签证持有人，入境后30日内办理相应类别的居留许可。
外国人居留证件签发服务指南
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停留证件
免办签证入境的外国人需要超过免签期限在中国境内停留的，外国船员及其随行家属在中国境内停留需要离开港口所在城市，或者具有需要办理外国人停留证件其他情形的，应当按照规定办理外国人停留证件。
就业者结束工作因人道原因需继续停留的，可以向停留地公安机关出入境管理部门申请办理停留证件。
外国人停留证件签发服务指南
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外籍朋友在中山的时候，如果普通签证、停留证件或居留证件不小心遗失、损坏或者被盗了，都可以在中山申请补发与原证件一致的普通签证、停留证件或居留证件。签证次数按原签证剩余有效入境次数补发。
外国人签证延期、换发、补发审批服务指南
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外国人进行签证、停留、居留证件申请，需到中山市公安局出入境办证大厅外籍人才服务专区办理现场办理涉外单位备案登记，备案审核通过后的单位在进行外国人签证、停留、居留证件申请时无需提交注册登记证明。
参考资料：《外国人在穗指南》
特别鸣谢广州外办提供参考资料
