BREAKING NEWS: Some Vaccinated Foreigners Can Now Enter China

In yet another sign that life for foreigners in China may be returning to normal soon, the Chinese embassy in Hong Kong issued a notice yesterday stating that foreigners there who have been vaccinated with the Chinese COVID vaccine can start returning to China from March 15th.
Additionally, other recent announcements have been made suggesting even more changes coming. See below for more details as well as information regarding how/when/if you can take advantage of the changes.

Screenshot: http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/fwxx/wgrqz/t1860509.htm

Although, as of 10am Saturday, March 13th, Beijing Time, this apparently only applies to those meeting the criteria in Hong Kong, the opening line of the statement gives us great hope that this or similar rules will soon apply to foreign nationals in other countries as well: "In view of resuming people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries in an orderly manner..."

Full text of the announcement:

Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China

2021/03/12

In view of resuming people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries in an orderly manner, starting from 15 March 2021, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR will provide the following facilitation for visa applicants who have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced in China and obtained the vaccination certificate:

1. Foreign nationals and their family members visiting the mainland of China for resuming work and production in various fields need only to provide the documents required before the COVID-19 pandemic when applying for a visa. The Invitation Letter (PU), Invitation Letter (TE) or Invitation Verification Notice issued by the foreign affairs offices or the departments of commerce of the provincial (including autonomous regions and municipalities) governments or the headquarters of central state-owned enterprises are no longer required.

2. The scope of applicants eligible for applying for a visa out of emergency humanitarian needs will be expanded as appropriate. Foreign family members of Chinese citizens or permanent residents of China, including spouse, parents, children and other close relatives living together (referring to siblings, grandparents and grandchildren), may submit visa applications for the purposes of reuniting with family, taking care of the elderly, visiting relatives, attending funerals or visiting critically ill relatives.

3. Holders of valid APEC business travel cards may apply for the M visa by presenting the original valid APEC business travel card and the invitation letter issued by the inviting party in the mainland of China.

Please be noted that the above-mentioned visa facilitation applies only to applicants who have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced in China (either having received two doses of Chinese-made vaccines with the stipulated gap in between, or having received a single-dose Chinese-made vaccine at least 14 days prior to the application) and obtained the vaccination certificate. A proof of a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result and the Health and Travel Record Declaration Form for Visa Application are no longer required.

Other applicants should still follow the visa procedure as stated in the Notice on Updated Requirements for Chinese Visa Application During Covid-19 Pandemic issued on 9 February 2021, and 26 Q&As about Applying for Chinese Visa in Hong Kong SAR During the COVID-19 Pandemic posted on the official website of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR.

Source: http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/fwxx/wgrqz/t1860509.htm

Additionally, the Chinese embassy in the UK announced on the same day a partial resumption in visa service from the 16th of this month.

Screenshot: http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/visa/notice/t1860660.htm

The website of the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in London, however, doesn't seem to have yet changed the previously existing conditions for UK citizens to receive a visa from back in November of 2020.

Screenshot: https://bio.visaforchina.org/LON2_EN/generalinformation/news/283427.shtml

The specific categories of visa applications accepted in the UK as of 10am Saturday, March 13th, Beijing Time, are shown here:

Screenshot: http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/visa/notice/t1835618.htm

All the above, along with the recent announcement of China's new International Travel Health Certificate are a clear sign that China is working hard to resume the normalization of travel in and out of the country. Things are changing fast though, so for the latest about travel requirements to China from your country, visit your respective Chinese Embassy's website.

How can I get the China Vaccine?

This news will surely lead many to ask how they can get the China vaccine. China began vaccinating its citizens in December of 2020; however, unfortunately for us foreigners in China, most of us are still ineligable to receive it, barring special circumstances. Note: Vaccination policies seem to vary from region to region. Here is a translation of the latest policy in Shenzhen:

Shenzhen Novel Coronavisus Vaccine Appointment Update Dated December 30, 2020

On December 28, 2020, Shenzhen officially launched a new crown vaccine for people who work and study abroad for business reasons.

The Health and Wellness Commission issued an emergency alert

Shenzhen Health Committee urgent reminder, this time to provide individuals with an appointment of the novel coronavirus vaccine, for the subjects have the following requirements -

1. Age: 18 years old≤ 59 ≤ 59 years (under 60 years of age)

2. When inoculation, be sure to bring the following materials-

Shenzhen resident ID card (or Shenzhen residence permit, shenzhen area of the university to study a valid student card)

Proof of recent study abroad, work abroad, or study abroad

3. Foreigners, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan nationals in the Shenzhen area (including those holding Shenzhen residence permits) are not part of the current round of vaccination.

Mainly for 9 categories of high-risk personnel:

According to the unified deployment of the state and province, Shenzhen's first batch of novel coronavirus vaccine is mainly aimed at 9 categories of high-risk personnel -

1, import cold chain logistics related personnel

2, isolation site staff

3, immigration personnel closed-loop management practitioners

4, customs border control personnel

5. Cross-boundary drivers and connecting drivers from the Mainland

6, medical and health personnel

7, grass-roots epidemic prevention personnel

8, public transport practitioners

9, for business reasons to go abroad to work and study personnel

Source: 深圳本地宝

For the latest in getting a vaccine in Guangdong province, search for WeChat mini-program "社康通 " (note: you'll need help from a Chinese friend if you can't read Chinese). Each province is likely to have similar mini-programs that those of you outside of Guangdong can search for to find more information.

If you're in Hong Kong and would like to get vaccinated there, visit their covid vaccine website at https://www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/faq or for enquiries, call hotline at [phone]. Note, according to the online booking system for the vaccine (qr code below), only those with a valid Hong Kong ID will be able to book an appointment here: https://booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk/forms/index.jsp

If you're outside of China and in one of the 69 developing countries that China has so generously provided their vaccines to free-of-charge, or in any of the 43 other countries that China has supplied the vaccine to*, then you may be in luck. 

Source: 美媒：中国疫苗成发展中国家抗疫解决方案 Feb 20, 2021

Keep in mind though that yesterday's announcement specifically pointed out that only those vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine produced in China and those with a valid vaccination certificate will be allowed to enjoy these visa facilitation steps so be sure to choose your vaccine wisely when given the option and keep your paperwork.

Can You Enter China Without Needing to Quarantine?

This specific announcement makes no mention of any changes in policy regarding the need to quarantine upon arrival; however, the recent announcement regarding China's new International Travel Health Certificate did state that those with the valid health certificate would not need to.

Is the China Vaccine Safe?

If you have questions about the China vaccines, you can find answers to frequently asked questions in this article published by China Daily back in January of this year: 

Sources:

• Notice on Visa Facilitation for Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/fwxx/wgrqz/t1860509.htm

• Notice on Resumption of Services of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in London http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/visa/notice/t1860660.htm

• HK COVID-19 FAQs https://www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/faq 

• COVID-19 Vaccination Programme - Booking System https://booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk/forms/index.jsp

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