Getting Back to China - Here is What We Know
Last week we surveyed our members and know of at least 50 Australian nationals who are normally residents in China and are looking to return and resume operations in a variety of sectors including manufacturing, education, financial and professional services, and food and beverage. Many of our member business operations are impacted by having senior employees outside of China.
In welcome news some foreign nationals have been admitted to return to China to resume work. We are working with the Australian Consulate-General Shanghai and Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government (Shanghai FAO) to better understand the process and see if there is a potential pathway for the controlled return of Australian Nationals to Shanghai.
In the meantime, our best advice remains:
- The Shanghai Government only supports applications of temporary entry visas for key personnel in key municipal projects or companies that are of special importance to China’s economic and trade development.
- The first step for companies wanting to apply for temporary visas for key expat personnel is to contact the local district commerce bureau or local foreign affairs office in some districts. Large companies with operations across multiple districts in Shanghai can contact the Shanghai Commission of Commerce or the Shanghai Commission of Science and Technology (for science and technology companies).
- If the application is endorsed by the local district, it then goes to the Shanghai FAO, which is responsible for verifying their qualifications and issuing the final invitation letter.
- The invitation letter issued by the Shanghai FAO can then be used as a supporting document in applying for the visa through the relevant Chinese embassy/consulate overseas.
- The purpose of the current temporary entry visa is to get the projects/companies back to normal operations, and only for a short stay in China. Once the visa expires, the holders need to apply for another visa or leave China. Visa extensions are a question for the Public Security Bureau (PSB), not the Shanghai FAO.
- This visa category is open to key expat personnel and their family members. However, when applying, applicants should bear in mind it is only a temporary visa for a short period. When it expires, the family members and the applicants may need to leave China if the current travel ban is not lifted by that time.
We will continue to work with the governments and gain first-hand information for our members.
