Visa-free to China?

[chrix]

I recently found out that Japanese citizens may go to China visa-free for up to 15 days. Does anyone know since when this has been in place (I know that in 2001, this wasn't possible), and why? I guess there's no chance that they will extend the favour any time to soon to Western countries, is there...?

[roddy]

I was dubious this was actually the case, so went looking for it on the site for the Chinese embassy in Japan. Right enough, it's there:

一、凡持普通护照来华旅游、经商、探亲访友或过境的日本公民，停留时间从入境之日起不超过第１５天出境者，均免办签证，并可从中国对外国人开放的口岸入出境。中国边防检查站凭本人有效护照验放。

How does that work though? Do you get a visa stamp on entry? I'm not sure hotels can enter you onto the computer system without a visa number / type.

[chrix]

yeah wikipedia has a nice page with nice tables:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_passport

compare:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Republic_of_China_passport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China_passport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Special_Administrative_Region_passport

Taiwanese friends always complain about visa hassles, at least the UK changed its rules this year (they're after the tourism NT$$, and also the ESL market I bet). Unfortunately I don't think the other European countries will follow suit any time soon, because changing the Schengen rules is very cumbersome.

As far as the US goes, there were complaints about a DHS report treating Taiwan unjustly, which effectively meant that a number of East European countries joined the circle of visa waiver countries, but Taiwan was left out. (The US follows certain guidelines set by Congress, but the Administration has some leeway). I was actually surprised that HK is not on the list either, but Singapore is...

[chrix]

as far as your question goes, roddy, I couldn't tell you. The last time I was in China I don't even know whether the hotel checked my visa, but I guess they did. But if you enter the EU or the US as a non-citizen, you usually fill out a landing card, which has a number. Maybe that'll do the trick?

So I'm really curious because I heard about all these visa applications turned down during the Olympics, and I was wondering if Japanese citizens were still allowed to come in visa-free or if they tightened the rules temporarily during those times... But last year I didn't know about these rules, otherwise I would have checked for sure...

[roddy]

Pretty much any hotel will submit your info to the PSB via computer. I had a minor issue last week when a hotel misread my visa ('enter by' vs 'expiry') and it wouldn't let them enter a past (and incorrect) date for the visa expiry date. Thankfully the system refused to let them put it through, rather than accepting it but dispatching a helicopter-full of crack visa police to arrest me, and I was able to point out what they were doing wrong.

Can't imagine visa free entry (or visas on entry) will become very widespread very quickly, as the chances of reciprocal moves from other nations probably aren't high. Plus I'd imagine that kind of visa would be more likely to be non-extendable or changable, making it of little value to long-stayers.

[chrix]

well, it's not reciprocal in the case of Japan. PRC passport holder may not enter Japan visa-free. Apparently the wikipedia page wasn't too accurate (duh), I checked the Foreign Ministry's website. As far as Asian passports go, the following are eligible for visa-free entry to Japan:

- Brunei

- Taiwan

- Hong Kong

- Macao

- Singapore

- South Korea

PRC passport holders may enter Japan visa-free if they're on a (junior high or high) school trip with less than 30 days of duration. I know China usually is a stickler for reciprocity, but I think in this case it was because of the extensive economic ties.

And I know it's of no use for long-term visitors, but even in most Western countries if you stay longer, you'll have to get a visa too (which is one of the things I find so great about the EU), though the UK visa waiver program for Taiwanese explicitly allows stay up to six months for certain types of studies, I think. But the US doesn't, the minute you enrol in some kind of school, you technically need to have a visa even short-term.

Edited

[flameproof]

Since a few years following passport holders can enter China without visa:

Japan

Singapore

Brunei

Not sure if there was any recent change.