SHANGHAI - In a pioneering step towards modernizing China's visa procedures, the city of Shanghai has issued the nation's first electronic visa (e-visa), marking a significant advancement in the adoption of digital travel documentation.
On Friday afternoon, a Singaporean national surnamed Chung landed at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, becoming the first recipient of China's new e-visa system. Upon arrival, Chung underwent routine border checks by immigration authorities and proceeded through customs, officially entering the country using the innovative digital visa format.
Commenting on his experience, Chung expressed satisfaction with the convenience of the e-visa application process and the elimination of the need for physical visa renewal.
The e-visa represents a digital transformation of the conventional paper visa, where visa details are securely stored electronically and delivered to applicants in digital form, negating the requirement to affix a paper visa onto the passport. Travelers can present their passport alongside the electronic visa for border entry and duration of stay.
In a bid to streamline visa operations and enhance customer service, the National Immigration Administration opted to trial e-visa issuance within the Lingang Special Area of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone. The Shanghai Public Security Bureau is now issuing various categories of e-visas, including visitor, business, talent, work, and personal affairs visas, as confirmed by Ye Wei, a visa official from the bureau.
An e-visa allows for a single entry with a 15-day validity for entry and a maximum stay of 30 days. Holders of e-visas can enter China through any open port in Shanghai and depart from any open port across the country.
This initiative not only simplifies the visa application process but also reflects China's commitment to leveraging technology to improve administrative efficiency and ease of travel for international visitors.
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