A port visa (口岸签证) lets a foreign business visitor obtain an M visa on arrival at a designated Chinese port, when invited by a verified local entity. 口岸签证允许受邀的外籍商务人士在指定对外开放口岸落地办理M字签证。 The APEC Business Travel Card gives five-year, multi-entry access to 16 economies, … Fast-Track Entry for Foreign Business Visitors: China Port Visas and the APEC Business Travel CardRead more
Policy Updates
China’s new K visa for young foreign tech talent (Order 814) and family visas
On 7 August 2025, the State Council issued Order No. 814 adding a new “K” visa to China’s ordinary-visa catalogue, expressly for incoming foreign young science-and-technology talent; it takes effect on 1 October 2025. 2025 年 8 月 7 日，国务院发布第 … China’s new K visa for young foreign tech talent (Order 814) and family visasRead more
Foreign Companies’ Copyright Registration in China: CPCC filing, national treatment and the Apostille shortcut
Foreign-owned works enjoy national treatment in China: a work by a foreign or stateless author is protected under the Copyright Law if the author’s home country or habitual residence has an agreement with China or is a party to the … Foreign Companies’ Copyright Registration in China: CPCC filing, national treatment and the Apostille shortcutRead more
China’s fully revised Trademark Law (effective 1 January 2027): what foreign brand owners should do now
China’s Trademark Law has been fully revised for the first time since 1983, adopted on 26 June 2026 (Presidential Order No. 77) and effective 1 January 2027. 中国《商标法》自1983年施行以来首次全面修订，于2026年6月26日修订通过（主席令第七十七号），自2027年1月1日起施行。 The statute grows from 8 chapters / 73 articles to 9 chapters … China’s fully revised Trademark Law (effective 1 January 2027): what foreign brand owners should do nowRead more
China’s Prioritized Patent Examination Measures from 1 September 2026: A Guide for Foreign Applicants
CNIPA Order No. 85, the new Measures for the Administration of Prioritized Patent Examination, was promulgated on 28 July 2026 and takes effect on 1 September 2026, repealing the 2017 Measures (Order No. 76). 国家知识产权局令第八十五号《专利优先审查管理办法》于2026年7月28日公布、自2026年9月1日起施行，同时废止2017年6月27日公布的旧办法（局令第76号）。 The Measures contain 24 articles … China’s Prioritized Patent Examination Measures from 1 September 2026: A Guide for Foreign ApplicantsRead more
Protecting industrial designs in China via the Hague Agreement
China acceded to the Hague Agreement (1999 Act) on 5 February 2022 and it took effect on 5 May 2022, giving foreign and Chinese applicants one filing route to protect an industrial design in China and dozens of other jurisdictions. … Protecting industrial designs in China via the Hague AgreementRead more
China’s amended Cybersecurity Law in force from 1 January 2026: AI clauses, tenfold penalties and wider extraterritorial reach
The Decision amending the Cybersecurity Law was adopted on 28 October 2025 and takes effect on 1 January 2026, with 14 amendments and a reissued text. 修改《网络安全法》的决定于2025年10月28日通过、2026年1月1日起施行，共14项修改并重新公布。 A new Article 20 builds the first basic-law “development plus oversight” framework for … China’s amended Cybersecurity Law in force from 1 January 2026: AI clauses, tenfold penalties and wider extraterritorial reachRead more
China’s Network Data Security Regulation: what foreign-invested firms must do
China’s Network Data Security Regulation (State Council Order 790) took effect on 1 January 2025, turning the Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law and PIPL into operational, enforceable obligations for every network data processor — including foreign-invested firms. 《网络数据安全管理条例》（国务院令790号）自 2025 年 … China’s Network Data Security Regulation: what foreign-invested firms must doRead more
China’s Livestream E-commerce Supervision Measures in Force from 1 February 2026: Four Categories of Duty-Bearers, AI Virtual Host Labelling and Traffic-Based Enforcement
China’s first dedicated livestream e-commerce regulation — SAMR and CAC Order No. 117, published on 18 December 2025 — takes effect on 1 February 2026. 中国首部直播电商领域专门规章——市场监管总局、国家网信办令第117号，2025年12月18日公布——自2026年2月1日起施行。 The Measures divide the industry into four duty-bearers: platform operators, livestream room operators, livestream … China’s Livestream E-commerce Supervision Measures in Force from 1 February 2026: Four Categories of Duty-Bearers, AI Virtual Host Labelling and Traffic-Based EnforcementRead more
Where Will Your China Dispute Be Heard? Jurisdiction over Foreign-Related Civil Cases under the Amended Civil Procedure Law in Force from 1 January 2024
From 1 January 2024 the amended Civil Procedure Law widens Chinese courts’ reach over foreign-related civil and commercial disputes, adding an “other appropriate connection” catch-all. 自2024年1月1日起施行的修改后民事诉讼法扩张了人民法院对涉外民商事案件的管辖范围，并新增”其他适当联系”兜底规则。 Article 277 lets parties choose Chinese courts by written agreement with no requirement that … Where Will Your China Dispute Be Heard? Jurisdiction over Foreign-Related Civil Cases under the Amended Civil Procedure Law in Force from 1 January 2024Read more