A mutual 30-day visa free entry scheme between China and Singapore will take effect on 9 February 2024, just in time for Chinese New Year, Beijing has revealed.
Representatives of the Chinese and Singapore governments signed the visa-free agreement, having previously touted their intention to launch the scheme late last year.
Once the agreement comes into effect, holders of Chinese or Singaporean passports will be granted visa-free access to the other country for up to 30 days for the purposes of tourism, business or to visit relatives.
Those who enter the other country to engage in activities that require prior authorization, such as work or news reporting, or who plan to stay for more than 30 days, will still need to apply for a corresponding visa.
In an interview with Chinese state-owned media outlet CCTV, Wu Xi, Director General of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, “China has launched a series of measures to facilitate the movement of people, which fully demonstrates China’s determination to promote a high level of opening up to the outside world, and we welcome friends from all over the world to come to China for travel, business, investment and study.
China has now concluded mutual visa-free agreements with 157 countries covering various passport categories, and has arrangements with 44 countries to simplify visa procedures. In January, China and Thailand signed a permanent visa-free policy.
In a recent note in which it predicted gaming revenues at Singapore’s integrated resorts would grow by 10% in 2024, ratings agency Fitch pointed out that, as of October 2023, visitor arrivals to Singapore were still down 25% on pre-COVID levels – mainly due to the slow recovery of the Chinese market.
Nomura analyst said Thursday that the implementation of visa-free travel between China and Singapore would provide an additional boost to the nation’s two IRs – Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa.
