Next Week, Foreigners Can Re-enter And Live In China

Illustrations (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The policy to ban or temporarily suspend foreign nationals from entering China, which took effect since March 28, 2020, has finally been officially revoked.

Foreign nationals holding a residence permit in China for work, personal affairs, and family gatherings are allowed to enter China without having to apply for a new visa.

The policy is effective as of September 28, 2020 at 00.00 local time, according to a joint announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (MFA) and the National Immigration Agency of China (NIA) which was reported by Antara, Saturday, September 26.

On March 28, 2020, the Chinese government issued a policy of canceling residence permits for foreign nationals outside China.

Given the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and its preventive and control measures, the entry ban for foreigners is lifted.

For foreign citizens whose residence permits have expired on March 28, 2020, they are expected to apply for a new visa by showing the expired residence permit to the Chinese embassy or consulate while still fulfilling three destination requirements, namely work, personal needs, or meeting family.

Foreign nationals with the above provisions must strictly comply with the regulations on the prevention and control of COVID-19 established by the Chinese authorities, according to the MFA and NIA.