根据《中华人民共和国外国人入境出境管理法》的规定，外国人在华停留分三种情况：短期停留、长期居留和永久居留。短期停留，主要是来华进行旅游、探亲、经贸等活动。短期停留一般来说是不足一年的签证。长期居留主要是对来华留学、工作、投资等人员给予1-5年多次往返的签证和居留证件。短期停留和长期居留，对外国人来华是非常方便的，也能满足他们在中国旅游、经商、工作、生活的实际需要。 

According to the "regulations of the Law on the Entry and Exit of Foreigners in the People's Republic of China", foreigners in China remain the following three cases, one is short stays, other is long-term residence and three is permanent residence. Short stays mainly on his tour, visit relatives and trade activities. Generally, short stay means less than one year visa. The main thing is to come to study long-term residence, work and investment, given the 1-5 year multiple entry visas and residence documents. Short-and long-term residency, it is very convenient for foreigners, but also to meet the Chinese tourism, business, work, and the actual requirements.