China launches online visa application system for US amid drive to boost visitor numbers

China’s diplomatic missions in the United States have launched a new online visa application system as half of its efforts to boost vacationer revenues and people-to-people exchanges.

The course of beforehand required at least two in-person visits: first to submit application supplies and later to present biometric data and submit their passports after initial approval.

But from September 30, the first half may be finished online, the Chinese embassy said on Friday. The second half stays unchanged.

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An identical system will also be launched in Canada on the same date.

The system, which covers all sorts of visas, has already been launched in a number of international locations, including Japan and Spain.

“Easier visas, smoother trips!” Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to the US, wrote on social media on Friday.

The scheme is an element of a wider effort to boost international journey as China appears to be like to revitalise its tourism sector, which suffered a extreme blow during the Covid-19 pandemic.

China now affords visa-free entry to passport holders from 75 international locations and permits visa-free transits for travellers from 55 international locations, including the United States.

In the first eight months of this yr, China noticed virtually 16 million visa-free entries by international nationals, an increase of 52 per cent in contrast with 2024, according to National Immigration Administration figures launched on Thursday.

Citizens of Southeast Asian international locations, who take pleasure in numerous kinds of visa-free journey, accounted for more than 9 million of those journeys.

However, the quantity of inbound travellers remained properly below pre-pandemic ranges, with 26.9 million international arrivals last yr in contrast with 31.9 million in 2019.

Although Americans still require a visa to go to China, the federal government has eased some of the principles they face.

In January last yr, it eliminated the requirement that US guests must present proof of round-trip tickets, resort bookings, their itineraries or invitation letters.

In a additional effort to boost people-to-people exchanges, China announced an initiative in late 2023 to host 50,000 American college students over the next 5 years.

Last yr, 14,000 younger Americans travelled to China for exchanges or examine, according to Xie.

In November last yr, the US downgraded its journey advisory for China from stage three “reconsider travel” to stage two “exercise increased caution” in response to Beijing’s release of three US residents in a prisoner swap.

However, in April, Beijing issued two warnings to its residents about journey to the US, noting a deterioration in relations during the tariff warfare.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is anticipated to maintain a telephone call with his US counterpart Donald Trump later on Friday, amid growing expectations the 2 leaders will meet later this yr at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.

The Post also reported this week that China and the US have been in the “final stages” of arranging a go to by Trump to China after Beijing issued a formal invitation earlier this month.

This article initially appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP tales, please explore the SCMP app or go to the SCMP’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.