In detail

The specific five measures are as follows:

• Relaxed conditions for granting foreign nationals visas upon arrival: Foreign nationals who urgently need to visit China for non-diplomatic and non-official activities, such as business cooperation, visits for the purpose of exchanging ideas and experience, visits in connection with investment or business start-ups, family visits, tourism or visits to handle private affairs, may apply for a visa to the port visa authorities of their port of entry, it they had no time to obtain a visa outside China. The application will need to be made on the strength of the invitation letter or other such relevant supporting documents.
• Waiver of border inspection procedures at Beijing Capital Airport and eight other hub airports for foreign nationals in direct transit with a layover of not more than 24 hours: Foreign nationals are exempted from border inspection procedures at nine international airports, namely Beijing Capital Airport, Beijing Daxing Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shenzhen Baoan Airport, Chengdu Tianfu Airport, and Xi'an Xianyang Airport if they are direct transit passengers with a layover of not more than 24 hours. Travelers who are transiting through any of the above-mentioned airports and hold a connecting international air ticket for a flight scheduled to depart for a third country within 24 hours are exempted from border control procedures and may transit directly without a visa.
• Foreign nationals in China may apply for extension, replacement, or reissuance of their visa at a nearby immigration office: Foreign nationals who are in China on a short-term visit for non-diplomatic and non-official activities, such as business cooperation, visiting for the purpose of exchanging ideas and experience, visiting in connection with investment or business start-up, visiting relatives or handling private affairs, and who have a legitimate reason to stay longer, may apply for extension, replacement or reissuance of their visa at a nearby public security bureau with an immigration office, as convenient.
• Foreign nationals in China who need to enter multiple times may apply for a reentry visa: Foreign nationals in China who legitimately and reasonably need to enter multiple times may apply to a public security bureau's immigration office for a multiple entry visa on the strength of the invitation letter or other such relevant supporting documents.
• Simpler documentation requirements for foreign nationals in China applying for a visa: When foreign nationals apply for a visa, they no longer need to produce hard copies of evidence such as their personal accommodation records, enterprise business licenses, etc., if those records can be accessed publicly online. When such foreign nationals apply for short-term visas for relatives coming to China for a family visit or family reunion, they may simply declare their kinship with the visitors rather than submit certification of the relationship.

Key takeaways

By introducing these five measures, the National Immigration Administration continues to make it more convenient for foreign nationals to enter and stay in China and attract people from around the world to come to work, study, or live in China.

For more information, please contact jonathan.isaacs@bakermckenzie.com or lily.tian@bakermckenziefenxun.com.

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