China resumes issuing tourist visas to foreign nationals from March 15, the consular service of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
“Chinese consulates abroad will resume issuing all categories of visas to foreigners starting Wednesday, March 15. The decision was made to further facilitate border crossings,” said a message posted Tuesday on WeChat.
In addition to resuming new visas, entry will be allowed for visas issued before March 28, 2020, that have not expired.
“The new visa policy will also allow the resumption of visa-free travel for tourists to Hainan Island, passengers arriving on cruise ships to Shanghai, and tourist groups from Hong Kong, Macau and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries to the country’s southern regions,” the statement said.
On the sites of Chinese embassies of some countries, including the U.S. and France, there were reports on the resumption of visas for foreign nationals.
China lifted entry and exit restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic as of Feb. 6.
China welcomed 65.7 million foreign tourists in 2019.
The Georgian government has allowed Ukrainian citizens to enter and stay on its territory for two years without having to apply for a visa.
The corresponding decree was published on the official website of the Legislative Herald of Georgia.
Document No. 81, adopted on February 24, 2023, amends the Georgian government’s resolution of June 5, 2015 “On approving the list of countries whose citizens can enter Georgia without a visa.”
According to the amendments, from now on citizens of Ukraine have the right to enter Georgia without a visa and stay in Georgia for a full two years.
The document was signed by the Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. It enters into force from the day of its promulgation.
International payment system Visa became a resident of the special legal and tax regime “Dia City”.
“Diya City” residency will allow the company to enjoy the best legal and tax conditions in Europe. It will also deepen cooperation with the Ukrainian IT sector and accelerate the development of the cashless economy of Ukraine,” wrote Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mikhail Fedorovv in his Telegram channel.
He noted that the company’s Ukrainian office has about 140 employees responsible for the development of payment technologies in 17 countries.
“The Kiev office of Visa is a sub-regional hub whose team is responsible for the support and development of business in 17 countries. Ukraine has always been and is our priority. As well as a reference point for many other markets, even from other subregions, given the technological, innovative and rapid dynamics of the banking sector, e-commerce, IT-industry, cashless payments and digital infrastructure in our country,” Denis Kazvan, head of corporate communications at Visa, commented on his Facebook page when Visa joined “Dia City”.
He noted that in times of war, digitalization and innovation only accelerate in fruitful work with banks, businesses, fintech and the government.
The EU decision to suspend the facilitated visa agreement with Russia has taken effect and will be applied from September 12, the Official Journal of the European Union said.
“The application of the Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on the facilitation of the issuance of visas to the citizens of the European Union and the Russian Federation is suspended in whole as regards citizens of the Russian Federation, as from 12 September 2022,” it said.
The document noted that the decision would take effect on the day of adoption, i.e. Friday. However, it will be applied from Monday, considering that the EU must notify the other party to the agreement, Russia, within 48 hours since the decision is approved.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved an agreement with the Government of the Republic of Peru to abolish visa requirements for short stays.
The relevant decision was made at the Wednesday government meeting.
This agreement was signed in Kyiv on July 15, 2021. The agreement provides for the abolition of visa requirements for the entry and stay of citizens of countries on the territory of the state of the other party for up to 90 days within 180 days.
For citizens of Ukraine, the possibility of visa-free tourist trips to Peru for up to 183 days will remain, which Peru introduced by a unilateral decision in 2003.
The Governments of Ukraine and China are working on the preparation of a visa waiver agreement between the countries, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Ukraine Fan Xianjun said.
“We are now actively working to sign an intergovernmental agreement on a visa-free travel between China and Ukraine,” the ambassador said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday.
He said the signing of such a document would provide maximum travel facilities for nationals of the two countries and would promote mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation between the states.
