Comprehensive Guide for Guest Operators in China

By BG7BAG · Updated for 2026 · Last verified: 2026-10-08

Target keywords: operating ham radio in China · China amateur radio guest operation guide · CRAC ham radio application foreign license · foreign amateur radio China permit · China ham radio visitor certificate

Quick Answer: Foreign visitors cannot set up their own station or operate on their foreign license in China. The only legal ways to get on the air are: (1) obtain the CRAC Visitor Operator’s Certificate (free, email application, ~30–60 days lead time, valid 6 months), then operate only on an existing Chinese-licensed station; or (2) operate as a guest under the supervision of a local Chinese club station. China has not signed CEPT or IARU reciprocal agreements — there is no shortcut. Bringing your own radio is allowed for use on a Chinese station, but you still need the certificate first.

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1. Legal Framework — Can a Foreign Ham Operate in China?

1.1 Is CEPT / IARU Reciprocal Recognition Valid in China?

No. China (mainland) has not signed the CEPT (European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations) Recommendation T/R 61-01, nor any general IARU reciprocal-operating agreement. Your home license (FCC, OFCOM, ACMA, JARL, etc.) and your CEPT “HAREC” status are not recognized as standalone authority to operate in China.

The only special arrangement currently in force is a dedicated mutual-recognition channel for Hong Kong permanent residents — and that is not a traditional inter-nation reciprocal agreement; it is a separate mainland/HK arrangement (see §7). For everyone else, the CRAC visitor-certificate route in §2 is the path.

• Legal basis (CEPT not applicable): Regulations on the Administration of Amateur Radio Stations, MIIT Order No. 67 (effective 2024-03-01): Gov.cn Gazette
• Hong Kong dedicated channel: MIIT Notice on HK permanent residents (republished by CRAC): crac.org.cn/?p=1011

1.2 The Two Legal Pathways

⚠️ You may not “set up your own station.” A visitor certificate is proof of technical competence to operate on a station that already holds a Chinese license — it is not a license to install your own transmitter. Self-deployed stations by short-term visitors are illegal.

• Source: CRAC Measures for Application of the Amateur Radio Operator’s Certificate for Visitors (国无协〔2013〕3号): crac.org.cn/?p=914
• CRAC 2024 visitor guidance reaffirming its role under Order No. 67: crac.org.cn/News/Detail?ID=d74a013b77d24a919da71a39125ca733

1.3 Governing Laws & Regulations (all currently in force)

Note: the once-frequently-cited 2007 Measures for the Administration of Amateur Radio Call Signs (MII Wuxian [2007] No. 223) has been repealed (replaced by Order No. 22 on 2012-11-05, which was itself repealed by Order No. 67 on 2024-03-01). Current call-sign rules follow Order No. 67 and its Annex 2 exclusively.

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2. Step-by-Step Application Guide (CRAC Visitor Certificate)

2.1 Who Can Apply

• Holds a valid amateur radio license issued by your home administration;
• Understands and agrees to comply with Chinese radio regulations (CRAC Visitor Measures, Art. 1);
• Intends to operate on an existing Chinese amateur station (not to set up a new one).

2.2 Required Documents (email to licensing@crac.org.cn)

• List source: CRAC Visitor Measures, Art. 4.

2.3 How to Submit

1. Email the complete package to licensing@crac.org.cn (Art. 3).
2. CRAC reviews; on approval it notifies you by email and sends the certificate electronically (print it yourself).
3. The grant is also published on the CRAC website as the official verification record (Art. 6).
4. No paper certificate is mailed unless you specifically request in-person pickup.
5. No fee is charged (Art. 9).

Mailing address (for paper correspondence / pickup):

China Radio Amateurs Club (CRAC) Building 15, Courtyard 30, Shixing Street, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100041, China 北京市石景山区实兴大街30号院15栋，邮编 100041 (CRAC has no dedicated staffed phone — the website explicitly cites limited staffing and asks you to use email or postal mail.)

2.4 Callsign Format (important — do not reverse it)

When operating on a Chinese station, you normally use that station’s Chinese callsign. If you hold your own license, you may use the format:

B + China zone number + / + your home callsign e.g. B7/W5XYZ, B7/DL1ABC (i.e. “B + China zone number” comes first, your own home callsign comes after)

• Source: Order No. 67, Art. 39 (using your own callsign when operating on another’s licensed station) and CRAC 2024 visitor guidance.

Hong Kong residents may additionally use B + zone / their HK callsign under the dedicated channel (§7).

2.5 Timeline & Validity

2.6 Callsign Rules & Prefixes (Mainland, HK, Macau & Taiwan)

Mainland China

• How a callsign is built: generally B (the country prefix) + a letter for station type/operator class + a 1-digit zone number + a suffix. The current rules are in Order No. 67, Annex 2 “Call-Sign Composition & Assignment Requirements” (assignment: Art. 18; cancellation/re-allocation: Art. 23).
• A callsign no longer indicates class — and cannot be used to judge seniority. China once used call signs to encode operator class and issuance order; that is gone, and many call signs have been recycled and re-assigned to newcomers (re-allocated one year after cancellation). So BA is not necessarily more senior than BD or BG, and a 5-character call is not necessarily older than a 6-character one.
• A club station doesn’t have to start with “BY”: many club call signs look just like personal ones — e.g. the Jinan Yellow River club station is BD4JN.
• Special call signs that ignore the usual rules exist, e.g. the Huangyan Island DXpedition BS7H, and the 2024 CQWW contest station B4M.
• Source for the above: HamCQ Handbook — “Amateur Radio Call Signs”.

Note: do not cite the 2007 Measures for the Administration of Amateur Radio Call Signs (信部无〔2007〕223号) or the Order-22 appendix — both are repealed. Current call-sign rules = Order No. 67 + Annex 2.

Hong Kong, Macau & Taiwan (China) — different rules for historical reasons; ref. HamCQ

• Hong Kong, China: begin with VR2, e.g. VR2AA, VR2ABC. (Official rules — HK CA)
• The mainland and Hong Kong have mutual recognition of operator certificates and licenses: with a mainland license you may also apply to operate in Hong Kong; only with a Hong Kong ID are you assigned a VR2 local call — otherwise you get VR2/<mainland call>. (How to apply — OFCA GN 12/2024)
• Macau, China: begin with XX9, e.g. XX9AB. (Official rules — see Art. 10)
• Foreigners setting up a station in Macau may apply for an XX9T prefix; a Macau ID is required, so a local must assist.
• Taiwan, China: begin with BM, BU, BV or BX, the third character being a digit for the city/county, e.g. BM4ABC. (Official rules)

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3. China Band Plan & Power Limits

China is in ITU Region 3. Bands follow Radio Frequency Allocation Regulations, MIIT Order No. 62. Common amateur allocations:

Watch-outs vs. your home country: bands common elsewhere (parts of 6 m, 222–225 MHz, 900 MHz, etc.) may be unallocated or secondary in China. Always check Order No. 62 band-by-band before transmitting — never assume your home habits apply.

Operating rules on every contact: – Use Chinese amateur allocations only; never transmit outside them (Order No. 62). – Power = the lower of your certificate class (≤ Class B) and the host station’s license (Order No. 67, Arts. 30–31). – On secondary bands (e.g. 430–440 MHz) you must not cause harmful interference to primary services and may not claim protection (Order No. 67, Art. 32). – Send your full callsign at the start and end of each contact, and at least every 10 minutes during (Order No. 67, Art. 37). – Keep an accurate log (time, frequency, mode, correspondent); retain ≥ 2 years (Order No. 67, Art. 36).

Prohibited: commercial use; deliberate interference; transmitting outside your license; inventing call signs; providing domestic radio parameters involving national security to foreign organizations/individuals; unauthorized broadcasting (Order No. 67, Art. 43). Violations are penalized under Order No. 672 and Order No. 67, Ch. 6–7 — up to equipment seizure/confiscation; foreign visitors are not exempt.

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4. Customs & Traveling with Equipment

You may bring your own radio (handheld, Xiegu G90, Elecraft KX2, etc.) for use on a Chinese station — but remember you still need the CRAC certificate first, and you may not deploy your own station.

Tips: – Declare valuable transceivers at customs on entry; keep the declaration receipt. – Carry a bilingual (Chinese/English) letter explaining the equipment is for amateur (ham) use on a licensed Chinese club station, listing model, serial, and your visitor-certificate reference. A ready-to-edit template is in our downloadable phrasebook (§8). – Keep the radio in carry-on, powered off, with antennas separate. – Do not bring high-power amplifiers or anything that could be mistaken for commercial/jamming gear. – If questioned, politely show the CRAC certificate (printed) and the club invitation/contact.

Disclaimer: customs practice varies; this is practical guidance, not legal advice. When in doubt, contact the host club or CRAC before travel.

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5. Local Club Stations & Hosts

The easiest and safest way to get on the air is as a guest at a Chinese club station (you still need the CRAC certificate from §2). Clubs provide a licensed station, antenna, and local guidance.

Tip: arrange the host station before you fly. Confirm the bands/power their license permits so your certificate class (≤ Class B) and their license align.

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6. Local Analog Repeaters (VHF/UHF)

Local infrastructure you can use once you are operating legally on a Chinese station:

• Analog repeaters (VHF/UHF): widespread in cities; many on 2 m (144–148 MHz) and 70 cm (430–440 MHz, secondary — mind primary services).
• Repeater lookup: query city/band repeater offsets, CTCSS, etc. via community repeater databases, e.g. HamCQ Repeater Query.

Always confirm the exact repeater input/output, CTCSS, and whether the host station’s license covers the frequency before you key up.

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7. Hong Kong, Macau & Taiwan — Special Notes

• Hong Kong permanent residents (dedicated channel, in force): Mainland recognizes the OFCA (Office of the Communications Authority) amateur license. With your HK permanent-ID, mainland travel permit, and HK license, apply to China Radio Association for a Class B operating certificate (valid 5 years, mail-processing available). On a mainland station you may use B + zone / your HK call. You may also apply to the provincial radio authority for your own mainland station license (valid 1 year).
• Source: MIIT Notice on HK permanent residents (CRAC reprint ?p=1011); Order No. 67, Art. 39. HK/Macau/Taiwan call-sign prefixes and official rules: see §2.6.
• Macau residents / Taiwan compatriots: no dedicated public reciprocal agreement is published. Follow the foreign-visitor route and consult CRAC (licensing@crac.org.cn); comply with applicable cross-strait / HK-Macau rules per the latest CRAC and radio-authority guidance. The foreign-visitor measures likewise apply to Taiwan-region amateurs visiting the mainland.

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8. Bilingual Phrasebook & Emergency Cheat Sheet

To make your trip smoother — at customs, with hosts, and on the air — below is the full content as text, ready to copy, screenshot, or print.

8.1 Common Vocabulary (中文 · pinyin · English)

8.2 Emergency & Useful Sentences (中文 · pinyin · English)

8.3 Customs / Security Letter Template (fill-in)

To Whom It May Concern / 致海关及安检人员：

I am a licensed amateur radio operator (callsign: ______) visiting China for personal / non-commercial communication only. The equipment listed below is a personal-use amateur radio transceiver, not a commercial or jamming device. I hold a valid Chinese guest-operation approval issued by CRAC (China Radio Amateurs Club).

本人为持证业余无线电爱好者（呼号：______），来华仅作个人、非商业通联。下列设备为个人自用业余无线电收发机，非商业或干扰器材，并持有中国无线电协会（CRAC）核发的来访操作批准文件。

Equipment / 设备：_ Model / 型号：_ Serial / 序列号：____

Thank you for your assistance. / 感谢配合。

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9. Pre-Trip Checklist — Guest Operation

Work through this checklist before you fly:

• [ ] Valid home amateur license + EN/ZH translation
• [ ] Passport + Chinese visa / visa-free proof (copy)
• [ ] Signed CRAC Visitor Operator’s Certificate application
• [ ] Apply 30–60 days ahead by email to licensing@crac.org.cn
• [ ] Print and carry the CRAC approval original
• [ ] Equipment manuals proving amateur use
• [ ] Bilingual customs/security letter (see §8.3)
• [ ] Memorize the callsign format: B + China zone + / + your home call, e.g. B7/W6XXX
• [ ] Study China’s band plan (430–440 MHz is secondary; 6 m open but used differently)
• [ ] Arrange a host club station / accompanying ham in China
• [ ] Confirm the logbook will be retained ≥ 2 years by the station
• [ ] Operate only on existing licensed Chinese stations — no transmitting from hotel / field on your own

Legal basis: MIIT Order No. 67 Measures for the Administration of Amateur Radio Stations (2024-03-01); Order No. 62 Radio Frequency Allocation Regulations (2023-07-01); CRAC Visitor Operator’s Certificate application measures.

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10. FAQ (for search-engine rich results)

Q1: Can I use my FCC / CEPT / home license directly in China? A: No. China has not signed CEPT T/R 61-01 or any general IARU reciprocal agreement. Your home license is not standalone authority here. You must obtain the CRAC Visitor Operator’s Certificate first, then operate only on an existing Chinese-licensed station. (Source: Order No. 67; CRAC Visitor Measures.)

Q2: Is CEPT valid in China? A: No. CEPT recognition does not apply in mainland China. The sole special arrangement is the dedicated HK-permanent-resident channel, which is not a traditional inter-nation reciprocal agreement. (crac.org.cn/?p=1011.)

Q3: How long does it take to get the visitor permit, and how long is it valid? A: Apply by email to licensing@crac.org.cn 30–60 days before arrival; CRAC has no statutory deadline, so allow a 2–4 week buffer. The certificate is valid 6 months from issuance and is capped at China Class B (≤ 25 W above 30 MHz, < 15 W below). (CRAC Visitor Measures.)

Q4: Can I bring my own radio (HT, Xiegu G90, Elecraft KX2)? A: Yes, for use on a Chinese station — declare it at customs and carry a bilingual explanation letter (template in our phrasebook). But you still need the CRAC certificate, and you may not set up your own station. (See §4.)

Q5: Can I set up my own station while visiting? A: No. A visitor certificate permits operation on an existing Chinese-licensed station only. Self-deployed stations by short-term visitors are illegal. (Source: CRAC Visitor Measures, Art. 2.)

Q6: What callsign do I use? A: Normally the Chinese station’s callsign. With your own license you may use B + China zone + / + your home call, e.g. B7/W5XYZ (“B + China zone first, your call after”). (Order No. 67, Art. 39.)

Q7: Does a callsign indicate seniority? Must a club station start with “BY”? A: No to both. China no longer differentiates class by callsign and recycles callsigns after cancellation, so seniority cannot be inferred (BA isn’t necessarily older than BD/BG); and club stations don’t have to start with “BY” (e.g. the Jinan Yellow River club station is BD4JN). See §2.6 · HamCQ.

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11. Stay Updated & Join the Conversation

Radio regulations change. This guide was last verified on 2026-10-08 against the sources linked throughout. Before you travel, re-check:

• MIIT (all regulations): www.miit.gov.cn
• CRAC (visitor certificate, forms, guidance): www.crac.org.cn
• HamCQ Handbook (intro docs, incl. call signs): docs.hamcq.cn

Found something outdated, or want your club listed as a host? Leave a comment or email the compiler (BG7BAG) — community updates keep this guide accurate for every visiting ham.

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12. Sources & Cross-Verification

Every key fact above is verified against at least two independent authoritative sources, each linked inline:

• Order No. 67 (2024-03-01; repealed Order No. 22): Gov.cn Gazette = MOFCOM law library.
• Order No. 62 frequency allocation (2023-07-01; repealed Order No. 46): Gov.cn Gazette.
• Current call-sign rules (Order No. 67, Arts. 18/23/39 & Annex 2): Gov.cn Gazette · HamCQ call-sign guide.
• 工信部无〔2013〕43号: Beijing gov portal (marked current).
• CRAC Visitor Measures: crac.org.cn/?p=914 = CRAC 2024 visitor guidance.
• HK dedicated channel: crac.org.cn/?p=1011; call-sign prefix VR2: HK Communications Authority rules · OFCA application method GN 12/2024.
• Macau call-sign prefixes XX9/XX9T: Macau SAR Gazette Decree-Law No. 29/94/M (see Art. 10).
• Taiwan call-sign prefixes BM/BU/BV/BX: CTARL call-sign rules.
• Parent law (Order No. 672): Gov.cn Gazette.

Outdated / repealed items — do NOT cite

1. ❌ Interim Measures for Foreigners to Set Up & Operate Amateur Stations in China (MII + State Sports General Administration) — repealed 2014-09-01 by State Sports General Administration Order No. 19.
2. ❌ CRSA (China Radio Sports Association) as issuer — replaced by CRAC.
3. ❌ Order No. 22 (2012) — repealed by Order No. 67 on 2024-03-01.
4. ❌ Order No. 46 (2018) frequency allocation — repealed by Order No. 62 on 2023-07-01.
5. ❌ Old address “Beijing Xicheng, Beilishi Rd 98 / +86-10-68009170 / 100037” — current CRAC address is Shijingshan, Beijing 100041.
6. ❌ Old callsign format “home call / B+zone” — reversed; current rule is B+zone/homecall (see §2.4).
7. ❌ 2007 Measures for the Administration of Amateur Radio Call Signs (信部无〔2007〕223号) — repealed on 2012-11-05 by Order No. 22, which was itself repealed by Order No. 67. Current rules = Order No. 67 + Annex 2. Do not cite the old “Call Sign Measures” as current.

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This guide is for compliance reference only and is not legal advice. Always rely on the current PRC regulations and the latest interpretation of the radio authorities.