What You Need to Know About the Recent Visa Announcement

The web was saturated yesterday with news from Denmark that some foreigners would now be allowed to more easily enter China. However, the statement didn't provide much details, left some questions unanswered, and now, for some reason, people trying to access that original announcement via WeChat are finding that it is inaccessible: 

The original Chinese language link still works, however. Below is a translation from there: 

Notice on providing visa facilities for relevant foreigners holding valid residence permits in China

2020/08/10

　　In view of the rapid spread of the new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic around the world, the Chinese government temporarily suspended foreigners with valid visas and residence permits from entering China effective March 28, but at the same time continued to provide visa facilities to foreigners engaged in necessary economic, trade, scientific and technological activities, or those with emergency or humanitarian needs so they may enter.

　　In the context of the normalization of the prevention and control of the new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, in order to further facilitate personnel exchanges, China has decided that foreigners from European countries (see the list below) holding relevant Chinese residence permits (work, personal affairs, group residence permits), can apply for a visa to China for free from any Chinese embassy or consulate in these countries. Relevant personnel must abide by China's local government anti-epidemic management regulations after entry.                                                                                                                     Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of Denmark                                                                                                                  August 10, 2020

List of applicable European countries:

Albania, Ireland, Estonia, Austria, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Belgium, Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Denmark, Germany, France, Finland, Netherlands, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, United Kingdom

So what exactly does this mean? Can you just come back now with your current visa if your country is on the list? What if the visa you're holding recently expired while you have been stuck outside of China? And what about those from other countries not in the list?

Firstly, the main change with this recent announcement is that citizens of those countries listed, still holding a valid residence permit, no longer need the PU letter (Invitation Letter) from the foreign affairs bureau in the city where they reside in China in order to apply for a visa to enter China. This simplifies the overall process for those individuals. They still need to apply for a visa; however, and cannot simply come back with their existing visas.

In a press conference held yesterday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian confirmed that those needing visa renewal can get them for free from Chinese embassies and consulates.

"those who hold valid visa or residence permit but need visa renewal, Chinese embassies and consulates will provide them visa service for free. "

For citizens of countries not in the list of those now allowed to more easily enter China, hope is not lost. It is still possible to return to China... in some circumstances. It just requires a bit more work. For those seeking to return to Shenzhen, for example, you can find the "Guidelines for applying for invitation letters for foreigners to China during the Shenzhen epidemic prevention and control period" from the Municipal Committee of the Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office here: http://fao.sz.gov.cn/ydmh/xxgk/zyxw/202006/t20200615_19255818.htm

But wait! Getting permission to enter is just one step. Even those that are lucky enough to have be given a visa to enter, are finding it difficult to get flights back. Fortunately, OneTube regularly publishes a list of flights coming into and out of China. Hopefully this list below of foreign airlines/flights in August and September will help.

Sources:

• 关于为持中国有效居留许可的相关外国人提供签证便利的通知 http://dk.chineseembassy.org/chn/lsfw/t1805270.htm
  

• Visa Facilitation for Some Foreign Nationals with Valid Chinese Residence Permits https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/cedk/eng/cs/t1805331.htm

• Guidelines for applying for invitation letters for foreigners to China during the Shenzhen epidemic prevention and control period: http://fao.sz.gov.cn/ydmh/xxgk/zyxw/202006/t20200615_19255818.htm

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