GLITZ TV
In a bid to facilitate travel to China for foreign nationals and enhance global interactions, the Chinese government recently introduced a series of measures. These measures, announced by China’s National Immigration Administration, took effect immediately and are set to simplify entry procedures and visa applications.
Among the five new measures is the loosening of conditions for foreign nationals seeking port visas to enter China. Individuals requiring urgent travel to China can now support their visa applications by presenting invitation letters or other relevant supporting documents to entry port authorities. Additionally, foreigners transiting through China en route to another country can now bypass border inspection procedures if their transit time is within 24 hours and involves one of the nine designated airports, including Beijing Capital International Airport.
Furthermore, the process for extending, reissuing, or replacing visas for foreign nationals residing in China has been made more convenient with the allowance of applications at more accessible locations. Those in need of multiple entries to China can now apply for multiple-entry visas, streamlining the travel process. Additionally, there have been efforts to simplify the document requirements for visa applications, further facilitating the entry process.
Liu Haitao, Deputy Director of the National Immigration Administration, emphasized the government’s commitment to improving immigration management services and policies. He stated, “As China’s economy continues to recover and improve, and the level of opening-up continues to expand, Chinese and foreign enterprises and people have many new demands for immigration management services. The NIA will actively coordinate with relevant authorities to make it easier for foreigners coming to China for business, study, and travel. We will continue to improve immigration management services and policies and accelerate institutional opening-up to create a first-class business environment.”
China initiated a trial period of visa-free travel for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia on December 1st of the previous year. According to the National Immigration Administration, close to 150,000 people from these six countries had entered China by January 9th. The administration reported that in 2023, approximately 210 million international arrivals were recorded in China, accounting for around 62 percent of the overseas arrivals in 2019. It expects this number to continue rising in 2024, further highlighting the growing global connections facilitated by China’s immigration services.
