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SINGAPORE: Right here’s some excellent news simply in time for the Lunar New Yr: Singapore and China agreed on visa-free entry for his or her residents on Thursday (Jan 25), reported CCTV, China’s state broadcaster.
The settlement permits residents to enter with out visas for enterprise and trip journeys for so long as 30 days, starting from Feb 9, the eve of Chinese language New Yr. People who want to keep for longer intervals should nonetheless acquire a visa earlier than entry, as do these whose actions require prior approval.
In early December, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong introduced that the settlement was beneath method, noting that flights between Singapore and China at the moment are practically on the degree earlier than the pandemic as relations have progressed.
Learn associated: DPM Lawrence Wong: Singapore-China visa-free journey is underway
At current, Singaporeans might go to China for 15 days with out a visa. Chinese language residents, nonetheless, are required to use for a visa to go to Singapore.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) issued an announcement on Jan 25, saying that individuals who have already submitted an utility for a visa won’t obtain a refund of the visa processing charge. ICA wrote that the reciprocal visa exemption association had been introduced on the nineteenth Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation on Dec 7, 2023, and was subsequently affirmed by way of an trade of diplomatic notes between Singapore and the China.
“Beneath long-standing agreements, holders of diplomatic, public affairs and repair passports issued by the PRC are exempted from visa necessities for a keep of as much as 30 days in Singapore,” ICA added.
Pictures of the settlement signing had been posted on the Fb web page of the Singapore Embassy in Beijing on Jan 25.
“The Singapore Embassy in Beijing is happy to announce that the mutual 30-day visa exemption settlement between Singapore and China will come into impact on 9 February 2024. This may present higher comfort to residents of Singapore and China travelling to one another’s nation for enterprise and leisure.
It should additionally strengthen our people-to-people ties, promote mutual understanding, and produce about higher financial alternatives for Singapore and Singaporeans. Wanting ahead to extra enterprise journey, tourism, and exchanges between our two nations!”
In early December, the Financial Authority of Singapore had mentioned that MAS and the Individuals’s Financial institution of China had been engaged on a pilot programme for travellers from China and Singapore to make use of China’s e-CNY digital forex within the two nations.
“The 30-day mutual visa exemption association between our two nations may even help such progress, which might promote extra personnel exchanges and strengthen the cornerstone of bilateral relations,” mentioned DPM Wong. /TISG
Learn additionally: China pushes for bilateral visa-free settlement with Singapore
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