Are Foreigners allowed to attend Church Services together with Chinese in Mainland China?

Another question asked by many of you is “Are Foreigners (Non-Chinese) allowed to attend Church Services together with Chinese in Mainland China?”

The short answer to this question is a definite YES, as long as they comply and adhere to the laws of the People’s Republic of China.

Under Chinese law, foreigners are allowed to participate as worshippers in a religious activity or ceremony conducted in an officially registered place of worship.

Article 5 of the Rules for the Implementation of the Provisions on the Administration of Religious Activities of Aliens (“Foreigners”) within the Territory of the People’s Republic of China (2000) states that “Aliens (“Foreigners”) may participate in religious activities at lawfully registered Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples, mosques, churches within Chinese territory according to their own religious belief.”

In addition, Foreigners can preach or give sermons in such locations, if they have been invited by religious organizations above province, autonomous region or municipality levels – that is, not just individual places of worship – and can enter China with official ‘clergy’ status. They will need an F-Visa applicable for six months or less.

Article 6 of the Rules for the Implementation of the Provisions on the Administration of Religious Activities of Aliens (“Foreigners”) within the Territory of the People’s Republic of China (2000) states that “At the invitation of Chinese religious bodies at or above the level of province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government, aliens (“Foreigners”) visiting China as religious personnel may preach and expound the scripture at lawfully registered sites for religious activities”. In addition, “Aliens (“Foreigners”) entering China as other status may, after the approval by the departments of religious affairs of the people’s governments at or above the provincial level,  preach and expound the scripture at lawfully registered sites for religious activities. Foreign religious personnel who are invited to preach and expound the scripture at the lawfully registered sites for religious activities shall abide by the administrative rules of these sites and respect the belief customs of the personnel of these sites”

If a foreign clergy member enters China with another status, such as a tourist visa, and he or she is then invited by a suitably high-up religious body to preach or give sermons, he or she must obtain an agreement from a religious affairs department above province level; the religious body (who invited the clergy) should be able to help with this.

Article 6 (second para) of the Rules for the Implementation of the Provisions on the Administration of Religious Activities of Aliens (“Foreigners”) within the Territory of the People’s Republic of China (2000) states that, “…At the invitation of Chinese religious bodies at or above the level of province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government, and after the approval by the departments of religious affairs of the people’s governments at or above the provincial level, aliens (“Foreigners”) entering China as other status may preach and expound the scripture at lawfully registered sites for religious activities.”

Foreigners can host or preside over group religious activities in legally registered places of worship, or temporary places of worship appointed by religious affairs departments above province, autonomous region or municipality level, but only if none of the congregation members are mainland Chinese citizens. Congregations containing foreigners of Chinese heritage, or citizens of Taiwan, Hong Kong or Macao are not a problem.

The exception to this rule is if the foreigner is invited by a Chinese religious organization, in which case Mainland Chinese worshippers are not an issue.

Article 7 of the Rules for the Implementation of the Provisions on the Administration of Religious Activities of Aliens (“Foreigners”) within the Territory of the People’s Republic of China (2000) states that, “The collective religious activities of aliens (“Foreigners”) within Chinese territory shall be conducted at the Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples, churches recognized by the departments of religious affairs of the people’s government at or above the county level, or at the temporary sites appointed by the departments of religious affairs of the people’s governments of province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government. Where aliens (“Foreigners”)  within Chinese territory collectively conduct religious activities at temporary sites, they shall be administrated by the departments of religious affairs of the people’s governments at or above the county level.”

The government officially recognizes five main religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism. Recognized religious groups must be registered and are regulated by the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA).

The government’s religious registration requirement has resulted in something of a conflict, i.e. official vs unofficial membership. For example, there are really two Catholic churches in China: the State Approved Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (who ordains their own clergymen) and the underground Catholic Church which recognizes the primacy of the Pope.

All large and most mid-sized cities in China will have at least one recognized Christian church for foreigners to attend. If you can’t find a church in your particular area or if you are a member of a church or religion without a presence in China, “prayer meetings” among foreigners of the same faith are entirely acceptable and do not need to be registered.

The reality is that foreigners who choose to congregate in small home meetings for private “prayer” meetings, i.e., in the privacy of their apartments—and who do not allow Chinese nationals into their meetings— will not be bothered.

It should be noted that on September 7, 2017, China’s State Council released a revised version of the Religious Affairs Regulations, which took effect on February 1, 2018. The revised version has amended, added, and abridged several provisions on  general principles, religious groups, religious schools, venues for religious activities, religious professionals, religious activities, religious assets, and legal responsibility.

Among others, the Regulations prohibit non-religious groups, non-religious schools, non-religious activity sites, and temporary activity sites, not appropriately designated as religious ones, from conducting religious activities, accepting religious donations, carrying out religious training, and organizing citizens leaving the country to participate in religious training, meetings, and activities. The Regulations also prohibit proselytizing, holding religious activities, establishing religious organizations, or setting up religious activity sites in schools or educational bodies other than religious schools.

Several other provisions were added that regulate religious informational publications and online religious services. Religious activities conducted online must also be reported to religious affairs departments. Article 47 of the regulations states that any online engagement in religious information services must be examined and approved by the authorities.

We hope the above article clarifies the question, “Are Foreigners allowed to attend church services together with Chinese, in Mainland China”.

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