Visa free entry into China for South Korean nationals

Introduction

Despite the recent commencement of visa free entry into China for South Korean nationals for short term visits for tourism and business, there has been a recent case of entry being denied. South Korean nationals travelling to China for important business related matters are advised to obtain a visa in advance, to ensure safe entry into China.

Impact:
Medium

What has changed?

On the 8^th November China implemented a temporary short term visa exemption for South Korean citizens, which is due to remain in place until the end of 2025. The visa free entry permits South Korean passport holders to enter China for up to 15 days for tourism and business purposes. Since its implementation, the number of South Korean nationals entering China under the visa free policy has been increasing. According to aviation industry and diplomatic sources, the first case of an entry being denied for non-medical reasons since the policy went into effect has been discovered. The reason for the denial was cited as “unclear purpose for entry”. However, the Chinese authorities did not officially notify the South Korean embassy of the specific reasons.

The South Korean embassy in China has advised that “visa-free policies do not eliminate all entry criteria and entry denial can occur at any time”. They further advised that visa free travellers should clearly specify the purpose for entry and duration of stay, meticulously providing details relating to accommodation and contact information for the stay to avoid any potential issues. Furthermore, travellers should still complete temporary residence registrations post arrival. 

What to expect /impact?

To avoid potential issues on entry, it is recommended that South Korean passport holders entering China for important business purposes, still apply for and obtain a visa in advance of their travel. 

What you need to do:

For further information on China, please contact the Sterling Lexicon immigration team at immigration@sterlinglexicon.com.