Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Asia
Reload this Page >

Do I need an electronic passport to enter China?

Search

Do I need an electronic passport to enter China?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 19th, 2011, 01:28 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Do I need an electronic passport to enter China?

Hello everyone,
Ive tried to look this up on the forum but couldnt find it.
Im heading to China (Shanghai) next month and Ive been looking at the chinese embassy for details on how to apply for a visa.

I was just wondering, has anyone on here entered with a non-electronic passport recently? im pretty sure my passport is not electronic and altho it states that en e-passport is part of the requirements, id like to know if anyone has been through on a non-electronic.

Thanks
eurotrash is offline  
Old Apr 19th, 2011, 04:04 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,269
Received 33 Likes on 2 Posts
What's an electronic passport? You mean it has some sort of chip in it? How can you tell?
althom1122 is offline  
Old Apr 19th, 2011, 04:49 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,614
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
US (and I guess EU) passports now contain an RFID chip encoding the information the State Dept. thinks is most interesting. I got a new passport right before they started doing that, as a number of experts hold that the data is not secure, so I can't say for sure, but I believe you can tell from looking for a raised area on the front cover.

See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rfid_passport
http://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/001003.html - which has a diagram of the identifying logo
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/security/910f/
thursdaysd is offline  
Old Apr 19th, 2011, 07:03 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Where does it say it is a requirement? Through last year, I had no problem getting a Chinese visa with an old US passport with no chip.
rkkwan is offline  
Old Apr 19th, 2011, 09:51 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sorry I shouldve said that I am a UK passport citizen and applying through the Chinese embassy in Spain. Their website states "electronic passport". Im hoping they are just trying to be modern in the text.

Although that does ease my worrying a little knowing that you got through with no chip,. i.e. electronic.
eurotrash is offline  
Old Apr 19th, 2011, 09:56 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Who knows who did the translation for them into Spanish, but my guess is that they mean a passport with a machine-readable information page, which has been standard for most countries for at least 20 years.
rkkwan is offline  
Old Apr 19th, 2011, 10:39 AM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have just found a seemingly up-to-date PDF with the information.

They request electronic passports, but say that the old passport format will take a day or two longer to process.

Hopefully this means I don't have to start the passport race

Thanks everyone for your replies.
eurotrash is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
LeeLee2299
Air Travel
18
Jun 28th, 2016 07:26 AM
foggybridges
Travel Tips & Trip Ideas
8
Apr 4th, 2014 01:41 PM
steve1984
Europe
26
Aug 14th, 2007 11:17 PM
Shy
Travel Tips & Trip Ideas
8
Nov 10th, 2004 10:03 PM
mw
Asia
9
Nov 3rd, 2003 03:26 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -