The National Immigration Administration (NIA) has officially implemented five measures on January 11, aimed at simplifying the process for foreign nationals seeking to visit China. The measures are designed to make business activities, education, and tours in China more accessible for foreign nationals. The measures will further eliminate hurdles related to doing business, studying, and traveling in China and better serve China's high-level opening up and high-quality development.
The first measure has relaxed conditions for foreign nationals applying for port visas. Any individual seeking to visit China for non-diplomatic, official business activities, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, private affairs, or to visit relatives and unable to obtain a visa beforehand due to time constraints may now apply for a port visa at a port visa authority with an invitation letter and other accompanying documents.
The second measure relieves foreign nationals eligible for 24-hour visa-free transit at major hub airports such as Beijing Capital International Airport from the need to undergo inspection procedures. Foreign nationals eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit policy are exempt from border inspection at nine international airports in China: Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, and Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. Individuals with international interline tickets transiting to third countries and regions within 24 hours through any of the aforementioned airports may enjoy visa-free direct transit without border inspection procedures.
The third measure allows foreign nationals already in China to apply for visa extension, renewal, and reissuance at the nearest public security organs. Individuals in China for short-term non-diplomatic, official business activities, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, private matters, tourism, or to visit relatives with legitimate reasons for extending their stays may now submit applications to the nearest exit-entry administrations of the public security organs located in the places where they stay.
The fourth measure allows every foreign national already in China to apply for a multiple-entry visa in cases of need. Each foreigner already in China requiring a multiple-entry visa for legitimate reasons may now apply to an exit-entry administration of a public security organ with an invitation letter and other accompanying documents.
The fifth one minimizes the types of the materials for visa applications for foreign nationals in China. Foreign nationals whose accommodation registration records, business licenses, and other information can be checked through the shared information systems are now exempt from having to present the physical certificates when applying for visas. Also, when applying for a visa for short-term family visits or reunions with relatives in China, a declaration of kinship may be used in place of the formal kinship certificate.
According to an official from NIA, as China's economic development is experiencing continued recovery and growth, and the country embraces greater openness, new demands have been emerging on the part of domestic and overseas enterprises and individuals, and immigration management services will have to keep pace with the changes. NIA is committed to working with the relevant authorities to address the difficulties foreign nationals may encounter when doing business, studying, and traveling in China, and strengthening the reform of the immigration management services and innovation of policies and systems. Currently, NIA is moving forward with the institutional opening-up, contributing to the establishment of a top-notch business environment, and taking the initiative to serve and support the development of a new pattern of growth.
国家移民管理局从1月11日起正式施行便利外籍人员来华5项措施，进一步打通外籍人员来华经商、学习、旅游的相关堵点，更好地服务保障高水平对外开放，服务促进高质量发展。
一是放宽来华外籍人员申办口岸签证条件。对急需来华从事商贸合作、访问交流、投资创业、探望亲属及处理私人事务等非外交、公务活动的外籍人员，来不及在境外办妥签证的，可凭邀请函件等相关证明材料向口岸签证机关申办口岸签证入境。
二是外籍人员在北京首都机场等枢纽空港口岸24小时直接过境免办查验手续。外籍人员在北京首都、北京大兴、上海浦东、杭州萧山、厦门高崎、广州白云、深圳宝安、成都天府、西安咸阳9个国际机场，推行24小时直接过境旅客免办边检手续。对于持24小时内国际联程机票，经上述任一机场过境前往第三国或地区的出入境旅客，可以免办边检手续，直接免签过境。
三是在华外籍人员可就近办理签证延期换发补发。短期来华从事商贸合作、访问交流、投资创业、探望亲属、观光旅游及处理私人事务等非外交、公务活动的外籍人员，有正当合理事由需继续在华停留的可就近就便向停留地公安机关出入境管理机构申请签证延期换发补发。
四是在华外籍人员需多次出入境可申办再入境签证。在华外籍人员因正当合理事由需多次出入境的，可凭邀请函件等相关证明材料，向公安机关出入境管理机构申请换发多次入境有效签证。
五是简化在华外籍人员签证证件申办材料。外籍人员申办签证证件时，对于通过信息共享可查询到本人住宿登记记录、企业营业执照等信息的，可免予查验相关纸质证明材料；在华外籍人员办理亲属短期探亲团聚类签证的，可以邀请人亲属关系声明替代亲属关系证明。
国家移民管理局相关负责人介绍，随着我国经济发展持续恢复回升向好，对外开放水平不断扩大，中外企业、人员对深化移民管理服务提出了许多新需求。国家移民管理局将主动协同有关主管部门，持续聚焦外国人来华经商、学习、旅游的卡点堵点，持续深化移民管理服务改革和政策制度创新，加快推进制度型开放，积极参与营造一流的营商环境，主动服务促进构建新发展格局。
sources from NIA
