China Announces Five New Policies to Ease Foreign Entry

The National Immigration Administration has officially implemented five measures on January 11, aimed at simplifying the process for foreign nationals seeking to visit China. The measures are designed to make business activities, education, and tours in China more accessible for foreign nationals.

国家移民管理局已于1月11日正式实施五项措施，旨在简化外国人来华访问的过程。这些措施的目的是让外国人在中国的商务活动、教育和旅游更加便捷。

The first measure has relaxed conditions for foreign nationals applying for port visas. Any individual seeking to visit China for non-diplomatic, official business activities, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, private affairs, or to visit relatives and unable to obtain a visa beforehand due to time constraints may now apply for a port visa at a port visa authority with an invitation letter and other accompanying documents.

第一项措施放宽了外国人申请口岸签证的条件。任何因时间限制无法提前获得签证而寻求来中国进行非外交、官方商务活动、访问和交流、投资和创业、私人事务或探亲的个人，现在可以在口岸签证机构凭邀请函和其他附带文件申请口岸签证。

The second measure relieves foreign nationals eligible for 24-hour visa-free transit at major hub airports such as Beijing Capital International Airport from the need to undergo inspection procedures. Foreign nationals eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit policy are exempt from border inspection at nine international airports in China: Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, and Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. Individuals with international interline tickets transiting to third countries and regions within 24 hours through any of the aforementioned airports may enjoy visa-free direct transit without border inspection procedures.

第二项措施是，符合条件的外国人在北京首都国际机场等主要枢纽机场进行24小时免签过境时，无需经过检查程序。符合24小时免签过境政策的外国人在中国九大国际机场免于边检：北京首都国际机场、北京大兴国际机场、上海浦东国际机场、杭州萧山国际机场、厦门高崎国际机场、广州白云国际机场、深圳宝安国际机场、成都天府国际机场和西安咸阳国际机场。持有通过上述任意机场在24小时内转机前往第三国和地区的国际联程机票的个人，可享受免签证的直接过境，无需边检程序。

The third measure allows foreign nationals already in China to apply for visa extension, renewal, and reissuance at the nearest public security organs. Individuals in China for short-term non-diplomatic, official business activities, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, private matters, tourism, or to visit relatives with legitimate reasons for extending their stays may now submit applications to the nearest exit-entry administrations of the public security organs located in the places where they stay.

第三项措施允许已在中国境内的外国人在最近的公安机关申请签证延期、续签和重新签发。因短期非外交、官方商务活动、访问交流、投资创业、私人事宜、旅游或探亲，且有合理理由需要延长停留的个人，现在可以在其停留地点所在地的公安机关出入境管理局提交申请。

The fourth measure allows every foreign national already in China to apply for a multiple-entry visa in cases of need. Each foreigner already in China requiring a multiple-entry visa for legitimate reasons may now apply to an exit-entry administration of a public security organ with an invitation letter and other accompanying documents.

第四项措施允许每一位已在中国境内的外国人在需要的情况下申请多次入境签证。任何因合法理由需要多次入境签证的在华外国人，现在可以携带邀请函和其他相关文件，向公安机关的出入境管理局申请。

The fifth one minimizes the types of materials for visa applications for foreign nationals in China. Foreign nationals whose accommodation registration records, business licenses, and other information can be checked through the shared information systems are now exempt from having to present physical certificates when applying for visas. Also, when applying for a visa for short-term family visits or reunions with relatives in China, a declaration of kinship may be used in place of the formal kinship certificate.

第五项举措简化了在华外国人签证申请所需的材料类型。那些住宿登记记录、营业执照和其他信息可以通过共享信息系统查询到的外国人，现在申请签证时免于出示物理证明文件。同时，申请短期家庭探亲或在华团聚签证时，可以使用亲属关系声明代替正式的亲属关系证明书。