China Long-Stay · Practical Planning Guides

Thinking about living in China for a few months or longer?

Get a practical, up-to-date guide to understanding your long-stay options, preparing your documents and planning your move — based on 30 years of firsthand experience in China, cross-checked against official sources.

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What are you actually trying to figure out?

Most people arrive with one of these three questions. All of them have real, current answers.

01

"Can I even stay?"

China has no retirement visa — yet people stay 2–6 months at a time, legally, all the time. Understand the five main pathways and which one fits your situation.

02

"How much will it cost?"

Monthly budgets from US$600–2,000 depending on city and lifestyle — including the costs almost everyone forgets (border runs, registration, payments setup).

03

"Where do I start?"

A simple preparation roadmap: what to do 90 days before, 30 days before, and in your first week — with the exact documents for your pathway.

The Starter Kit

What's inside the Starter Kit?

A 20–30 page, no-fluff planning system that answers: "Is a long stay in China realistic for someone like me — and what would I do first?"

  • The decision tree — five questions (nationality, age, family connection, desired stay, budget) that route you to your realistic pathway
  • Pathway cards — visa-free entry, 240-hour transit, L-visa + border runs, Q1/Q2 family reunion, permanent residence: what each really requires
  • Document preparation checklists — per pathway, including the notarization/apostille steps that take the longest
  • Common mistakes — the ten errors that cost first-timers real money (and how to dodge each one)
  • The 90-day preparation timeline — from "thinking about it" to "registered and settled" in week one
  • Official source directory — every claim traceable to NIA, visaforchina.cn, or your consulate
  • Version & update log — rules change; you get updated editions free for 12 months
$19$29EARLY ACCESS — FIRST 20 BUYERS

30-day, no-questions-asked refund. If it doesn't make your planning clearer, you get your money back.

Get the Starter Kit — $19
Secure checkout · Instant PDF delivery · Updated for October 2026
Why trust this? The author spent 30 years living, studying, and working across Chinese cities — and researches every claim against official sources (National Immigration Administration, official visa centres, embassy announcements). Every page shows its last-updated date. Everything here is educational planning information: always confirm current requirements with the relevant Chinese authorities before making decisions.
Free download

Not ready to buy? Start with the free Cheat Sheet.

A 4–6 page PDF: the five main long-stay pathways compared, a quick self-check for your situation, three mistakes to avoid, and the official sources to bookmark.

By subscribing you'll also receive a short email series on planning a long stay. Unsubscribe anytime.

China Long-Stay provides educational planning information only. It is not immigration, legal, financial, or medical advice, and does not represent any government authority. Visa and residence rules change frequently and are applied with local discretion — always confirm current requirements with the relevant Chinese embassy, consulate, or the National Immigration Administration before making decisions.