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IMPACT – LOW
What is the change? Immigration authorities in Beijing have significantly reduced the processing time for residence permit applications.
What does the change mean? Foreign nationals submitting residence permit applications in Beijing can expect to receive their permit in 10 business days.
Background: Starting next week, Beijing immigration authorities will process both new and renewal residence permit applications in 10 business days. Previously, the processing time was 15 business days.
BAL Analysis: A residence permit is typically required to open a bank account and secure the release of household items from customs, so the shorter wait time for residence permits will particularly benefit foreign nationals who have recently moved to Beijing.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group in China. For additional information, please contact china@bal.com.
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IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? China has been added to the growing list of countries eligible for India’s e-Tourist Visa program. Residents of Hong Kong and Macau are also now eligible for the visas.
What does the change mean? While the expansion of the program eases travel for tourists, the visas are not recommended for business travelers except for urgent and narrowly-tailored visits.
Background: India dramatically expanded its Tourist Visa on Arrival-Electronic Travel Authorization program, as it was previously known, in November 2014, and again in April 2015. The addition of China to the program has been anticipated for months, despite reports of security concerns by some in the Indian government. Over 70 countries are on the list of eligible travelers. Bolivia and the Seychelles were previously included on India’s official website listing of participating countries, but have since been removed.
The e-Tourist visa requires travelers to apply online for an electronic travel authorization prior to travel. Those who arrive in India without electronic travel authorization risk being turned away. The program is available at nine Indian airports: Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Trivandrum.
BAL Analysis: While the addition of China, Hong Kong and Macau to India’s e-Tourist Visa program could significantly increase the number of tourists traveling to India, it must be noted that only “casual business” visits are allowed no matter what the traveler’s nationality. The definition of “casual business” may vary depending on individual immigration officers. Because of the discretion officers wield, and the fact that eligible foreign nationals may be issued only two e-Tourist visas per year, BAL does not recommend e-Tourist visas for business travelers unless they do not have time to obtain a traditional business visa and are traveling for a one-shot meeting or “look-see” visit.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
What is the change? Shanghai has started implementing several new policies aimed at attracting foreign professionals in the science and technology fields to live and work in China’s most populous city.
What does the change mean? Foreign residents recognized as talents can become permanent residents more easily, approved high-level professionals in science and technology are eligible for five-year residence permits, and foreign graduates and entrepreneurs looking to start companies in Shanghai are immediately eligible for temporary residency.
Background: The changes affect the following categories:
BAL Analysis: Because immigration procedures in China can be lengthy and complicated, the new rules should reduce red tape and incentivize top-tier and new foreign talent to stay in Shanghai.
What is the change? Further details on visa-free travel for citizens of Taiwan traveling to China have been released by Public Security Bureau officers in verbal confirmations and in public statements to the media.
What does the change mean? Taiwanese citizens will be able to enter mainland China with only a valid Tai Bao Zheng or, if they do not have a Tai Bao Zheng, they may obtain a temporary travel certificate upon arrival. Shanghai and Beijing have already stopped requiring Taiwanese travelers to obtain travel and residence endorsements. The Tai Bao Zheng is also expected to be replaced by an E-travel pass in the coming year.
Background: As BAL reported last week, China’s State Council announced changes that would remove current visa requirements, known as travel endorsements, for Taiwanese residents holding valid Tai Bao Zheng. Additional details from the Public Security Bureau confirm that Taiwanese citizens who do not have a Tai Bao Zheng will be able to obtain a single-entry, temporary travel certificate upon arrival.
China also plans to replace the Tai Bao Zheng booklets with a travel pass, but this proposal may face some opposition from Taiwan as the pass is similar to travel cards held by Macau and Hong Kong residents and may be seen as a move toward placing residents of Taiwan under the territorial jurisdiction of China.
BAL Analysis: The changes represent significant easing of travel requirements for cross-strait movement. However, a work permit is still required for employment and work activities.
What is the change? Under a pilot program, Australia will offer 10-year multiple-entry visitor visas to Chinese nationals.
What does the change mean? Chinese travellers will be able to make repeat visits to Australia without having to renew their visas for 10 years.
Background: The visas aim to attract the growing number of Chinese tourists and compete with the U.S. and Canada, who have both recently extended 10-year visas to Chinese nationals. The number of tourists from China is expected to top 200 million by 2020, and Chinese visitors already contribute A$5 billion to the Australian economy. Business travellers conducting permitted business activities are also eligible for Visitor Visas.
BAL Analysis: The move comes on the heels of the China-Australia free trade deal signed Wednesday and represents another provision to liberalise movement and trade between China and Australia.
This alert has been provided by BAL Australia. For additional information, please contact australia@bal.com.
MARN: 9683856
What is the change? Australia and China have signed a landmark free-trade agreement.
What does the change mean? The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, or ChAFTA, was crafted to provide greater access to Australia and China for business visitors, intra-company transferees, contractual service suppliers and company executives.
Background: Australian Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb and Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng signed ChAFTA Wednesday after the deal was agreed to in principle in November 2014.
Australia’s commitments under the agreement include providing stays of four years, with possible extensions, for Chinese intra-corporate transferees and contractual service suppliers; stays of up to three months for Chinese installers and servicers; stays of 90 days for business visitors or six months, with possible extension, for business visitors who are service sellers; and stays for spouses and dependants equal to the stays provided to principals, provided that period is for at least 12 months.
China’s commitments under the agreement include providing initial stays of up to three years for intra-corporate transferees (including executives, managers and specialists); initial stays of up to one year or the duration of the contract for contractual service providers; stays of up to 180 days or the duration of the contract for installers and maintainers; stays of up to 180 days for business visitors; and stays for spouses and dependants equal to the stays provided to principals, provided that period is for at least 12 months.
ChAFTA follows similar agreements between Australia and Japan (JAEPA) and Australia and South Korea (KAFTA). The Australia-China agreement may be the most significant for Australia, however, as China is the country’s biggest trading partner.
BAL Analysis: It will still take some time for the agreement to enter into force; however, ChAFTA represents a liberalisation of barriers across many categories of workers, business visitors and investors.
IMPACT – HIGH
What is the change? The Shanghai Public Security Bureau has announced several new immigration policies to simplify visa application processes for foreign employees, especially foreign talents working in high-tech and innovative sectors.
What does the change mean? Among the changes, Shanghai will streamline permanent-residence procedures for foreign talents, simplify visa-application procedures for students, investors and others, and broaden the visa waiver and visa on arrival programs.
Details: The main changes are:
BAL Analysis: The changes are welcome news for companies and foreign employees in Shanghai and could lead the way for other jurisdictions to follow suit with similar changes. While the changes appear to benefit most companies in Shanghai, the impact of the changes and qualifying criteria will be clearer once implemented.
What is the change? Germany has launched a program to provide Chinese business travelers visas within 48 hours.
What does the change mean? Chinese business travelers can receive a visa within 48 hours at no additional cost. Applications for business visas previously took about 10 business days to process.
Background: The change is part of broader efforts to reduce wait times for Chinese and German nationals traveling to each other’s countries. After the two countries reached consensus last fall, Germany launched 48-hour approval for business visas for Chinese travelers May 1. China has not yet implemented a corresponding program for German business travelers, but processing times for visit and family visas between the two countries are under discussion and changes may be implemented at some point this year.
BAL Analysis: The change represents a significant improvement in processing times for Chinese nationals traveling to Germany for business. China has not yet implemented a corresponding program, and BAL will continue to monitor whether such a program is forthcoming.
What is the change? The Shenzhen Labor Bureau has launched an online system for work permit applications.
What does the change mean? While the online system speeds up the initial approval, employers are cautioned that the approval letter must be stamped by the employer and signed by the employee, which can delay the process.
BAL Analysis: Applicants should note that despite the faster online submission of work permit applications in Shenzhen, the overall processing time may still take several business days, as it is dependent on how long it takes the employer to have the approval letter stamped and then signed by the employee. Companies that require several steps before stamping the approval letter – such as permission from a manager or human resources department – will see longer processing times that will impact the issue date of the work permit.
What is the change? Beginning June 1, Singapore will extend multiple-journey visas valid for 10 years to nationals of the People’s Republic of China.
What does the change mean? Chinese nationals who have previously visited Singapore and whose visa applications are supported by relevant Singaporean agencies will automatically be granted the 10-year visas, allowing them to make repeat trips to Singapore without having to renew their visas as often.
Background: Chinese nationals applying for a visa will be considered for the 10-year MJVs if they have visited Singapore in the past. The same visas will be extended to the main applicant’s spouse and children below the age of 21. The application process and government fees are unchanged. MJV holders will also have faster border processing by being able to use automated immigration clearance service at Singapore’s airports.
BAL Analysis: The longer validity will benefit frequent business travelers from China. However, they are reminded that while the MJV allows repeat entry during the validity period, it does not lengthen the permitted duration of each stay, which generally ranges from 14 to 30 days depending on the discretion of the immigration officer.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group in Singapore. For additional information, please contact singapore@bal.com.