FAQ4 How could I get a new visa during the entry ban？

FAQ4

How could I get a new visa from the Embassy during the entry ban?

It has been more than two months since the entry ban came into effective, and some foreign expats have entered China successfully with new visa during the restriction period. What we have known are the technical personnel from Korea and the executives from Germany as well as their accompanying family. Their successful entry benefits from the “Fast Track” between the two countries, but how about those from other countries without “Fast Track”? How could they come to China during the restriction period? How could they gain a visa from the local Chinese Embassy/Consular?

3月26日国家移民局颁布的外国人入境限制政策目前已执行二个多月了，陆续有一些外籍人员在28号后取得了新的入境签证，并顺利返回中国。我们知道其中大批的韩国技术人员和德国企业高管及家属返华是受益于两国间的“快捷通道”，那么其他国家的外籍人员在禁令期间又能通过什么渠道来中国呢？他们怎样才能从境外的中国使、领馆获得新的入境签证呢？

So far as we know, no matter entering China by normal ways or by the “Fast Track”, foreign expats should first apply for an invitation letter from relevant Chinese government (normally the Foreign Affairs Office of the Municipal / Provincial People’s Government), and then applying a new visa from local Chinese Embassy / Consular with the invitation letter.

据我们了解，目前无论是通过普通方式还是通过“快捷通道” 方式入境，外籍人员在入境前都需要凭中国境内政府机关（一般为各省市外办）签发的邀请函到境外的中国使、领馆申请新的入境签证。

A sample of PU invitation letter

一、   办理《邀请函》的条件和流程

Requirements and Procedures for Applying an Invitation Letter

1、上述邀请函应为中国政府机关签发的邀请函，右上角有统一编码，而不是像以前一样由中国境内的邀请公司出具。

The above invitation letter should be issued by the Chinese Government with unified coding at the top right corner. The invitation letter issued by a Chinese company like before would not be accepted now.

2、上述邀请函不能以个人名义申请，必须是以聘用单位或接待单位为主体向中国当地主管部门申请。

The above invitation letter can only be applied from the local authority by the employer or the reception unit, but not be applied in the name of an individual.

3、外国人需要满足以下条件之一才有可能申请到《邀请函》。

The foreign expats who meet at least one of the below requirements may have the opportunity to apply for the invitation letter.

a.服务于中国国家级及市级重大活动项目；

Serving major national and municipal level projects in China;

b. 服务于市、区国际合作的重点工程、科研项目；

Serving key projects and scientific research programs of international cooperation in cities and regions;

c. 属于我国相关部门评定的外国高端人才；

Foreign high-end talents assessed by relevant departments in China;

d.属于当地重要外资企业的核心管理人员和专家。

Core Managers and experts from the local important foreign-funded enterprises.

因为各地主管的要求不同，具体情况请提前向企业所在地的主管部门进行咨询。但基本原则应是该外籍人员要对该地区的重大项目或重点企业具有“决定性”、“紧急性”和“不可替代性”。

Due to the different requirements of the local authorities, please consult to the authority where the enterprise registered for detail instruction before applying the invitation letter. But the basic requirement should be that the foreign expats plays a role of decisive, urgent and irreplaceable in the local major projects or key enterprises.

4、中国邀请单位可以向哪些主管部门提出申请？

From which authorities the Chinese inviting unit could apply for the invitation letter?

邀请单位可以向企业注册地所属的商务局（或商务委员会）、外事办公室、投资促进局（或外商投资处）、发改委，或企业经营行业所属的政府主管部门提出申请，具体申请材料按各地主管部门要求进行准备。

The inviting unit could submit the application to the local Commerce Bureau (or Commission of Commerce), Foreign Affairs Office, Investment Promotion Bureau (or the Foreign Investment Department), Development and Reform Commission, where the enterprise registered, or apply from the competent industry supervisor which the enterprise’s business belongs to. All application materials should be prepared according to the details requested by the local authority.

另外，据我们了解，目前各国的中国商会组织也在为其成员与中国相关主管部门进行沟通协调。在华的外资企业也可以向他们寻求帮助。
In addition, as far as we know, Chambers of Commerce from various countries in China are also communicating and coordinating with relevant Chinese authorities for their members now. Foreign-funded enterprises in China could also ask them for help.

5、主管部门收到材料后，会根据企业的实际情况进行初步审核，如符合要求，会进一步向上一级主管机构报批。审批通过后，企业可凭主管部门签发的邀请函申报表到省市外事办公室申请最终的邀请函，这个审批流程大概需要2到3周。

After receiving the application materials, the authority would make a preliminary review and approval. Then the approved application would be submitted to the superior authority for final approval. After that, the enterprise can go to the Foreign Affairs Office of the Provincial/Municipal Government with the Application Form of Invitation Letter issued by the authority, to apply for the final invitation letter. It would take around 2~3 weeks to pass through all the above procedures.

6、省市外事办公室签发邀请函的同时，会抄送外交部和中国驻国外的使领馆。外籍个人持邀请函和所需的其他材料到当地的中国使、领馆申办签证，使、领馆会根据邀请函上的来华事由签发相应类型的一次性来华签证。

When the Foreign Affairs Office of the Provincial/Municipal Government issuing an invitation letter, it will also send a copy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese Embassy/Consular where the visa will apply from. And then the foreign expat can bring the Invitation Letter and other required documents to the Local Chinese Embassy/Consular to apply his visa. The Chinese Embassy/Consular will issue a new single-entry visa according to the inviting purpose stated on the Invitation Letter. 

二、“快捷通道”的政策与便利

Policies and Convenience of the “Fast Track”

1、什么是“快捷通道”？

What is the “Fast Track”？

中外“快捷通道”的主要目的是为各方重要的商务、物流、生产和技术服务的急需人员提供便利，以维护和发展两国经贸合作，保持两国之间产业链和供应链的稳定畅通。

The “Fast Track” between China and a Foreign Country were built with the purpose of providing convenience to both countries’ important exchanges of business, logistic, production and technical service, to maintain and develop both countries economic and trade cooperation, as well as make the production chain and supplying chain stable and smooth.

2、到目前为止，已有哪些国家和中国开通了“快捷通道”？

So far, how many countries have built the “Fast Track” with China?

除我们FAQ3提到的韩国、德国外，自6月8日起中国和新加坡为有需要的商务和公务人员，开通往返新加坡以及上海、天津、重庆、江苏、浙江和广东六省市之间的“快捷通道”。

Besides Korea and Germany that we mentioned in our Article FAQ3, Singapore has been another country built the “Fast Track” with China. In order to facilitate the important business and official exchanges between Singapore and China, since Jun.8, the two countries established a “Fast Track”, which would connect Singapore and six provinces and cities, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin and Zhejiang, in China.

另据媒体5月27日的报道，我国民航局下发的最新通知显示，包括日本、韩国、新加坡、英国、德国、法国、意大利、瑞士在内的8个国家可从即日起申请开通“中外快捷通道”。这8个国家可由省级人民政府向民航局提出协请安排复产复工客运包机的申请。

Furthermore, it was reported on May 27, Chinese Civil Aviation Administration released a notice shown that there are 8 countries, including Japan, Korea, Singapore, UK, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland, could apply for opening “Fast Track” with China from the publishing date on. The Provincial Government can help these 8 countries apply for the arrangement of charter flight from Civil Aviation Administration to take their foreign expats back to China.

3、“快捷通道”会有哪些便利呢？

What are the advantages of the “Fast Track”?

a. 可在现有航班额度的基础上向民航局提出运送复工复产人员客运包机的申请，获得快速审批;

With the “Fast Track”, the Civil Aviation Administration can provide quick approval for a charter flight based on the current flight amount to send foreign expats back to China for their work;

b.可以加快审批时间取得邀请函;

They can receive the Invitation Letter for visa more quickly;

c. 外籍人抵达开通”快捷通道“的省市后，经离境前健康监测和入境后检疫检测合格后可以缩短隔离时间。

Once the foreign expats arrive in the province or city where the “Fast Track” is available, their quarantine period could be shortened by their qualified Health Test and Examination both before and after their entry.

With the improvement of epidemic prevention and control, China would continue to build “Fast Track” in more provinces and cities. Please keep following our Office Account for latest policy.

随着疫情的好转，中国将会陆续扩大快捷通道的省市范围。请您持续关注我们的我们的公众号，以便了解最新的政策。

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