[Source: CITS American Express Global Business Travel (CITS GBT)]

1. Visa Facilitation for Foreign Nationals who have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced in China

Starting from 15 March 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China will provide the following facilitation for visa applicants who have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced in China and obtained the vaccination certificate: 

(1) Foreign nationals and their family members visiting the mainland of China for resuming work and production in various fields need only to provide the documents required before the COVID-19 pandemic when applying for a visa. 

(2) The scope of applicants eligible for applying for a visa out of emergency humanitarian needs will be expanded as appropriate. Foreign family members of Chinese citizens or permanent residents of China, including spouse, parents, children, and other close relatives living together (referring to siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren), may submit visa applications for the purposes of reuniting with family, taking care of the elderly, visiting relatives, attending funerals or visiting critically ill relatives.

(3) Holders of valid APEC business travel cards may apply for the M visa by presenting the original valid APEC business travel card and the invitation letter issued by the inviting party in the mainland of China.

Reminder: 

(1) The above-mentioned visa facilitation applies only to applicants who have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced in China (either having received two doses of Chinese-made vaccines with the stipulated gap in between or having received a single-dose Chinese-made vaccine at least 14 days prior to the application) and obtained the vaccination certificate.

(2) All passengers should still follow the boarding requirements as stated in the Notice on Airline Boarding Requirements for Certificates of Negative Nucleic Acid and Anti-Body Blood Tests Results.

(3) After entering China, you are requested to comply with the relevant epidemic prevention regulations.

For detailed procedures, please check the official websites of Chinese embassies in various countries. As of March 18, the following China embassies have issued specific notices: Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Israel, Philippines, Malta, Belarus, Ireland, Belgium, Norway, Finland, Greece, India, Spain, Serbia, United Kingdom, South Korea, Denmark, Australia, Slovakia, Micronesia, East Timor, Indonesia, Arabia, Giles, Germany, Switzerland, Romania, United States, Turkey, Nepal, Jordan, Italy, Argentina, Estonia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Gabon, Nigeria, Rwanda, Ivory Coast.

[Source: Official WeChat of National Immigration Administration of PRC]

2. Notice on the Temporary Suspension of Entry into China by Non-Chinese Nationals in Some Countries Holding Valid Chinese Visas or Residence Permits

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China has decided to temporarily suspend entry into China by non-Chinese nationals in the below countries holding visas or residence permits still valid at the time of this announcement. The Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the below countries will no longer issue Certified Health Declaration Form for the above-mentioned personnel.

Entry by holders of diplomatic, service, courtesy, or C visas will not be affected. Foreign nationals visiting China for emergency needs may apply for visas at Chinese Embassies or Consulates. Entry by non-Chinese nationals in the below countries with visas issued after 3 November 2020 will not be affected.

The suspension is a temporary response necessitated by the current situation of Covid-19. The above-mentioned measures will be assessed in accordance with the evolving situation and any adjustment will be announced accordingly.

The countries are: UK, Belgium, Philippines, France, Russia, Italy, Bangladesh, India, Ethiopia, Nigeria [Source: Official Website of Chinese Embassies or Consulates in the UK, Belgium, Philippines, France, Russia, Italy, Bangladesh, India, Ethiopia, Nigeria]

3. Announcement on Entry by Foreign Nationals Holding Valid Chinese Residence Permits of Three Categories

In view of the current COVID-19 situation and the need of epidemic prevention and control, adjustments are now made to the Announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Immigration Administration on the Temporary Suspension of Entry by Foreign Nationals Holding Valid Chinese Visas or Residence Permits issued on 26 March 2020.

Effective from 0 a.m., 28 September 2020, foreign nationals holding valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters, and reunion are allowed to enter China with no need for applying for new visas. If the above three categories of residence permits held by foreign nationals expired after 0 a.m., 28 March 2020, the holders may apply for relevant visas by presenting the expired residence permits and relevant materials to the Chinese embassies or consulates on the condition that the purpose of the holders’ visit to China remains unchanged. The above-mentioned personnel shall strictly abide by the Chinese regulations on epidemic prevention and control.

Other measures in the Announcement issued on March 26 will continue to be implemented. While ensuring effective epidemic control, the Chinese government will continue resuming people-to-people exchanges in a step-by-step and orderly manner.

[Source: Official Website of National Immigration Administration]

4. Visa Facilitation for Some Foreign Nationals with Valid Chinese Residence Permits (11 Aug. 2020)

In view of the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the world, China has decided to temporarily suspend the entry into China by foreign nationals holding visas or residence permits still valid to the time of the announcement effective from 28 March 2020. Meanwhile, foreign nationals traveling to China for necessary economic, trade, scientific or technological activities or out of emergent humanitarian needs may still apply for visas.

As the prevention and control of COVID-19 become regular, in order to facilitate exchanges, China now decides that foreign nationals from the countries listed below who hold valid residence permits, including work permits, permit for a family reunion, and personal matters may apply for visas for free at any Chinese embassy or consulate in these countries. After entering China, they are kindly requested to comply with the epidemic prevention regulations of the local governments.

List of applicable countries: Albania, Ireland, Estonia, Austria, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Belgium, Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Denmark, Germany, France, Finland, the Netherlands, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, United Kingdom

[Source: Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Denmark]

5. Singapore-China Fast Lane for Essential Travel without having to go through the required 14-day quarantine period

Singapore and China have created a fast lane to facilitate essential business and official travel between both countries with effective from 8th June 2020. The fast lane is firstly established between six Chinese provinces and municipalities (Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Zhejiang) and Singapore.

Approved applicants travelling from either country must undergo testing before departure and obtain a health certificate showing that they tested negative for the novel coronavirus. They are required to submit an itinerary and are barred from taking public transportation. They also have to undergo a swab test after landing and remain in isolation for two days.

Residents travelling from either country via the fast lane must be sponsored by either a company or a government agency in the destination country. In addition, applicants travelling from China to Singapore must have remained in any of the sending Chinese fast lane regions for the last seven days prior to departure for Singapore. The applicant is required to produce a valid Safe Travel Pass, a negative PCR test result, a return air ticket, and a valid visa (for visa-required passport holders) for pre-boarding checks. Otherwise, the applicant can be refused boarding.

[The full article of the announcement from the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade and Industry]

[Detailed Applying Procedure]

[Source: Official website of Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

6. South Korea-China Fast Lane for Essential Travel without having to go through the required 14-day quarantine period

Starting from 1 May 2020, China and South Korea formally opened the "fast lane" to facilitate the exchange of important business, logistics, production, technical services, and other urgently needed personnel. Previously, the South Korean government required that all immigrants, regardless of nationality, be subject to 14 days of quarantine observation after entry.

According to the Fast Lane, Chinese applicants visit South Korea must submit a negative certificate of the test within three days before departure to the South Korean embassy or consulate in China to apply for exemption from quarantine. They will undergo a swab test after landing.

Korean applicants can also go directly to China with an invitation letter issued by the local government of China, a health certificate issued by a medical institution designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and a valid visa to China, without having to accept 14 days of quarantine.

At present, the fast lane established between 19 Chinese provinces and municipalities and South Korea, including Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Liaoning, Shandong, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi.

[Source: Official WeChat of the Chinese Embassy in South Korea]

7. Temporary Suspension of Entry by Foreign Nationals Holding Valid Chinese Visas or Residence Permits effective from 0 a.m., 28 March 2020

In view of the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the world, China has decided to temporarily suspend the entry into China by foreign nationals holding visas or residence permits still valid to the time of this announcement, effective from 0 a.m., 28 March 2020. Entry by foreign nationals with APEC Business Travel Cards will be suspended as well. Policies including port visas, 24/72/144-hour visa-free transit policy, Hainan 30-day visa-free policy, 15-day visa-free policy specified for foreign cruise-group-tour through Shanghai Port, Guangdong 144-hour visa-free policy specified for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong or Macau SAR, and Guangxi 15-day visa-free policy specified for foreign tour groups of ASEAN countries will also be temporarily suspended. Entry with diplomatic, service, courtesy, or C visas will not be affected. Foreign nationals coming to China for necessary economic, trade, scientific or technological activities or out of emergency humanitarian needs may apply for visas at Chinese embassies or consulates. Entry by foreign nationals with visas issued after this announcement will not be affected.

The suspension is a temporary measure that China is compelled to take in light of the outbreak situation and the practices of other countries. China will stay in close touch with all sides and properly handle personnel exchanges with the rest of the world under special circumstances. The above-mentioned measures will be calibrated in light of the evolving situation and announced accordingly.

[Source: Official WeChat of National Immigration Administration of PRC]