Business travellers to China to benefit from on-arrival visa scheme
People travelling to China for business reasons will now be able to apply for a business visa on arrival, thanks to a new initiative from the Ministry of Public Security (MPS).
In addition, new rules on residence permits will allow applicants to retain their passports during the application procedure.
While there is not yet specific details about the requirements for the on-arrival business entry visa, the relevant departments are looking to finalize the measures and implement the new rules by the end of August, according to an MPS source quoted by the Global Times website.
The new measures allow foreign business people travelling to China at short notice to apply for a business visa on arrival, rather than having to obtain one before traveling.
Those visiting China for business negotiations, business exchanges, installation and maintenance, participation in exhibitions and conferences, and investment and entrepreneurship, who do not have time to apply for a business visa in their home country will be permitted to apply for a port visa upon arrival. They will be required to show a company invitation letter and supporting materials.
In addition, people who need to travel to and from China multiple times for commercial business reasons will be permitted to reissue a valid three-year multiple-entry business visa after entering the country.
The MPS said the initiative will significantly facilitate cross-border people exchange and make it easier for employees of foreign and multinational companies to visit their offices in China.
In general, foreigners traveling to China for trade or business activities are required to apply for an ‘M’ business visa in advance. This involves submitting required materials along with the passport or valid travel document to a Chinese visa service centre in the person’s country of nationality or residence.
In addition, as business visas are generally only single-entry and short-term (generally 30 days), people who need to travel to and from China frequently are required to re-apply for a business visa each time they return, provided they don’t have other visa arrangements.
In addition to the changes to the business visa, the new measures also state that foreigners applying for residence permits in China will now be able to hold on to their passports during the processing of their application.
Converting the entry visa
All foreigners who enter China on a work or study visa and intend to stay in China for work or study long-term are required to convert the entry visa to a residence permit within 30 days of arriving in China by applying at the local public security bureau. This is normally done with assistance from the company, school, or other institution that is enabling the person to live in China.
Previously, applicants would have to hand in their passports to the local public security bureau, which would keep them for the duration of the application (usually around three weeks).
According to the China Briefing website, the Chinese government has been making efforts to attract foreign investment since reopening after the Covid-19 pandemic in late 2022. It said: “Efforts have generally come in the form of creating a more equal playing field for foreign companies in China, focusing on providing more opportunities in areas such as government bidding, better protection of intellectual property rights, and improvements to the overall business environment in China.”
It added: “These latest changes to the business visa requirements can be seen as a more direct mechanism for encouraging business travel to and from China for employees of foreign companies.
“As processing times for business visas can vary, this procedure can hinder people from traveling on short notice, which can be particularly troublesome for people traveling to handle urgent situations or last-minute events and meetings. In addition, facilitating the application of multi-entry business visas will also reduce the administrative burden on companies and make it easier for staff to make frequent and last-minute visits to China.”
