Your China entry and exit record, explained
How to request the official record of your entry and exit dates, who asks for it, and what it does and does not say.
No published figure yet. The authority does not publish this cost in a form we could verify and quote, so this guide covers the procedure only: what to bring, in what order, and where it goes wrong. We will add the figures the moment there is a source for them.
In order
- Confirm what the requesting office needs — Ask the bank, school or permit desk which period the record must cover and whether they want the original or a copy.
- Gather your identification — Bring the passport or other document the exit-entry authority requires, since the applicant proves identity.
- Choose in person or the official platform — Request the record at the exit-entry authority counter or through the official platform, whichever suits you.
- Submit the request as the applicant — Make the request in your own name and present your identification when asked.
- Check the dates on the record — Confirm the entry and exit dates match your own records before you hand it to anyone.
- Deliver the record to the requesting office — Give the record to the bank, school or permit desk that asked for it, keeping a copy for yourself.
The entry and exit record is the document that shows the dates you entered and left China. Banks, schools and residence-permit desks ask for it when they want a stay history. This guide covers how to request it and what to expect from the document itself.
What the record is
The record is issued by the exit-entry authority. It lists the dates you entered and left the country, drawn from the authority’s own records. It states facts only. It does not state the purpose of your travel, so do not expect it to explain why you were in China or what you were doing there. Because it comes from the authority rather than from you, it carries more weight than a personal list of dates or a stack of stamps.
Who asks for it
A bank may ask for it when opening an account or reviewing your history. A school may ask for it when enrolling you or a family member. A residence-permit desk may ask for it when it wants a stay history before processing your application. Ask the office requesting it what period they need covered, so you request the right record the first time.
How to request it
You can request the record in person at the exit-entry authority or through the official platform. Either way, the applicant proves identity, so bring the identification the office asks for and be ready to show it. If you are requesting on someone else’s behalf, check with the office first what they require, since the applicant is the one who proves identity. Keep the record you receive with your other immigration paperwork. You may be asked for it again.
Confirm before you act
Fees and processing times change. This page was checked on 2026-11-09; confirm the current rule with the authority named in each source above before you rely on a deadline.
Last checked 2026-11-09, next review 2027-05-08. Every figure above names its source and the date it was read. This page is a guide, not legal, tax or immigration advice — confirm with the authority before acting on a deadline.