Singapore and China have officially endorsed a 30-day mutual visa-free entry for their citizens, marking the formalization of a proposal announced nearly two months ago. The agreement was signed on Thursday (Jan 25) by government representatives from both nations, and it takes effect on Feb 9, coinciding with the eve of Chinese New Year, as reported by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV News.
This bilateral understanding allows Singaporeans and Chinese citizens with ordinary passports to enter each other’s country without a visa for up to 30 days, covering purposes such as business, tourism, visiting friends and family, or other private matters. However, individuals intending to participate in activities requiring prior approval, such as work or news reporting, or planning stays exceeding 30 days, must still obtain the relevant visa before entry.
Notably, the 30-day mutual visa exemption agreement was initially disclosed during the 19th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation meeting, a high-level annual forum between Singapore and China. This meeting was unique as it was co-chaired by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang for the first time.
The implementation of this visa-free arrangement aims to enhance the ease of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Singaporeans with ordinary passports currently enjoy a 15-day visa-free entry into China for purposes such as sightseeing, visiting family, and business, while Chinese citizens presently require a visa to enter Singapore.
China reinstated the 15-day visa-free entry for Singaporeans in July of the previous year, marking the resumption of the arrangement after a more than three-year suspension due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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