Must-Read for International Trade: A Comprehensive Guide to Global Visa Application Procedures!

I. United States
At present, U.S. visas remain among the more difficult to obtain, with a relatively high refusal rate. To increase your chances of approval, applicants should keep the following points in mind when applying for a U.S. visa:

1. If applying for a business visa, please ensure that you use an exhibition invitation letter from a genuine, non-sensitive industry, rather than a personal invitation.

2. If you have previously held a visa for a developed country such as Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, or South Korea, this will help increase your chances of obtaining a U.S. visa. If you do not yet have a visa from one of these countries, we recommend applying for it first before considering a U.S. visa application.

3. Applicants should have a clear understanding of the purpose and itinerary of their trip to the United States, and remain calm and articulate when answering the visa officer’s questions during the interview. This will help the visa officer better grasp your travel intentions and plans.

4. At present, U.S. consulates in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Wuhan, and other cities remain open as usual. However, given the continued tight visa processing times, we recommend beginning your visa application 3 to 6 months before your planned departure. Please note that U.S. visas are not assigned to specific consular districts; you may choose any district when scheduling your appointment.

II. Germany
Applicants should pay particular attention to the following points when applying for a visa: Effective October 12, 2015, the embassy is required to collect applicants’ biometric information, including ten fingerprints and a digital photograph. Applicants applying for the first time, as well as those who have not had their fingerprints collected at a visa application center within the past 59 months, must submit their applications in person at the visa application center. Furthermore, since German visas are assigned to consular districts based on the applicant’s place of residence, cross‑district applications are not permitted; please be sure to visit the visa application center corresponding to your jurisdiction. Given the high demand for visa appointments, applicants are advised to book as early as possible, particularly those planning to attend important events such as German trade fairs. If securing an appointment proves difficult, consider alternative options—such as applying for a visa to another Schengen country—to ensure your travel plans proceed smoothly.

III. France

A Schengen visa must be obtained in accordance with the applicable regulations. All types of short‑term and long‑term visa applications—covering tourism, personal visits, business, employment, study, family visits, and more—are now exempt from restrictions and are once again being accepted. Short‑term visas permit a stay of up to 90 days.

IV. Japan
The Japanese Consulate has resumed processing all types of visa applications as of January 4, 2023, including five-year multiple-entry visas, as well as single- and multiple-entry business visas.

V. Canada

At present, all 11 Canadian visa application centers in China have resumed operations, and applicants may submit their passports to any of these centers. Until further notice, upon receipt of an IRCC letter requesting passport submission, please submit your passport only by mail or courier to the designated center. Unless otherwise notified, individuals—whether in person or through an agent—are not permitted to visit any Canadian visa application center in China to submit their passports.

VI. Australia
Australia issues standard tourist, business, family visit, and student visas. The government plans to extend the period during which eligible international students can hold a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) after graduation.

VII. United Kingdom

The Consulate-General in Shanghai processes all types of visas as usual. Processing times are variable, and applicants must first notify the Visa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following coordination between the Visa Department and the British Embassy and Consulates in China, staff will visit the applicant’s residence to collect fingerprints. The next day after fingerprint collection, the Shanghai office will forward the application materials to the consulate. (Specifically, personnel from the Private Visa Center will be responsible for bringing the necessary equipment to conduct on-site fingerprinting.)

VIII. Italy

A Schengen visa must be obtained in accordance with the applicable regulations. All types of short‑term and long‑term visa applications—covering tourism, personal visits, business, employment, study, family visits, and more—are now exempt from restrictions and are once again being accepted. Short‑term visas permit a stay of up to 90 days.

9. Spain
The Consulate General in Shanghai processes all types of visas as usual, but appointments are required. Short‑stay Schengen visas must be submitted to the Spanish Visa Application Centre; for long‑stay visas, please email cog.shanghai.vis@maec.es to inquire about the required documents and arrange an appointment for submission. Applicants must inform the relevant department of their intended submission time, and staff will accompany them to the consulate to complete the application process. Visa fees must be paid by the applicant; once the visa is issued, the passport will be collected by consulate staff and returned to the applicant.

X. Philippines

Holders of a valid U.S., Japanese, Australian, Canadian, or Schengen visa may enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 21 days.

Visa exemption means that you can apply to enter a country without obtaining a visa at all. A visa on arrival, on the other hand, requires travelers to present the necessary documents upon arrival and complete the visa‑issuance process at the port of entry. To date, more than 90 countries and regions worldwide have granted visa‑exemption or visa‑on‑arrival policies to holders of ordinary Chinese passports.

1. Countries/Regions with mutual visa exemption for ordinary passports:
Asia: United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Thailand, Armenia, Brunei, Maldives, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Singapore

Europe: Bosnia and Herzegovina, San Marino, Serbia, Belarus, Albania

The Americas: Barbados, the Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Ecuador
Oceania: Fiji, Tonga, Antigua and Barbuda, Papua New Guinea

Africa: Mauritius, Seychelles

2. Countries/Regions Offering Visa-Free Entry on a Bilateral Basis:
Asia: Indonesia (partial visa exemption, e.g., Bali), Iran, Uzbekistan

The Americas: Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Haiti, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (a British Overseas Territory), the British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Dominica, Cuba

Oceania: Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, Kiribati, French Polynesia, Tuvalu, the U.S. Northern Mariana Islands (including Saipan), and the British Pitcairn Islands.

Africa: Tunisia, French Réunion (a French overseas department), Morocco, Seychelles, Angola

3. Countries/Regions Offering Visa on Arrival:
Asia: Myanmar, Laos, Jordan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Lebanon, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Bangladesh

Africa: British Saint Helena, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Gabon, Uganda, Comoros, Cape Verde, Malawi, Egypt, Djibouti, Mozambique, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Togo, São Tomé and Príncipe, and others.

Oceania: Palau, Vanuatu, Tuvalu

Americas: Guyana, Saint Helena, Bolivia

At present, all 21 APEC economies have joined the program, namely: China, Hong Kong, China; Chinese Taipei; Japan; the Republic of Korea; Vietnam; Singapore; Malaysia; Thailand; Brunei; Indonesia; the Philippines; Australia; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Mexico; Peru; Chile; the United States; Canada; and the Russian Federation. Among these, personnel exchanges between mainland China, Hong Kong, China, and Chinese Taipei continue to be governed by existing arrangements, and the Travel Card does not apply to them. The United States and Canada are currently transitional members and do not issue Travel Cards to their own citizens.

Cardholders may apply once, with a five-year validity, during which they can enter multiple times to engage in business activities. The maximum length of stay for cardholders varies across economies, typically ranging from 60 to 90 days. Before traveling, cardholders should carefully review the latest policies of the relevant economies to ensure they meet the requirements for entry and stay. All economies have dedicated lanes at their ports of entry and exit, offering cardholders the convenience of expedited clearance. Please note that the eligibility criteria and application procedures for the APEC Business Travel Card may vary across economies; for specific details, please consult the relevant authorities.