On the same day, the visa-free stay was extended from 15 to 30 days, with entry allowed for business, tourism, visits to family and friends and exchanges.

This means the list of countries with visa-free entry to China now includes:

• Switzerland
• Ireland
• Hungary
• Austria
• Belgium
• Luxembourg
• Singapore
• Thailand
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Spain
• Malaysia
• Bulgaria
• Romania
• Croatia
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Malta
• Estonia
• Latvia
• Japan

Most of these visa-free arrangements are unilateral (i.e. Chinese tourists do not have the same visa-free rights in the countries listed above), but Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have reciprocal visa-free agreements in place for Chinese visitors.

The move is part of a wider push to encourage foreign visitors to return to China in the post-pandemic era. And there is some indication that the policies are starting to work. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, an estimated 95 million inbound tourists arrived in China in the first nine months of 2024, a 55.4% increase year-on-year.

China resumed its pre-Covid visa and entry policies in March 2023, including the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, which allows foreign travellers transiting through the country to enjoy a six-day stay in certain Chinese cities without a visa. Since then, the country has rolled out a series of measures to make it easier for foreign visitors to enter the country, including simplified application forms and relaxed requirements for visas on arrival.

There has been no indication of if or when UK visitors can expect to enjoy a similar visa-free entry policy, and the British government has made no specific comment on the announcement. As the South China Morning Post reported, China “remains mindful of geopolitical considerations” and is almost certainly taking this into account when considering which countries to explore visa-free policies with.

The Labour government has been taking steps to establish a more consistent, strategic and pragmatic relationship with China, which has so far included a visit to China by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and a meeting between Prime Minister Kier Starmer and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 – the latter being the first meeting between the heads of state of the two countries in six years.

During this brief but significant engagement, Prime Minister Starmer emphasised the importance of a “strong UK-China relationship” for the benefit of both nations and the broader international community, calling for relations to be “consistent, durable, and respectful”.

In conclusion, while the UK is not included in China’s current visa-free policy, the situation remains dynamic, with the list of visa-free countries updated on a fairly regular basis.

The post China adds new countries to its visa-free entry list appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

The Chinese government recently announced it will remove the requirement for foreigners with university degrees to have two years of work experience when applying for a work permit in Beijing, a policy that may soon be rolled out across the country.

The rule change is just one of a series of welcome recent measures aimed at tempting tourists, business travellers and students back to China post-Covid, including visa-free entry for a growing list of countries, relaxed requirements for visas on arrival, and easier payment options for foreign visitors.

These policies are a response to the sharp fall in the number of foreign nationals visiting as well as residing in China in recent years, and a recognition of the importance of reversing this trend to help strengthen people-to-people ties at all levels.

According to the most recent national census, Beijing’s foreign population fell from 107,000 in 2010 to around 62,000 in 2020. Meanwhile, the foreign population in Shanghai fell from 208,000 to 164,000 in the same period. Today, the numbers are likely even lower following the worst of the pandemic controls in 2022, which led to a large outflow of foreign nationals, particularly in Shanghai.

Crucially for young Brits, the pandemic effectively paused all the activity which had built up over the years – or in many cases decades – aimed at providing exchange opportunities. For three years, students were unable to visit China for study, and the arrival of graduates looking to develop their early careers in cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Chengdu ground to a halt, save a few resourceful individuals who were able to navigate the visa and border restrictions.

Added to today’s challenges is the fact that the prevailing geopolitical environment has cooled enthusiasm among young Brits for exchanges with China. The trend was already drifting negative prior to the pandemic, with the problem compounded further by the sudden closing of China’s borders.

Meanwhile, the appetite for understanding of the UK in China remains strong, with student numbers around 150,000 last year and visitors beginning to return in large numbers. China not only has a sizeable trade surplus with the UK but also a knowledge surplus – and both will need to be addressed if we are to have a healthy, long-term relationship.

There are signs of light beginning to appear in the tunnel, however. Although recovering the full scale and scope of exchanges last seen in 2019 will take time, a growing range of institutions in the UK and China are taking encouraging steps to restart programmes, build new initiatives, or take existing programmes to the next level.

We have a lot of catching up to do after the last four years, and the need for two-way understanding is greater today than ever

The British Council is bringing a thousand British high school students to China in July 2024 as part of the Mandarin Excellence Programme. This is the first visit by the Mandarin Excellence Programme and will hopefully mark the start of a sustained effort to familiarise young Brits with Chinese language and culture.

A new initiative launched in 2023 by Engage with China saw 10 British pupils win A-level scholarships in China. The scholarships include both fully-funded and part-funded placements and are run in collaboration with Wycombe Abbey School in Changzhou (WASC).

Tom Simpson and his cohort on a gap year with Project Trust in 2004-05

Project Trust is also resuming its China programmes for gap-year students. PT will have its first cohort of volunteers coming out to China later this summer to work in rural schools in Sichuan, Jiangxi and Heilongjiang after a four-year hiatus. I personally spent my first year in China with PT back in 2004-05, teaching at a school in rural Xinjiang before going on to study Chinese at Leeds University.

UK universities that diverted their Chinese language studies cohorts to Taiwan during the pandemic are now offering places at Chinese universities again. The resumption of university courses will help to raise the number of British students in China, even if the overall number is likely to remain low. While we don’t know the exact number of British students in China today, for context, there are just 720 US students currently studying in China.

The long-running Schwarzman Scholar programme, which offers a one-year Master of Global Affairs degree at Tsinghua University, is open to British applicants too, with the deadline for 2025 scholars open until September 2024. Although primarily a US-led program, the University of Oxford also plays a central role, including providing faculty.

Furthermore, the British Council’s Generation UK, which was launched in 2013 with the aim of helping UK students and graduates to “develop a global mindset through study and work experience opportunities in China”, will hopefully return at some stage in a new format. Since its inception, Generation UK has built a network of over 4,000 participants and has been one of the most impactful initiatives aimed at building an understanding of China among Brits to date.

Another important route for young Brits to come and work in China has been through internships. CRCC Asia provides one, two and three-month internships in China and is a great way for graduates to experience life in Shanghai. The China-Britain Business Council also provides internship opportunities in Beijing and Shanghai on an ongoing basis.

Although designed for mid-career participants, a mention should also go to the Great Britain China Centre’s Future Leaders Programme, which aims to “build China literacy among rising civil servants, MPs and business representatives” with modules in the UK and China. The programme has just closed applications for its 2024 cohort and, given the success of previous years, will hopefully become a sustained initiative.

Leeds University Chinese degree graduation group, 2009

A large number of the British expats who have built careers or started companies in China started out as graduates or arrived early in their careers with a curiosity to learn about the country and experience its work culture. Most did not study Chinese and simply saw China as a place where they could develop themselves and have a rewarding experience.

Several current UK MPs took up the option to come to China in their younger years. Catherine West (MP for Hornsey and Wood Green) worked at a school in Nanjing in the 1990s, while Mark Logan (MP for Bolton Northwest) worked at the British Consulate in Shanghai in the 2010s. Neil Coyle (MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark) also spent two years in China from 2001 as a 23-year-old.

A lot of work remains to be done to rebuild and reinvigorate activity to develop understanding of China among the next generation of Brits, whether through study, work, cultural exchange, travel or business connections. There is a role for us all to play, whether through developing internships or full-time roles, helping to spread the word about programmes such as those mentioned above, supporting the excellent work of the British Council, GBCC, Project Trust, Engage with China (and the many other organisations, too many to mention!) either financially, with your time, or developing new exchange programmes.

We have a lot of catching up to do after the last four years or so of disruption. Meanwhile, the need for two-way understanding is greater today than ever. I remain optimistic we will see the numbers of young Brits coming to China grow as the programmes listed above are reestablished and interest gradually returns. But what is clear is it will require a holistic and sustained approach from across businesses, NGOs, academic institutions and government if we are to be successful over the long term.

Photo by MD Duran on Unsplash

The post British youth need to understand China better – here’s why appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

1. Relaxed requirements for port visas (aka visa on arrival)

This measure will primarily help people who need to urgently travel to China for non-diplomatic reasons such as business, investment, family visits, or personal matters. Eligible individuals can now obtain a port visa directly from the visa authorities at ports of entry (which include both actual ports, airports and train stations) by presenting an invitation letter and other necessary documents. More details about documentation and post visa authorities can be found here.

2. Border inspection exemption for 24-hour visa-free transit

Entry and exit passengers who are transiting to a third country or region through any of the following nine airports with an international connecting ticket within 24 hours can directly transit without a visa and bypass border inspection procedures: Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, and Xi’an Xianyang International Airport.

3. Easier visa extension and renewal

For those already in China, visa extension and renewal has been made more accessible. If you are in the country for a short-term visit related to business, tourism, or family matters and have a valid reason to extend your stay, you may now apply for a visa extension at the nearest local Public Security Bureau (PSB) Exit and Entry Administration, rather than the one where the company or person who invited you is located. For example, if your visa was issued in Shanghai but you are attending meetings in Beijing, you can apply for a visa extension in Beijing.

4. Multiple entry visas for foreigners already in China

Foreign nationals requiring multiple entries and exits from China for valid reasons (e.g., frequent international business meetings) can apply for a multiple-entry visa from the PSB in China.

5. Simplified documentation

Foreigners applying for visas to China will benefit from an eased documentation process. Those with records and data accessible through official information sharing mechanisms (e.g., business licenses, temporary residence registration) will no longer need to submit physical copies of these documents during the application process. China also recently simplified its visa application forms.

This follows a major announcement on 24 November 2023 that China would allow visa-free entry for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia for business and tourism for up to 15 days per entry, effective from 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2024. Following Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Davos, China also announced a visa-free entry policy for Irish and Swiss nationals, although a date for implementation has not been given. China and Singapore also recently signed an agreement on 30-day mutual visa-free entry for their citizens, which will come into effect on 9 February – Chinese New Year’s Eve.

There has been no indication of if or when UK visitors can expect some kind of visa-free entry, and the British government has made no specific comment on the announcement.

The ongoing developments in international relations and China’s broader strategy of economic integration and facilitation of global travel could potentially lead to future changes in visa policies for UK travellers. For now, business and other travellers from the UK must adhere to the existing visa application procedures.

The post Recent policies to ease entry to China for international travellers appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

The timing of this announcement and the countries selected have prompted speculation. Apart from Malaysia, which on 26 November announced that Chinese tourists could visit the country visa-free for 30 days, none of the other countries have reciprocal visa-free agreements in place for Chinese visitors.

Nevertheless, the announcement roughly coincided with a meeting between China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his French counterpart Catherine Colonna, and comes ahead of a scheduled EU-China Summit in early December. These events aim to improve relations and facilitate travel for foreign investors from European countries, aligning with China’s broader strategy to attract investors and strengthen economic ties in the face of an economic slowdown and a decrease in foreign investment.

The move is part of the gradual softening of China’s entry requirements following the lifting of its Covid-era restrictions in early 2023. China resumed its pre-Covid visa and entry policies in March 2023, including the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, which allows foreign travellers transiting through the country to enjoy a six-day stay in certain Chinese cities without a visa. Later, in September 2023, the country rolled out simplifications to its visa application form, reducing the amount of information related to educational background, family members, and travel history applicants need to provide.

It is hoped that this latest move will serve as a trial for wider visa-free entry policies, and that more countries will be added to the exemption in the future.

There has been no indication of if or when UK visitors can expect the same visa-free entry, and the British government has made no specific comment on the announcement. Relations between the UK and China have cooled somewhat in recent years, which could well have pushed the UK further down the list of countries likely to be granted visa-free travel.

Although some have speculated that David Cameron’s surprise return to government could signify the resumption of a more gung-ho attitude to cooperation with China, at a recent Global Investment Summit at Hampton Court Palace, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasised that the UK’s ties with China would not return to the so-called ‘Golden Era’, saying that China had changed, and “it’s right that [the UK’s] strategy evolves to take account of that.” Nevertheless, the UK has still been taking steps to strengthen its economic and trade relationship with China, especially following former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly’s visit to China in August 2023. “The only way to influence China is to engage with China,” Mr Cleverly stressed in a video shared on the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) social channels at the time. “That is why I’m here in Beijing. That is why I am meeting with Chinese ministers. That is why diplomacy is so incredibly important.”

In conclusion, while the UK is not included in China’s current visa-free policy, the situation remains dynamic. As recently as October 2023, China removed the requirement to make an appointment to apply for a visa at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre and will now allow walk-ins. The ongoing developments in international relations and China’s broader strategy of economic integration and facilitation of global travel could potentially lead to future changes in visa policies for UK travellers. For now, business and other travellers from the UK must adhere to the existing visa application procedures.

The post Could UK visitors be granted visa-free entry to China? appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

In this article, we give an overview of how to apply for a visa to visit the UK on business, including key considerations such as application timeline, cost, and documentation.

What kind of visa do you need to visit the UK on business?

The UK does not have a specific ‘business visa’. Instead, people travelling to the UK for business purposes can do so on a Standard Visitor visa (which also covers purposes such as tourism). This type of visa allows a visitor to remain in the UK for up to six months (180 days) and do the following business activities:

• attend interviews, meetings, conferences and seminars
• negotiate and sign deals and contracts
• attend trade fairs to promote your business (cannot sell things)
• get work-related training if said training is not available in the visitor’s home country
• give a one-off or short series of talks as long as they’re not for profit or a commercial event (must not be paid)
• carry out site visits and inspections
• oversee the delivery of goods and services provided by a UK company to an overseas company or organisation
• deliver training or share knowledge on internal projects with UK employees of the company the visitor works for overseas
• install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on equipment, computer software and hardware, if the overseas company has a contract with a UK company or organisation

Staff may be permitted to do certain additional activities depending on their job; for example, a translator and/or interpreter may translate and/or interpret in the UK as an employee of an enterprise located overseas (see a full list of all visitor activity rules here).

How long is a Standard Visitor visa valid for and how much does it cost?

For Chinese citizens, the Standard Visitor visa is valid for two years (fee: £100).

There is also an option to apply for a 5-year long-term Standard Visitor visa (£670) and a 10-year long-term Standard Visitor visa (£837).

All visas have a maximum length of stay of six months.

What documents are needed to apply for a Standard Visitor visa?

Visitors to the UK must show that they are a genuine visitor who is coming to the UK to undertake a permitted activity, that they will leave at the end of their visit and that they have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to their visit.

UK Visas and Immigration recommends that in addition to a valid passport, applicants provide information about their circumstances in their home country (e.g., a letter from the company in China on headed paper detailing role, salary and length of employment) and details of the activity that they will be doing in the UK (e.g., an invitation letter from the company in the UK).

Click here to start the application process for a Standard Visitor visa via gov.uk.

How long is the application process for a Standard Visitor visa?

The current processing time for a Standard Visitor visa (for an application made in China) is 3 weeks (15 working days).

If you need a visa quicker than that, you can pay for ‘priority service’ (£500) at the time of application to get a decision within five working days or ‘super priority service’ (£800) to get a decision by the end of the next working day.

You can apply a maximum of three months before you travel.

For the most up-to-date guidance on applying for a Standard Visitor visa, please see gov.uk/standard-visitor

The post How to apply for a UK business visit visa for Chinese staff appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

Although China’s post-Covid economic recovery has been remarkable, recent figures have fallen short of expectations.

The country’s economy is experiencing deflation for the first time since early 2021. The consumer price index fell 0.3% year-on-year in July, while the producer price index dropped 4.4%.

Imports and exports also fell faster than expected in July. Imports dropped 12.4% year-on-year, considerably worse than analyst predictions of a 5% fall, while exports fell 14.5%, also steeper than the expected 12.5% decline.

These figures have prompted various government departments to take measures to combat the slowdown. On Thursday, 3 August, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) issued 26 guidelines to promote “high quality development” and the “free movement” of people, vehicles and data in China. As yet, the guidelines are just that, but the MPS’s deputy head of research has said that they are making all efforts to put them into action by the end of the month.

The guidelines include a milestone relaxation of hukou, or household registration, restrictions. This will allow millions of urban residents that still have a rural hukou to switch to an urban hukou, granting them improved access to housing, education and healthcare – and likely unlocking more of their spending power. Restrictions will vary based on city size:

• Cities with a population of under 3 million (hundreds of cities) will completely cancel all hukou restrictions
• Cities with a population of 3-5 million (20 cities) will relax hukou restrictions
• Cities with a population of over 5 million (19 cities) will relax their quotas and ease the points-based system for permit applications

The MPS has also emphasised the need to streamline the provision of government services by cutting red tape, moving more services online, and making services accessible across regional jurisdictions, particularly in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.

Perhaps most notably for FOCUS readers, the guidelines prominently feature measures to allow foreign businesspeople travelling to China for business activities on short notice to apply for a business visa on arrival, rather than having to obtain one before travelling. In addition, people who need to travel to and from China multiple times for commercial business reasons will be permitted to apply for a valid three-year multiple-entry business visa after entering the country. Foreigners will also be allowed to keep their passports when applying for residence permits.

The guidelines also include recommendations for traffic management, vehicles and logistics, including measures to boost spending on consumer goods such as electric and second-hand cars, relax rules on driving licence exams, and enable pilot programmes to set up security service companies.

Many regions of China will also be implementing concrete local policies in line with the MPS’s guidelines. One province even did so before the announcement came out.

In July, the eastern province of Zhejiang announced that it would eliminate hukou limits in urban areas and allow residence permits to be recognised between cities. This policy came into effect on Tuesday, 1 August, two days before the government announcement.

The post Will new guidelines for freedom of movement stimulate China’s economy? appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

Chinese trade is a vital component of the UK economy. According to UK government data, China was the UK’s 4th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2022, accounting for 6.5% of total UK trade. In 2021, the inward stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the UK from China was over £5 billion, and in 2022, 3,558 UK working visas were issued to Chinese citizens.

What visas are frequently requested by businesses?

For businesses and entrepreneurs looking to work in the UK, the choice of UK immigration visas can appear daunting. In this article, we highlight some of the current visa options most often requested by Chinese business clients.

Innovator Founder visa

The new Innovator Founder visa enables entrepreneurs from outside the UK to set up an innovative business in the UK. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a clear business plan and have a business idea that has been approved by an approved endorsing body. English language and adequate savings requirements must also be met by the applicant.

In contrast to its predecessor (the Innovator visa), the Innovator Founder visa offers the following benefits:

• No minimum investment requirement: This will make it easier for Chinese entrepreneurs to come to the UK to start their businesses.
• More flexible eligibility criteria: Making it easier for a wider range of entrepreneurs to qualify.
• Faster processing times: The new visa can be processed more quickly, which will make it easier for entrepreneurs from China to get started in the UK.

Skilled Worker visa

The Skilled Worker visa (which replaced the Tier 2 General visa) is for foreign nationals who wish to come to the UK to work in a sponsored job. Only UK employers with a sponsor licence can employ overseas staff through the Skilled Worker visa scheme. The Skilled Worker visa uses a points-based system (PBS) which awards points based on meeting certain criteria.

Scale-up visa

The Scale-up visa was introduced in August 2022. It is designed to attract talented individuals from outside the UK to work for fast-growing UK businesses. To qualify for a Scale-up visa, you must have a job offer from a UK-based scale-up business that meets certain criteria. You must also meet the English language requirements and have a valid passport.

The Scale-up visa is valid for up to five years, and you can extend it for further periods of up to three years. After five years, you may be able to apply for settlement in the UK.

What is a UK Global Business Mobility Visa?

The UK Global Business Mobility visa routes are aimed at overseas businesses seeking to establish a presence or transfer staff to the UK and came into effect in April 2022. Some of the most requested visa types are as follows:

Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Replaced ICT)

The Senior or Specialist Worker visa is intended for overseas senior managers and employees with specialised skills and experience who wish to work in the UK on a temporary basis. Applicants must be employed by an overseas company or organisation that is affiliated with their UK business sponsor (via ownership or a Joint Venture). This replaces the Intra-Company Transfer Visa (ICT).

UK Expansion Worker visa (Replaced Sole Representative)

The UK Expansion Worker visa replaced the Sole Representative of an Overseas Business Visa and allows established and trading businesses outside the UK to send a senior manager to expand their presence in the UK. This route is designed for employees of foreign companies that do not already have a trading presence in the UK.

Secondment Worker visa

The Secondment Worker visa allows overseas employers to send workers to the UK to fulfil a high-value contract or investment with a UK-registered sponsoring business. Applicants must possess the necessary skills for the secondment and have worked for the overseas company for at least one year.

Service Supplier visa

The Service Supplier visa is intended to allow overseas workers who work for an overseas service supplier or who meet the self-employed requirements to come to the UK for a temporary work assignment.

Graduate Trainee visa (Replaced Intra-Company Transfer Graduate).

The Graduate Trainee visa is intended for overseas workers who wish to be transferred by their employer to the United Kingdom for the purpose of completing a work placement as part of a graduate training programme. The training programme must result in a senior management or specialist position. This replaces the Intra-Company Transfer Graduate visa.

Will a Global Business Mobility visa need the UK employer to have a sponsor licence?

Yes, for all pathways under the Global Business Mobility visa, applicants must have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), therefore, the UK business must hold a sponsor licence.

The post How to bring Chinese staff to the UK appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

The resumption of normal visa services includes China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy, which allows foreign travellers transiting through the country to enjoy a six-day stay in certain Chinese cities without a visa.

Note that this is a transit visa, so it only applies to travellers flying into China from one country and flying out to another. For example, UK – Shanghai – Hong Kong would be a valid route under this policy, but UK – Shanghai – UK would not.

Where can you travel in China using the 144-hour visa-free transit?

Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei Province

Travellers to this region of China may enter and exit from any of the ports listed below and travel freely around the three regions during their 144-hour stay:
Beijing: Capital International Airport, Daxing International airport, Beijing West Railway Station (for trains from Hong Kong and Hanoi)
Tianjin: Binhai International Airport, Tianjin International Cruise Home Port
Hebei: Shijiazhuang: Zhengding International Airport
Hebei: Qinghuangdao: Qinhuangdao Beidaihe International Airport

Shanghai, Zhejiang Province and Jiangsu Province

Travellers to this part of China may enter and exit from any of the ports listed below and travel freely around the three regions during their 144-hour stay:
Shanghai: Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal, Wusong Passenger Transport Center, and Shanghai Train Station
Hangzhou, Zhejiang: Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport
Ningbo, Zhejiang: Ningbo Lishe Airport
Nanjing, Jiangsu: Nanjing Lukou Airport

Guangdong Province

Only three airports in Guangdong can issue the 144-hour free transit visa: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, and Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport. Visitors can then travel freely throughout Guangdong Province and leave via any of the 32 entry/exit ports in Guangdong (land, sea and air).

Liaoning Province

Travellers to Liaoning Province may enter and exit from either of the ports listed below and travel freely around the region during their 144-hour stay.
Dalian: Zhoushuizi International Airport
Shenyang: Taoxian International Airport

Shandong Province

144-hour visitors arriving via Qingdao Liuting International Airport and Qingdao International Cruise Home Port are permitted to visit the whole of Shandong Province.

Chengdu and Sichuan Province

144-hour visitors arriving via Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport are permitted to visit Chengdu and 10 other cities in Sichuan Province: Leshan, Deyang, Suining, Meishan, Ya’an, Ziyang, Neijiang, Zigong, Luzhou and Yibin.

Chongqing

Visitors to Chongqing should enter and exit via Jiangbei International Airport.

Kunming

144-hour visitors arriving into Kunming via Changshui International Airport must remain in Kunming city only, and are not permitted to travel in the wider Yunnan Province.

Wuhan

144-hour visitors arriving into Wuhan via Tianhe International Airport are allowed to remain in Wuhan city only, not the wider Hubei Province.

Xi’an

144-hour visitors arriving into Xi’an via Xianyang International Airport are allowed to visit the cities of Xi’an and Xiangyang in Shaanxi Province.

Xiamen

144-hour visitors arriving into Xiamen via Gaoqi International Airport, Xiamen Wutong Passenger Terminal and Xiamen International Cruise Centre Port are allowed to remain in Xiamen city only, not wider Fujian Province.

Who is eligible for 144-hour visa-free transit?

Citizens of the following 53 countries can make use of the visa exemption:

• Europe Schengen area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
• Other European countries: United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Russia, and Belarus.
• North and South America: United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
• Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.
• Asia and the Middle East: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

What documents do you need to apply for 144-hour visa-free transit?

• A passport valid for at least three months from the date of entry
• An onward flight ticket to a third country or region (must be a direct flight out of China) with confirmed departure date and seat number
• A completed arrival/departure card

Note: Visa requirements may be subject to change. Please check the website of the Embassy of China or the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre nearest to you for the most up-to-date guidance.

The post How to visit China for 6 days, visa-free appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

The changes were announced during a press conference with China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, who noted that they will further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries. The change follows the resumption of the issuance of work and business visa services for foreign nationals in January 2023. Find out how CBBC can help with business visas here.

An update shared by China Consular Affairs included the following information about visa issuance:

• Valid multi-year, multi-entry visas issued before 28 March 2020 by the Chinese visa authorities abroad resume their function.
• Visa authorities stationed abroad will resume examining and issuing all types of visas for foreigners.
• Port visa authorities shall resume the issuing of all types of port visas in line with the relevant laws and regulations.
• The visa-exemption policy for Hainan, visa-exemption cruise policy for Shanghai, visa-exemption policy for foreigners to visit Guangdong from Hong Kong and Macao, and visa-exemption policy for ASEAN tour groups to Guilin and Guangxi will all come back into operation.

Commenting on the news, Tom Simpson, Managing Director, China at the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) said:

“Resuming applications for all types of visas removes another significant barrier in the resumption of normal travel between the UK and China.

CBBC has already seen business travel applications and arrivals begin to increase since January, however this news should lead to a significant increase in visits in particular for tourism.

Some barriers still remain, with PCR tests still required for travel to China from the UK. Also, the resumption of flights won’t be instant but gradual over the course of 2023 and into next year.”

The post China resumes normal visa services appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

Applicants for an M visa should apply via the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) website (select the visa centre nearest to you). You will be required to fill in an online visa application form, including a recent photograph, and then make an in-person appointment at the visa centre using the reservation form (access the application form and appointments via the ‘Quick Access’ section of CVASC website). You should submit your application at least one month before your trip but not earlier than three months.

Before going to your appointment, you will need to print out and sign the application form and a separate declaration (see here) and print out the reservation form.

Other documents you should prepare include:

• Passport with at least six months’ validity and two blank pages
• Photocopies of the passport’s ID page
• Photocopies of previous Chinese visas (plus photocopies of any previous passports that contained Chinese visas)
• An invitation letter including the applicant’s details; details of the planned visit (including purpose, dates, locations, etc.); details of the inviting party (including official stamp, signature of the legal representative or individual, and Chinese ID if the inviting party is a Chinese individual)
• Recent passport photo (in case of any issues with the photo uploaded with your form)

At the appointment, show your reservation form, and you will be given a queue number and called forward to a desk. You will then be asked to submit your documents and have your fingerprints collected. In some cases, you may need to submit to a short interview. At the end of your appointment, you will pay the visa fee and receive a pick-up form to show when collecting your passport.

Please check the CVASC website for specific document requirements, processing times and fees.

How CBBC can help with your visa application

To support your application for an M visa, it is necessary to have an invitation letter (sometimes called a Visa Notification Form) from a Chinese company or Government Department. CBBC can provide such a letter for company employees who are visiting China on business.

Click here to apply for a CBBC visa invitation letter

Simply click the link above to get started (you will need to create an account on the CBBC website). As part of your request, you will need to upload the following documents (where applicable):

• A clear scanned copy of the photo page within the applicant’s passport
• UK residence certification letter if nationality is not British (excluding EU citizens).

CBBC Visa Invitation Letter Service Fees:

CBBC Members: £30.00 + VAT

Non-Members: £50.00 + VAT

When will I receive my Visa invitation letter?

Once you have submitted your letter request and made the online payment, our team in China will process your data and issue the invitation letter within 3-4 working days.

Please note:

The CBBC invitation letter is not your Chinese visa, it is a supporting document. Read the information above for more information on applying for your Chinese business visa.

To obtain a visa for China, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the planned date of entry

Allow enough time before your visit to obtain the letter and complete the formal visa application process through the Chinese Visa Service Centre in London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast.

Note: Visa requirements may be subject to change. Please check the website of the Embassy of China or the Chinese Visa Application Service Center nearest to you for the most up-to-date guidance.

The post How to apply for a Chinese business visa in 2023 appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.