When will short-term Visa exemptions resumed for the 3 countries ？

Before the pandemic, China unilaterally granted visa-free entry to Japan, Singapore, and Brunei. 

This meant that citizens of these three countries with Ordinary Passports could enter Chinese mainland for tourism, business, family visits, or transit purposes for up to 15 days without a visa.

But these three countries have No visa exemption policy for Chinese visitors.

This policy was suspended due to the pandemic, now these countries wish to restore visa-free entry, and China proposes the possibility of reciprocal waivers.

China will resume short-term visa exemptions for Japanese visitors based on the principle of reciprocity. 

As officer said “We have repeatedly proposed to our Japanese counterparts that measures taken by the two sides must be mutually beneficial,”&

“Peoples of the two nations will not accept any policy that will not have merits for them.”

China in 2003 exempted visas for Japanese tourists and business people planning on staying in China for up to 15 days. But that policy was suspended in March 2020 following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Singapore hopes that China will restore a pre-pandemic arrangement for their citizens to visit without a visa for up to 15 days, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

The Chinese Embassy in Singapore resumed issuing visas for foreigners to enter China in March, but the visa-free facility remains suspended.

And there have been suggestions for "further mutual visa arrangements" between China and Singapore.

"We are happy to receive any proposals from China. We will study them and we will have our officials discuss further what we can do on this track," he said.

Since March 15, 2023, the Chinese government has made further adjustments to the visa policies(valid visas issued before March 28, 2020 have been resumed to use).

Recently, some applicants asked whether the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the United States can compensate for use suspension of 10-year multi-entry visas past three years (March 28, 2020 to March 14, 2023) due to the COVID-19. 

The arrangements are as follows:

1. U.S. citizens holding multi-year multi-entry visas issued by Chinese authorities abroad before March 28, 2020 under bilateral reciprocity agreements, whose visas temporarily suspended of use between March 28, 2020 and March 14, 2023 due to the COVID-19, may apply for compensation.

However, if a new multi-year multi-entry visa or residence permit has been issued after March 28, 2020, no compensation will be given for the original multi-year multi-entry visa.

2. Applicants may choose whether to apply for compensation after the expiration of their visas. A three-year multi-entry visa can be applied free of charge in compensation.  

If applicants choose to give up the compensation, a new 10-year multi-entry visa can be applied for with normal charge.

3.  Compensated visas shall be applied for in accordance with normal visa procedures and document requirements.

4.The Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the U.S. will no longer accept same category visa applications with 10-year multi-entry visas still valid for more than six months.

Applicants may choose to apply for compensated visas after the expiration of their original ones.

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Sources: China Daily,  Expat Channel