In this article we discuss…
In a welcome development, as of January 8, business travellers who are planning a trip to China will no longer have to quarantine when they arrive in the country.
If your organisation is planning to send staff to China for business purposes, there are some essential details you need to know before booking a trip.
Here’s what you need to know about the easing of travel restrictions in China.
At present, it is possible to travel to China for business, work, or education purposes. You can also travel for family-related reasons.
As of 8 January, in order to travel to China, you will need to pursue one of the below avenues:
Other visa categories, such as tourism, are due to become available over the coming months.
No specific date has yet been announced for China to open its borders to tourism. Therefore tourists must wait until the China travel advisory is updated.
For more information on China business and tourist visas, check out our article: Chinese Visas Explained
The Chinese Business Visa also known as an M Visa is ideal for short business trips.
This visa is available for either three, six or 12 months with either one, two or multiple entries available.
Depending on the visa specifications, your employee may be able to stay for 30, 60 or 90 days on every entry.
To obtain a Chinese Business Visa, your employee needs to provide the following documents:
Note: this is not a complete list of the documents required for a Chinese Visa for business travel. More documents may be required based on specific circumstances.
Staff members can now travel to a port of entry in China, typically an airport.
Currently, visitors can only travel to China by air, using direct routes approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
CAAC approved international flights are available from multiple countries around the world.
Some countries currently offering CAAC-approved flights include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Switzerland, Canada and more. Ensure you check the list of CAAC-approved flights at the time you’re planning your trip to China.
When you’re travelling to China, it’s important that employees bring all the documents they need with them to the port of entry so that they can present these at China’s border control.
When travelling to China, ensure employees have the following:
Some other things that can be useful to bring include:
For a China business visa, it depends on what validity was requested or approved by the Embassy. This could be three, six, or 12 months.
It’s not specified by the Embassy, however, it depends on:
For example, if a visa that is valid for three months with a 30 day stay is granted, that means that your employee has three months to make their way to China and then once they enter they can stay for up to 30 days.
As a guidance, the Business Chinese Visa should be applied for no less than a month before the trip.
For business visas, it’s not necessary to book flights before applying for a visa.
However, flight details are important when booking a tourist visa, once this opens up again.
In our experience, the main waiting period arises in booking the initial appointment to submit visa applications, which can take up to two months.
Once that appointment has taken place, visas tend to be available within a week.
You can apply for business visas for your employees directly from the Chinese embassy. However, the process can often be time-consuming and complicated. That’s where Visa First comes in!
We are a team with more than 20 years of experience in processing multiple visas, including Chinese Business Visas.
To apply for China Business Visas for your employees, contact us today!
Are you planning a trip to America and wondering where to visit? There are various amazing USA destinations to consider for your trip, depending on your interests and the type of holiday you want to experience. From busy cities to beautiful landscapes and nature, there’s no doubt America has many options that will appeal to […]
When you think of visiting China, what is the first thing that comes into your head? Maybe it’s the Great Wall? Or perhaps it’s the countless bustling cities like Shanghai or Beijing? For many, it’s simply the endless sources of delicious food!
Comments