China announces to resume issuing various categories of visas for foreigners

After three years of travel ban, China announced that it will resume issuing various categories of visas for foreigners starting on 15th March, latest step in the country’s emergence from strict zero-Covid controls which have weighed on the country’s economic growth. Chinese state TV quoting the Department of Consular Affairs of the Foreign Ministry reported this today.

China cancelled all the visas in March 2020 after COVID-19 pandemic ripped Chinese cities and spread across the globe. The announcement comes as the new Chinese leadership led by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang ushered into a fresh five-year term after concluding the annual parliamentary session on Monday.

 

At his first annual press conference after the closing of the national legislature on Monday, China’s new Premier Li Qiang said achieving China’s target of around 5 per cent GDP growth this year will not be an easy task. Stressing on the importance of economic stability this year, Li said, a slew of policy “combinations” will be introduced for the macro economy, to stimulate demand and



investment.

 

Meanwhile, China’s embassy in the US said in a statement that the country will also resume visa-free entry for several places, including Hainan Island and for cruise ships that stop in Shanghai, and into Guangdong, for people from Hong Kong and Macau. Other Chinese embassies are yet to issue such notifications.

 

China had already done away with quarantine rules for inbound travellers on January 8, a major step toward reopening its borders after nearly three years of restrictions. The world’s second-largest economy abruptly moved away from its zero-Covid policy in December amid unprecedented protests about the severity of the restrictions. Chinese airlines have ramped up to meet demand since the reopening, adding international routes after the government allowed the resumption of overseas group trips.

 

Authorities also loosened Covid test requirements for travellers from a handful of countries including New Zealand, Russia and Malaysia from March. China still requires a negative COVID-19 test result done within 48 hours of travel from the travellers from India.