Chinese officials announced the extension of its visa-free policy to nationals of 12 countries through 2025.

Key Points:

  • As BAL previously reported, in December 2023 the Chinese government initially opened a unilateral visa-free policy to six countries: France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Spain. Officials later expanded the policy to include six additional countries: Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
  • The first policy granted visa-free status from Dec. 1, 2023, to Nov. 30, 2024. When the policy was expanded to six additional countries, the time frame updated to March 14 to Nov. 30, 2024.
  • The policy has now been extended to Dec. 31, 2025, to allow nationals holding ordinary passports from all 12 countries the ability to travel visa-free to China for up to 15 days for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes.

Background: The Chinese government has introduced various measures recently to increase inbound travel from foreign tourists and drive business in its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Singaporean officials recently announced an agreement with China for a 30-day mutual visa exemption policy, and Thai officials are currently discussing a similar arrangement for a reciprocal visa waiver program, further expanding China’s list of visa-free arrangements.

BAL Analysis: The government is focusing on new visa-free schemes and enhancing tourism infrastructure to facilitate cross-border travel and increase inbound tourism to further economic development.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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Chinese officials announced the expansion of their unilateral visa-free entry policy to six additional countries: Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

Key Points:

  • The government has enacted visa-free treatment to travelers holding ordinary passports from the six aforementioned countries on a trial basis.
  • From March 14 to Nov. 30, 2024, foreign nationals from these countries may enter China and stay for no more than 15 days for business, tourism, family visit or transit purposes.

BAL Analysis:

Chinese officials said the policy is intended to further facilitate cross-border travel and economic development.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

Chinese officials announced additional measures aimed at simplifying the process for foreign nationals seeking to visit China.

Key Points:

  • The following measures are designed to make business activities, education and tourist travel more accessible to foreign nationals:
    • Relaxed conditions for foreign nationals applying for port visas.
    • Twenty-four-hour visa-free transit at major hub airports that no longer require additional inspection procedures.
    • Visa extension, renewal and reissuance at the nearest public security offices.
    • Multiple-entry visas in cases of need and the ability to apply at an exit-entry administration of a public security office with an invitation letter and other accompanying documents.
    •  Accommodation registration records, business licenses and other information can be checked through shared information systems. The physical certificates no longer need to be presented.
    • A declaration of kinship may be used in place of the formal kinship certificate when applying for a visa for short-term family visits or reunions with relatives.

Additional Information: The Chinese government will relax conditions on port visas by allowing foreign nationals to apply at a port visa authority with an invitation letter and other accompanying documents if they are unable to obtain a visa beforehand due to time constraints. Individuals must be visiting China for non-diplomatic official business activities, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, private affairs or to visit relatives. Individuals traveling under those circumstances may also extend their stay by submitting applications to the exit-entry administrations of the public security offices located closest to where they are staying while in China.

BAL Analysis: The measures are designed to further eliminate challenges related to doing business, studying and traveling in China. The Chinese government has prioritized opening up the country to facilitate increased travel and spark further economic development in its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

Chinese officials announced that its embassies and consulates in the United States will simplify document requirements for U.S. nationals applying for a tourist L-visa.

Key Points:

  • U.S. visa applicants will no longer be required to submit proof of certain travel details, including a round-trip air ticket, hotel reservation, itinerary or invitation letter.
  • Visa applications are processed on a case-by-case basis, so individuals should still refer to Chinese embassies and consulates to confirm specific application requirements.

BAL Analysis: As previously reported, Chinese authorities recently implemented a temporary reduction of visa fees, lowering the fee from $185 to $140 for certain entry visas. The Chinese government has introduced various measures recently to increase inbound travel from foreign tourists and drive business in its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

Chinese officials announced that embassies and consulates abroad will implement a temporary reduction of visa fees from Dec. 11, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2024.

Key Points:

  • The policy will make it more affordable for travelers from more than a dozen countries to obtain a visa to travel to China.
  • Chinese embassies and consulates-general in the United States will reduce the visa fee to $140 (from $185) for the following visas:
    • Single entry
    • Double entry
    • Multiple entry for six months
    • Multiple entry for 12 months or more
  • Countries including Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam will have certain visa fees cut 25%. Other countries will see visa fee reductions of up to 75%, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

BAL Analysis: The Chinese government has introduced various measures recently to increase inbound travel from foreign tourists and drive business in its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

Chinese officials announced the expansion of its unilateral visa-free policy to six countries: France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Spain.

Key Points:

  • The new policy will be enacted on a trial basis and involve extending visa-free treatment to travelers holding ordinary passports from the six countries.
  • From Dec. 1, 2023, to Nov. 30, 2024, foreign nationals from these countries may enter China and stay for no more than 15 days for business, tourism, family visit or transit purposes.

Additional Information: Chinese officials said the policy is intended to further facilitate cross-border travel and economic development.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

Chinese officials announced new visa policies for foreign residents of Macao.

Key Points:

  • Foreign residents of Macao are now eligible for extended multiple-entry visas for up to five years for permanent residents and two years for non-permanent residents.
  • The revised regulations also allow foreign professional employees to apply for multiple-entry visas for up to one year, and foreign non-professional workers and domestic helpers for multiple-entry visas for up to six months.
  • Authorities made the announcement as part of an effort to optimize the visa policy for eligible foreign nationals in Macao.

BAL Analysis: The new policy is intended to give eligible Macao foreign residents greater access to mainland visas for business, tourism, family visits and transit purposes.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Chinese government announced that public documents within the scope of the Apostille Convention now only need to apply for an apostille before they are sent to China for further legal use.

Background:

  • China officially acceded to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (also known as the Apostille Convention) earlier this year. Under the convention, a public document that has been issued in one member country can be certified for legal use in any other member country by obtaining an “apostille” certificate from a designated authority in the issuing country.
  • Currently, to use foreign documents in China for administrative purposes, they need to be notarized and authenticated by local parties and then require further authentication by a Chinese embassy or consulate in the country where the documents are issued.
  • The new process will eliminate the need for further certification or legalization by Chinese consular or embassy officials, simplifying the process and saving time and cost.

BAL Analysis: China’s accession to the Apostille Convention is part of the government’s effort to improve ease of conducting business in the country. The notice confirms that “the completion of the apostille does not guarantee the acceptance of the public document by the relevant user in China.” As such, it is still recommended that foreign nationals check in advance with Chinese consular or embassy officials when going through the proper apostille procedure.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT — MEDIUM

The Chinese government recently updated several immigration-related regulations regarding visas and residence permits.

Key Points:

  • Foreign nationals traveling to China for business can obtain a landing visa upon arrival if they have an invitation letter and supporting business materials to verify their purpose.
  • These travelers can upgrade a single-entry visa to a multiple-entry business visa valid for up to three years after entering China.
  • Foreign nationals applying for residence permits will now have their passports returned to them after verification. Previously, officials kept the passports until permit processing was complete. This change allows applicants to use their passport as needed while awaiting their residence permit.

BAL Analysis: These measures are intended to make business travel and residence permit processing more efficient. BAL will continue following developments in China and will provide updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright ©2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT — MEDIUM

Under a change that took effect Aug. 30, China is no longer requiring a negative COVID-19 test result as a condition for entry.

‌Key Points:

  • The removal of the testing requirement will ease the entry process for travelers coming to China.
  • The action marks a further relaxation of China’s tough policy on pandemic restrictions. In January, China ended quarantines of citizens returning from foreign countries and has expanded the number of countries to which Chinese citizens may travel.
  • The move marks a milestone in China’s efforts to reopen to the world.

‌Background: Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, China initiated strict COVID policies and entry restrictions. China has moved to reopen this year, reopening for tourist travel in March and simplifying testing requirements in April. The removal of the negative-test requirement for visitors aligns with China’s goal of fully reopening its economy and reviving its travel industry.

‌This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

‌Copyright ©2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.