Chinese Visa Application Policies Go back »

2021-07-20 | All chapters

Chinese Visa Application Policies

[Reviewed on 20th July 2021]

Summary

People with valid residence permit re-entre China:

-          Foreign nationals holding valid residence permits for work, personal matters and reunion no longer need to apply for an entry visa based on MFA’s notice released on 23rd September 2020. Chinese Embassies in Denmark and the UK confirm this explicitly in their 15th March 2021 notice.

外交部:关于允许持三类有效居留许可外国人入境的公告

自2020年9月28日0时起,允许持有效中国工作类、私人事务类和团聚类居留许可的外国人入境,相关人员无需重新申办签证。如外国人持有的上述三类居留许可于2020年3月28日0时后过期,持有人在来华事由不变的情况下,可凭过期居留许可和有关材料向中国驻外使领馆申办相应签证入境。

Apply for new visa for work or business purposes:

-          According to Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China released by multiple Chinese embassies, in the following European countries, PU letter is no longer required for foreigners with Chinese vaccine certificate: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, among others.

-          Content of the Notice include:

1.       Foreign nationals and their family members coming to China for resuming their work in various fields only need to provide the documents required before the COVID-19 pandemic when applying for a visa. The Invitation Letter (PU&TE) or Invitation Verification Notice issued by the foreign affairs offices or the departments of commerce of the provincial (including autonomous regions and municipalities) governments or the headquarters of state-owned enterprises are no longer required.

2.       The scope of applicants eligible for applying for a visa out of emergency humanitarian needs will be expanded. Foreign family members of Chinese citizens or permanent residents of China, including spouse, parents, children and other close relatives living together (referring to siblings, grandparents and grandchildren), may submit visa applications for the purposes of reuniting with family, taking care of the elderly, visiting relatives, attending funerals or visiting critically ill relatives.

3.       Holders of valid APEC business travel cards may apply for the M visa by presenting the original valid APEC business travel card and the invitation letter issued by the inviting party in China.

4.       Note: the above-mentioned visa facilitation applies only to applicants who have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced in China (either having received two doses of Chinese-made vaccines with the stipulated gap in between, or having received a single-dose Chinese-made vaccine at least 14 days prior to the application) and obtained the vaccination certificate. All passengers should still apply for the "Health Code" or "Health Declaration QR-Code" before the flight to China. After entering China, you are requested to comply with the relevant epidemic prevention regulations.

 

Public information on websites of Chinese embassies in European countries

BELGIUM

3/18/2021 关于对已接种中国生产的新冠肺炎疫苗人员赴华提供签证便利问题的说明

Clarification on 'Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China'

3/14/2021 对已接种中国生产的新冠肺炎疫苗人员赴华提供有关便利的通知

Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China

DENMARK

3/15/2021 对已接种中国生产的新冠肺炎疫苗人员赴华提供有关便利的通知

Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China

Except for the three main points in the Notice, it explicitly states “Foreign nationals holding valid residence permits for work, personal matters and reunion no longer need to apply for an entry visa”.

FINLAND

3/15/2021 Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with Covid-19 Vaccines Produced in China

FRANCE

3/17/2021 对接种中国生产的新冠肺炎疫苗人员赴华提供有关便利的通知

Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China

GERMANY

3/15/2021 对接种中国生产的新冠肺炎疫苗人员来华提供有关便利的通知

Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China

GREECE

8/12/2020 Visa Facilitation for Foreign Nationals with Valid Chinese Residence Permits

Those who hold valid residence permits, including work permits, permits for family reunion and permits for personal issues, may apply for visas free of charge at any Chinese Embassy or Consulate in these countries.

IRELAND

3/15/2021 Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China

ITALY

3/15/2021 关于对接种中国生产的新冠肺炎疫苗人员来华提供有关便利的通知

Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China

NETHERLAND

8/11/2020 关于对持有效中国居留许可人员提供签证便利的通知

Those who hold valid residence permits, including work permits, permits for family reunion and permits for personal issues, may apply for visas free of charge at any Chinese Embassy or Consulate in these countries.

PORTUGAL

3/16/2021 对有序接种中国生产的新冠肺炎疫苗人员来华提供签证便利的通知

Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China

RUSSIA

3/17/2021 关于对接种中国生产的新冠肺炎疫苗人员来华提供签证便利的通知

Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China

SPAIN

3/15/2021 关于对接种中国生产的新冠肺炎疫苗人员赴华提供有关便利的通知

Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China

SWEDEN

3/17/2021 Notice on providing facilitation for visa applicants who have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced in China

SWITZERLAND

3/15/2021 对接种中国生产的新冠肺炎疫苗人员来华提供有关便利的通知

Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China

UK

3/15 Notice on Providing Facilitation for Visa Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China

Except for the three main points in the Notice, it explicitly states “Non-Chinese nationals in the U.K. holding valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters and reunion will no longer be affected for entry into China.”

OTHERS

Links to other Chinese embassies websites in the European region: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

Disclaimer: This is based on publicly available information from official Chinese embassy websites. Policies are subject to frequent changes. This document is for informational purpose only and should not be construed as business or legal advice on any specific facts or circumstances. We will not be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information provided.

Related EURObiz articles