New visa policy eases travel for foreign businesspeople to Taizhou

The Taizhou Foreign Affairs Office has been offering a special visa service for foreign businesspeople who frequently visit the city for short-term business activities since Jan 14.

According to Yang Zhenghao, head of inbound travel at the Taizhou Foreign Affairs Office, local enterprises in Taizhou can submit a list of foreign businesspeople, along with their spouses and children, to apply for official invitation letters. Required documents include an application form, a business license, and a passport.

Once the required application materials are submitted, the Foreign Affairs Office conducts an initial review within three working days before forwarding the application to the provincial authorities for approval. The provincial foreign affairs office then processes the request and issues the invitation letter within three to five working days. This invitation letter enables applicants to obtain a multiple-entry visa, allowing up to 180 days of stay per visit.

The new policy has so far benefitted seven foreign business foreigners. Bang In-chang, a senior researcher at the LG Electronics Compressor R&D Center in South Korea, received an invitation letter on Jan 24. Previously, Bang faced the hassle of applying for a visa each time, with a maximum stay of only three months. "It was always a rush when deadlines were tight," he revealed.

Now, with the new invitation letter, Bang can apply for a special visa valid for five years, allowing him to travel between South Korea and Taizhou as often as needed, with stays of up to six months per visit. "This greatly simplifies our work arrangements," he added.

Wei Jiegang, director of the Taizhou Foreign Affairs Office, emphasized that the next step is to raise awareness about the new policy. The office plans to engage with foreign-oriented enterprises and promote the special visa policy to further facilitate business operations for foreign nationals, contributing to the city's high-level international connectivity.