Following the COVID-19 pandemic, China will resume issuing a number of visas to foreigners from March 15, the country’s embassy in Washington said on Monday.
In addition to reviewing and approving new travel documents, visas issued before March 28, 2020, which are still valid, will again allow entry into China, according to an embassy notice translated by Agence-France-Presse (AFP) from Chinese.
The updated policy will also allow visa-free travel to resume for those arriving on cruise ships in Shanghai, as well as for certain travel groups from Hong Kong, Macau and ASEAN countries, the notice said.
While most other countries started reopening to international travel earlier, China only started to phase out its zero-COVID policy in late 2022, after protests against tough restrictions erupted.
