We can see more foreigners enter China as a series of facilitation measures have been successively implemented to ease the border controls. The Chinese embassy in Japan will begin to accept visa applications starting from Sept 1. Besides, foreigners from more countries can apply for Chinese visas now.
China had already introduced measures to give workers from Japanese companies priority to enter. But these applied only to a limited number of businesses.
The Chinese Embassy in Japan announced Saturday that it will begin accepting visa applications from holders of valid residence permits, paving the way for business professionals to return to China.
It is reported that the process will allow the re-entry of Japanese expatriates who have temporarily returned to Japan but been unable to come back to China because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chinese embassies and consulates will start accepting applications Sept. 1. Family members will also be eligible.
People with expired residence permits will need invitations from local governments in China. Nucleic acid testing and 14-day quarantines are expected to be mandatory for those who enter.
According to the notice, applicants meeting the following conditions are allowed to submit visa application at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (Tokyo, Osaka or Nagoya), or the Chinese Consulates Generals in Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Sapporo, or Niigata:
Effective from 0 a.m., 22 August 2020, Japanese national who is holding a valid residence permit for work, private matters or family reunion, and needs to go to China for the same visiting purpose as shown on the Residence Permit.
△ Foreigner’s Residence Permit of China (updated version)
Applicant (including accompanying spouse and children under the age of 18) who does not hold a valid Foreigner’s Residence Permit of China for work, private matters or family reunion, but has an “Invitation Letter (PU/TE)” or “Verification Confirmation of Invitation” issued by the Foreign Affairs Office of the provincial government or the provincial department of commerce of the intended place of visit to visit China for economic, trade, scientific, and other purposes;
Applicant (including accompanying spouse and children under the age of 18) who does not hold a valid Foreigner’s Residence Permit of China for work, private matters or family reunion, but has obtained “Notification Letter of Foreigners Work Permit” as well as “Invitation Letter (PU/TE)” or “Verification Confirmation of Invitation” to work in China;
Applicant who intends to visit China for the following humanitarian reasons:
A. Applicant intending to visit an immediate family member in China (including parents, spouse, children, grandparents, grandchildren) who is in critical medical condition and in need of care, or arrange funeral matters of an immediate family member in China;
In this condition, applicant is required to submit the photocopies of the following documents:
- A medical certificate or death certificate
- Proof of relationships (including birth certificate, marriage certificate, Chinese household registration, certificate letters from the local police bureau in China, notarial certificate of kinship, etc.)
- ID card of the inviter
- An invitation letter from relatives in China (original)
B. Applicant who is spouse or child under the age of 18 of a Chinese citizen intends to visit China for family reunion;
An invitation letter and photocopies of the Chinese Identity Card or the Chinese Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, and proof of relationships.
C. Applicant (including accompanying spouse and children under the age of 18) intending to visit China to take care of or support his/her Chinese parents;
An invitation letter from the Chinese parent and photocopies of his/her Chinese Identity Card, and proof of relationships are required.
Applicant who qualifies for a crew (C) visa.
In addition, China has open visa applications to five more Asian countries as of Monday, including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
△ Screenshot of the notice released by the Chinese Embassy in Thailand
You can check the notice on the official website of the embassies or the visa service center.
If you are from other countries or regions, please feel free to contact HACOS to get the details of current Chinese entry policies and learn more about Chinese visa.
HACOS will keep following the updates on the policies and measures. Stay tuned!
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SOURCE | NIKKEI / Chinese Embassy in Japan
