Immigration Cost in Beijing (2026)
Quick Answer
Partially verifiedIn Beijing, immigration-related costs usually combine official government fees and professional service fees. Verified official fees are available for some items, such as visa/entry-exit document charges set by China’s National Immigration Administration, while adviser and law-firm fees in Beijing are usually quoted case by case and are best treated as estimated package ranges unless a provider publishes them openly.
Overview
For Beijing, the cost of “immigration” depends heavily on whether you mean a visa or residence-permit application handled through the Chinese authorities, or a broader business/professional service such as employer-sponsored work authorisation support, permanent residence application preparation, or outbound migration consulting. The most reliable figures are the government charges published by the National Immigration Administration of China, which include items such as visa issue fees, stay/residence permit charges and permanent residence document fees. Those official amounts are usually modest compared with professional service fees. For business users, the larger cost is often the advisory package: document review, translation coordination, application form preparation, liaison with the authorities, and strategy for eligibility. In Beijing, these professional fees are typically sold as fixed packages for a work-permit/residence-permit case, or as larger bespoke retainers for permanent residence and complex family or investor matters. Because many firms in this sector quote only after reviewing nationality, employer status, urgency and case complexity, exact public pricing is limited. As a result, the page below separates verified official fees from clearly labelled estimated market ranges for advisory work. Expect total spend to rise materially if notarisation, legalisation, certified translation, urgent handling or multiple dependants are involved.
What It Costs
| Item | Cost | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Foreigner stay/residence permit fee(per permit) Published government fee schedule includes 400 CNY for under 1 year, 800 CNY for 1 to under 3 years, and 1,000 CNY for 3 to 5 years. | CNY 400 – CNY 1,000 | Verified from source |
| Foreign visa fee in China(per visa) Published government fee schedule includes 160 CNY for a zero-entry visa, 168 CNY for a one-entry visa, 252 CNY for a two-entry visa, 336 CNY for multiple entries under 6 months, 504 CNY for multiple entries over 6 months, and 760 CNY for group visas. | CNY 160 – CNY 760 | Verified from source |
| Foreigner permanent residence application fee(per application) Government application fee for permanent residence. | CNY 1,500 – CNY 1,500 | Verified from source |
| Foreigner permanent residence certificate fee(per certificate) Government certificate fee, separate from the application fee. | CNY 300 – CNY 300 | Verified from source |
| Beijing immigration advisory package for work authorisation and residence support(per case) Estimated range based on typical market rates for business immigration support in major Chinese cities, excluding government fees, translations and document legalisation. | ~CNY 3,000 – CNY 12,000 | Estimated range |
| Beijing permanent residence or complex immigration legal support(per case) Estimated range based on the higher-complexity nature of permanent residence and strategic immigration matters handled by law firms or specialist consultancies in Beijing. | ~CNY 15,000 – CNY 50,000 | Estimated range |
What’s Typically Included
- Government fees usually cover application processing only
- Professional packages may include document review, form preparation and liaison with authorities
- Translation, notarisation, legalisation and medical checks are often charged separately
Common Jobs & Typical Prices
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — |
Regulator / licensing: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
Variants & Configurations
Duration
Straightforward visa or permit matters may take days to weeks depending on document readiness and official processing; permanent residence cases can take much longer.
How Fees Work
Typical structure is official government fees per application or permit, plus either a fixed professional package fee or a bespoke case quote. Complex legal matters may also be billed on a retainer or customised project basis.
Factors Affecting Price
- Whether you are paying only government filing fees or also hiring a consultancy or law firm
- Case type: short-term visa, work/residence permit, family reunion, or permanent residence
- Nationality, employer profile and document complexity, including notarisation and legalisation needs
- Urgency, number of dependants and whether translation or courier costs are required
Local Context
In Beijing, the official filing fees are generally small compared with the cost of professional help, especially for employer-sponsored or permanent residence matters. VAT treatment on professional services may affect business invoices, while tipping is not a standard part of professional immigration services in China. Costs can also rise if documents must be translated into Chinese and notarised or legalised before submission.
Some figures here are still being verified.
Where a verified figure isn’t available yet, we say so rather than guess. For the most current pricing, check the official source below.
All figures are shown in Chinese yuan (CNY). Where advisory fees are estimated, they are market ranges rather than confirmed published prices.
Sources & References
Every price on this page is traced to a documented source. Last checked 24 September 2026.
- National Immigration Administration of China - Schedule of Administrative Charges · government
Verified official charges for visas, stay/residence permits, and permanent residence application and certificate fees.
- National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China · government
Official authority overseeing immigration administration in China.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to handle immigration paperwork in Beijing?+
The lowest-cost route is usually to pay only the official government fees and submit through the appropriate authorities, if your case is straightforward and you can manage the paperwork yourself.
Are Beijing immigration adviser fees regulated like government charges?+
Government immigration and residence document fees are published by the National Immigration Administration. Professional adviser fees are generally commercial service prices and vary by provider, scope and case complexity.
Do the official fees include translation and notarisation?+
No. Official filing fees normally do not include third-party costs such as certified translation, notarisation, legalisation, courier services or medical examinations.
How much should a business budget for relocating one foreign employee to Beijing?+
A sensible working budget is the official permit/residence fees plus an estimated few thousand to low five figures CNY in professional support, depending on whether the employer uses a basic consultancy package or a more hands-on legal service.
Is permanent residence much more expensive than a normal residence permit?+
Yes. The official permanent residence fees themselves are still modest, but the professional preparation cost is usually much higher because eligibility review and documentation are far more involved.
Related Cost Guides
Personal Injury Cost in Leeds (2026)
Leeds, United Kingdom
Criminal Law Cost in Phoenix (2026)
Phoenix, United States
Wills & Estates Cost in Dallas (2026)
Dallas, United States
Notary Cost in Liverpool (2026)
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Family Law Cost in Leeds (2026)
Leeds, United Kingdom
Criminal Law Cost in Los Angeles (2026)
Los Angeles, United States
Check current prices at the official source
National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
Are you a business?
Get your business listed on this page and reach customers actively searching for your services.
List Your BusinessFind Legal Services in Beijing
Browse more cost guides for Beijing