New regulation for Visa to China Go back »

2008-04-09 | South China

On March 28th, Beijing has announced the end of the multiple-entry visa scheme. It risks major inconvenience to foreigners who travel from Hong Kong to mainland China regularly, especially on business.

On Sunday 6/4, the news hit the media and the South China Morning Post made it its feature story on the first page.

Travel agents in Hong Kong were advised by the Chinese Foreign Ministry Office that multiple visas which were hitherto granted for periods of up to 6 months (or even 3 years for Hong Kong permanent residents) would, from that day onwards, not be granted any more for an indefinite period of time.

Only single or double entry visas would be available from now on to all foreign passport holders (including Hong Kong permanent residents of non Chinese ethnicity as such not entitled to the "three stars" I.D.Card and two way entry permits.).   Foreign passport holders who haven’t renewed their multiple-entry visa have to go through the tedious and costly procedure of single or double entry visa applications.

The European Chamber is taking initiatives to obtain clarifications and if possible a more flexible implementation of those new measures.