Singapore and China have implemented a 30-day visa-free mutual waiver, which will come into effect on February 9, 2024, at the perfect time for Chinese New Year celebrations.
Signed on Jan. 25 through officials from both countries, the agreement allows passport holders from Singapore and China to enter other countries without a visa, allowing them to stay for up to 30 days.
Currently, Singapore passport holders can enter China for up to 15 days, while regular Chinese passport holders need a visa to enter Singapore. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said there would be no refunds for other people who had already applied for a visa before the announcement.
During an earlier stop in Beijing and Tianjin, Lawrence Wong, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, highlighted the development of personnel exchanges between the two countries, and flight frequencies returned to pre-pandemic levels.
“The 30-day mutual visa waiver agreement between our two countries will also contribute to that progress, promoting more personnel exchanges and strengthening the cornerstone of bilateral relations,” Wong said.
In July 2023, China restored 15-day visa-free access for Singapore citizens, a privilege suspended for 3 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beijing has expressed its desire for the deal to be reciprocated, according to a Reuters report.
In Singapore, where three-quarters of the 4 million citizens and permanent residents belong to the Chinese ethnicity, with a significant portion being Mandarin speakers, mainland Chinese visitors find navigation notably convenient. In recent months, both nations have implemented additional initiatives to bolster ties and restore tourism to pre-pandemic levels.
The People’s Bank of China and the Central Bank of Singapore announced a pilot program to enable the use of the virtual currency e-CNY for tourism spending.
Lately, China enjoys full mutual visa waivers with 22 countries.
(Hero Credit & Featured Symbol: Rancheng Zhu/Unsplash)
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