China Eases 110+ Countries Ban on Entry
14 Minute Read
• Chinese embassies in at least 110 countries and territories have begun offering facilitation to visa applicants who have been inoculated with China-produced COVID-19 vaccines (full list below).
• Those coming to China for work, their family members and foreign family members of Chinese citizens or permanent residents who come to China for reunions and visiting are included.
• Unfortunately, this announcement still brings little relief for them as Chinese-made vaccines are not readily available in most countries. Very few foreigner will be able to return at the moment. It is however a positive sign, in the right direction.
• Travelers still need to follow local quarantine rules at their destinations in China. Meaning that even if you have been inoculated with a Chinese vaccine, strict quarantine, paid by yourself is mandatory.
List of countries and regions
The Chinese Embassy in the following countries or territories have also issued similar notices as of press time (per continent, in alphabetical order):
Below this article a list with the original sources.
Positive sign but still limited
What do the notices say?
Foreign family members of Chinese citizens or permanent residents who go to China for emergency humanitarian needs, including spouses, parents, children and other close relatives, if the reason for visiting China is a family reunion, visiting relatives, funeral or caring for critically ill patients, can apply for visas once their vaccination certificates are obtained. Foreign nationals with APEC Business Travel Cards can also resume visa applications with invitation letters, read the statement.
When applying for a visa, foreign nationals and their family members visiting China for resuming work and production in various fields will only need to provide:
The documents required before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following documents are no longer required:
The Invitation Letter (PU);
The Invitation Letter (TE); or
The 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.
Visa application out of emergency humanitarian needs
For those applying for a visa out of emergency humanitarian needs, the scope of eligible applicants will be expanded as appropriate.
The eligible applicants include: 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).
The purpose of the visit to China can be:
Reuniting with family;
Taking care of the elderly;
Visiting relatives;
Attending funerals; or
Visiting critically ill relatives.
Visa application by APEC business travel card holders
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.
To be noted, 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 time gap in between or having received a single-dose of the 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.
Important reminders
The Chinese embassies stressed that people visiting China for business purposes no longer need PU invitation letters provided by provincial-level foreign affairs or commerce departments, or by central state-owned enterprises. They also noted in the statement that COVID-19 nucleic acid tests and serology IgM antibody tests taken within 48 hours are still required upon arrival.
Travelers still need to follow local quarantine rules at their destinations in China. Meaning that even if you have been inoculated with a Chinese vaccine, strict quarantine, paid by yourself is mandatory.
COVID vaccines mutual recognition programs
The mutual recognition program with countries that have used Chinese vaccines, is a step in the right direction. At last, people inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced by foreign manufactures would also be included. But to reach such mutual recognition, a pre-certification issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) would be needed to make different countries trust each others' vaccines.
Chinese experts have advised the WHO to take the lead in coordinating a vaccine mutual recognition platform globally, which can serve as a basis for travel document application and potential quarantine exemptions. But practical and ethical concerns remain challenging.
The Global Times learned from Sinovac Biotech that it is possible the WHO would approve the company's COVID-19 vaccine by the end of March. The WHO's participation will also help coordinate the issue at a larger scale.
Chinese vaccines distribution
More than 60 countries have authorized the use of Chinese vaccines. China has donated or is donating COVID-19 vaccines to 69 developing countries in urgent need and is exporting vaccines to 43 countries, according to Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on March 7.
Below the current list of countries that are inoculating (part of) their populations with Chinese COVID-19 vaccines:
Image: CGTN.
China starts vaccinating foreigners
China started offering domestic Covid vaccine to diplomats, journalists, Chinese company employees, and several groups of foreign students and teachers.
Our reporters have also learnt first hand from foreign pilots in China, that they have received the jab - along with university professors and people working in cities' Software Parks. It is important to note, that these vaccinations are through people's employers.
For more complete information, click here.
Sources: Global Times, China Daily, Embassy websites of the People's Republic of China.
Micronesia: http://fm.china-embassy.org/chn/xwdt/t1860953.htm
We are monitoring the situation closely, and will inform you as soon as we have more information.
Lets us know your questions in the comment section.
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