Today, Liu Haitao, deputy director of the National Immigration Administration, said at the press conference held by the Information Office of The State Council that the National Immigration Administration will implement five measures to facilitate foreigners to come to China from January 11,2024 to further open up the relevant blocking points for foreigners to come to China for business, study and tourism, better serve to ensure a high level of opening-up and promote high-quality development.
The five new steps include:
First Step
The requirements will be relaxed for foreign nationals to apply for port visas.
For foreigners who urgently need to come to China for non-diplomatic or official activities such as business cooperation, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, visiting relatives and dealing with personal affairs, and have no time to obtain visas abroad, they may apply for entry visas at port visa authorities by presenting the invitation letter and other relevant certification materials.
Second Step
Foreign nationals in Beijing Capital Airport and other hub airport with 24 hours direct transit will be exempted from inspection procedures.
At nine international airports: Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Xiamen Gaoqi, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Baoan, Chengdu Tianfu and Xi ‘an Xianyang, 24-hour direct transit passengers are exempted from border inspection procedures. Entry and exit passengers who transit to a third country or region through any of the above-mentioned airports with an international connecting ticket within 24 hours can directly transit without the border inspection procedures.
Third Step
Foreigners in China can apply for visa extension and renewal at the nearest police station.
Foreign nationals coming to China for short-term non-diplomatic or official activities such as business cooperation, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, visiting relatives, sightseeing and dealing with personal affairs, who have legitimate and reasonable reasons to continue to stay in China, may apply for visa extension and renewal to the Exit and Entry Administration of the public security organ at the place of stay.
Fourth Step
Foreigners in China need to enter and exit the country multiple times and can apply for re-entry visas.
Foreign nationals in China who need to enter and exit the country multiple times for legitimate and reasonable reasons may apply to the Exit and Entry Administration authorities of public security organs for renewal of multiple-entry valid visas on the basis of the invitation letter and other relevant certification materials.
Fifth Step
The application materials for visa documents for foreign nationals in China will be simplified. When applying for visa documents, foreigners who can query their accommodation registration records, business licenses and other information through information sharing can be exempted from inspection of relevant paper certification materials; Foreigners in China who apply for short-term family visit and reunion visas may invite a declaration of family relationship instead of a proof of family relationship.
Liu Haitao said that as China’s economic development continues to recover and improve, and the level of opening up continues to expand, Chinese and foreign enterprises and personnel have put forward many new demands for deepening immigration management services.
The National Immigration Administration will take the initiative to cooperate with relevant competent departments to continue to deepen the reform of immigration management services and policy and system innovation, and actively serve to promote the construction of a new development pattern.
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