China aims to promote people-to-people exchanges as well as cross-cultural exchanges. For that, several measures were implemented last year to make it easier for foreigners to work or reside in China. With the annual two sessions coming up, let’s look at some of these efforts.

A recent measure is the National Immigration Administration announcing in January, 2024, five visa measures to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals for business, education and tourism. They include a provision that says eligible foreigners needing to visit China urgently can apply for a port visa on arrival.

From October 9, 2023, the service platform of the National Immigration Administration added more functions. Now foreign visitors can make their appointments and inquiries online. They can also carry out other functions related to visas and other documents online.

According to the National Immigration Authority, a new version of the foreign permanent resident ID was used from December 1, 2023. It will make it easier for the cardholders to conduct their personal affairs online.

Also, China now has a mutual visa exemption agreement with Singapore. Singaporean citizens holding an ordinary passport can enter and stay in China visa-free for up to 30 days, and vice versa. This arrangement took effect on February 9 and a similar arrangement with Thailand starts from March 1, expanding the "visa-free era."

These initiatives underscore China’s dedication to fostering a more inclusive and accessible environment for foreigners, promoting mutual understanding and facilitating international cooperation and development.