Promulgation Authorities:  General Administration of Customs

Promulgation Date:  2010.11.26

Effective Date:  2010.11.26

Validity Status:  valid

Administrative Provisions of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China on Articles Carried by Inbound and Outbound Passengers for Personal Use in Travel (Revision 2010)

Administrative Provisions of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on Articles Carried by Inbound and Outbound Passengers for Personal Use in Travel

Article 1    These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China and the Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China for Supervision and Control of Luggage and Articles Carried by Inbound and Outbound Passengers in order to accommodate the actual needs of passengers during their journey and to provide necessary convenience for passengers entering or departing China.

Article 2    The term "articles carried by inbound and outbound passengers for personal use in travel" as mentioned in these Regulations refers to the articles carried by passengers for personal use in travel into or re-carried into the Chinese territory with Customs approval for temporary exemption from Customs duty for use inside or outside of China.

Article 3    The scope of articles for personal use allowed to be carried by inbound and outbound passengers is as follows:

(1) camera, portable radio-tape recorder, miniature cine-camera, portable video-camera and portable typewriter; and

(2) other articles subject to verification and approval by Customs.

Article 4    Where articles which fall within Article 3 of these Regulations  are carried by inbound passengers (including passengers with Chinese citizenship holding re-entry visa issued by the country of origin), only one piece is allowed for each type of such articles. A declaration shall be made to the Customs on the passenger's initiative and temporary exemption from Customs duty may be granted with the permission of Customs.

Article 5    Articles which are taken into the Chinese territory and approved by the Customs for temporary exemption from Customs duty shall be taken out of China on the return trip. If due to special reasons those articles are unable to be taken out of China on the return trip, they shall be submitted to Customs in advance and relevant Customs procedures completed.

Article 6    Where articles which fall within Article 3 of these Regulations are carried outside China by residents of Chinese nationality or non-resident long-term tourists of Chinese or foreign nationality, and these articles need to be retaken into the Chinese territory, the residents or tourists concerned shall take the initiative to declare to the Customs for examination and verification at the time of their departure from China. When such articles are retaken into the Chinese territory, the Customs will release the articles on the strength of the documents issued at this departure.

Article 7    Detailed formalities for declaration of and applicable documents to be issued for articles carried by inbound and outbound passengers for personal use in travel, as well as matters uncovered in these Regulations, shall be handled in accordance with other relevant Regulations.

Article 8    These Regulations shall not apply to articles for personal travel use carried by passengers coming into and going out of China on the one day, or passengers clearing Customs many times within a short period of time.

Article 9    Violation of these Regulations by inbound or outbound passengers or their failure to take out of the articles which have been released with Customs approval for temporary exemption of Customs duty shall be handled in accordance with Article 15 of the Implementation Regulations of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on Administrative Penalties.

Article 10    These Regulations shall take effect from 15 October 1992.