China Resumes Visa Issuance Today: What You Need to Know
China resumes all visa types today, including tourism, and eases entry rules as the country reopens to global travelers after strict COVID-era restrictions.
As of today, March 15, 2023, China has adjusted its entry-visa policy. The Chinese Embassy in France has announced the resumption of all visa categories, including tourist visas, along with streamlined health requirements for travelers entering the country.
These changes come as a welcome relief for tour operators and foreign tourists still reeling from years of international travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. China’s tourism sector was thriving before 2020, with a record 150 million international visitors in 2019 and tourism revenue reaching 5.7 trillion yuan (approximately $917 billion). To compensate during the crisis, China focused on boosting domestic tourism through attractive programs—much like Thailand.
Here’s the full breakdown of the new visa entry policy:
Travelers with existing Chinese visas—including those issued before March 28, 2020—are permitted to enter China.
All visa types, including tourist visas, are now being issued by Chinese embassies and consulates worldwide.
Local Chinese authorities have been authorized to issue port visas for legal purposes.
Visa exemptions have been reinstated for:
Entry to Hainan Island
Cruise ship arrivals at Shanghai ports
Group tours from Hong Kong and Macao visiting Guangdong
Guangxi Province entry for tourist groups from ASEAN countries visiting Guilin.
In addition to visa policy changes, China has eased health entry requirements. Travelers from France must now present either a PCR or antigen test taken within 48 hours of departure.1 Self-administered antigen tests are also accepted, and all results must be registered on a dedicated online platform. These updates aim to simplify and speed up travel planning for French visitors heading to China.
However, travelers must still attend in-person fingerprinting at one of China’s approved visa application centers to obtain a traditional visa. In France, these are currently limited to Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Strasbourg. e-Visas, which do not require in-person visits, are expected to resume soon.
Pre-pandemic bureaucratic barriers had long deterred many would-be travelers. But China lifted its quarantine mandate on January 8, 2023, signaling a clear path toward full reopening.
1 Check for updates as policies may evolve.
