ALBAWABA - Three years after travel bans, China announced that it will resume issuing various categories of visas to foreigners as of Wednesday.
China To Resume Issuing All Types Of Visas For Foreigners: Report https://t.co/yQEU86TSXv pic.twitter.com/U4KDsSFBK7
— NDTV News feed (@ndtvfeed) March 13, 2023
China revoked issuing visas in March 2020 after COVID-19 pandemic ripped through Chinese cities and spread globally.
The removal of this last cross-border control measure, imposed to guard its population against COVID-19, comes after authorities last month declared victory over the virus deadly virus that killed nearly 7 million people worldwide.
China to resume issuing visas for foreigners starting March 15 https://t.co/ril8p346be pic.twitter.com/aikG8Mvdwq
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 14, 2023
"The decision is made to further facilitate cross-border travel," the state-run news agency Xinhua reported, citing information from the country’s foreign ministry.
Areas in China that required no visas before the pandemic will revert to visa-free entry, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday. This will include the southern tourist island of Hainan, a long-time favorite destination for Russians, as well as cruise ships passing through Shanghai port.
China will reopen its borders to tourists and resume issuing all visas after a three-year halt during the pandemic as it sought to boost its tourism and economy, becoming one of the last major countries to reopen its borders to tourists. https://t.co/CXAe7rXLzP
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 14, 2023
The list, however, still excludes Japan, South Korea, Australia and the United States.
Inbound travelers are advised to consult with their local China embassies or consulates for more detailed requirements and procedures.
China took less than two months to achieve a "smooth transition" in its response to COVID-19 and that the country's strategies and measures had been completely correct, New Premier Li Qiang said on Monday.
