China said on Wednesday, September 2023, that it had simplified the visa application process in order to attract more foreign tourists.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, candidates must now indicate their most recent travels rather than their most recent five-year journeys. Furthermore, the educational background necessitates just the greatest level of study.
According to the government, candidates should expect a more streamlined visa application process and will spend much less time filling out the documentation.
According to the statement, the ministry will enhance interpersonal ties between China and other countries in order to support China’s high-quality development and opening up.
During a briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reaffirmed that the new application forms will significantly shorten and simplify the application procedure.
The lengthy visa application process has made it difficult for many people who desire to visit China. Despite domestic tourism rebounding above pre-COVID levels, international travel to and from the country remains much lower.
According to World Travel & Tourism Council Chief Executive Officer Julia Simpson in an interview with Bloomberg News on Tuesday, China’s cross-border travel will not recover to pre-pandemic levels until the end of 2024.
In an interview in Hong Kong, she said:
“For foreign visitors wanting to get a visa to China, what we would say to the Chinese government is they’ve already simplified it, but keep making it simpler, simpler, simpler.”
The country previously declared that it has begun issuing a variety of visas to foreigners, a significant relaxation of travel restrictions in place since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to another source, the United Kingdom (UK) has announced that Nigerians and other individuals, with the exception of British and Irish nationals, who intend to visit the country must apply for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
