In-Depth: Interpret the Latest Immigration Policy, 0+0 and MORE

In-Depth: Interpretation of the Latest Immigration Policy, 0+0 and MORE

On December 26th, the National Health Commission announced the latest COVID-19 policy changes, which will take effect from Jan. 8th.

Congratulations! Finally no more quarantine for inbound passengers. New questions are emerging at the same time: Is proof of vaccination required when entering China? Is the PRC travel visa recovered? Does this policy mean that I can...? ... In this article, the AnyHelper team will interpret the underlying meaning of the latest immigration policies.

01

  Q&A 

Is proof of vaccination required when entering China?

No. Only a negative nucleic acid test result for COVID-19 obtained within 48 hours before boarding will be required to present. There is no need to apply for health codes with Chinese embassies or consulates.

02

  Q&A

Is the PRC travel visa resumed? How about student visa and family reunion visa?

For the tourist visa, currently there is no clear official statement. It needs to be confirmed with the local Chinese consulate. Student visa and family reunion visa are all resumed. Previously, the student visa and the family reunion visa were suspended for some countries, but now they are open to all.

If you have any questions about the visa application, please add our consultant for more details.

03

  Q&A 

What does "expedited procedures" mean?

Second, resume the acceptance and examination of foreigners' applications for the extension, renewal and re-issuance of ordinary visa, the issuance, renewal and re-issuance of stay permit, and the issuance, extension, renewal and re-issuance of residence permit. In case of urgent needs expedited procedures may be applied for.

For example, when applying for a new residence permit, you can apply for an expedited procedure on reasonable grounds, i.e., you need to attend an important meeting oversea, and you can provide proof such as air tickets. The process can be then shortened from 7 working days to about 4 working days. 

04

Q&A

Do I need to apply for a visa if I come from a visa-free country?

No. The visa exemption had been temporarily cancelled since March 28, 2020, but now they are all resumed. People from visa-free countries can come to China directly without applying for a visa in advance. The 24/72/144-hour visa-free transit policy is also resumed.

List of visa-free countries and the number of days allowed to stay:

15 days - 

Citizens of Singapore, Brunei and Japan holding ordinary passports who come to the mainland for tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends or transiting for less than 15 days can be exempted from visa when entering China through ports open to foreigners.

30 days-

UAE, Barbados, Bahamas, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, Fiji, Grenada, Qatar, Mauritius, Serbia, Seychelles, San Marino, Tonga, Armenia

After entering China without a visa with the relevant passport, the holder is generally only allowed to stay for no more than 30 days. If the holder needs to stay for more than 30 days, he/she should apply for residence procedures according to local requirements as soon as possible.

05

Q&A

As mentioned: "Resume the issuance of port visa..." What is port visa?

The port visa can be used to replace the business visa. For example, if you are coming from France to Shanghai for business reasons, the relevant company in Shanghai can apply for a port visa for you via Shanghai Pudong Airport. A port visa is generally valid for 30 days.

For more details about applying for a port visa, please contact our customer service, Maggie.

06

Q&A

 When will the '0+0' policy take effect?

Jan 8th, 2023. The National Health Commission announced that starting Jan 8, China will downgrade the management of the disease from Category A to Category B in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Disease. It has also renamed the term "novel coronavirus pneumonia" to "novel coronavirus infection".

If the inbound passengers enter PRC earlier than Jan 8th, the quarantine policy will depend on the cities' local regulations, and the policy of '5+3' probably still be applied. It is recommended to schedule a flight to PRC later than Jan 8th.

Check the full text of the original document:

Source: National Immigration Administration of China

Do you plan to come (back) to China?  Vote or leave a comment to tell us!

If you have any questions about China visa applications(work visa, PU letter, company registration and more), please contact our visa consultant Maggie (WeChat ID: AnyHelper_K).

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