Government Restricts Entry of Short-Term Interns and Trainees

According to recent reports, foreign nationals intending to enter China as trainees or interns for less than three months are experiencing increased difficulty in obtaining business visas, though there has been no official announcement of a change in policy from the Chinese government.

Currently, Foreign Affairs Offices in several cities in China, including Shanghai, are no longer issuing business visa invitation letters for this group of travelers. Certain Chinese consulates, including those in the United States, are no longer issuing a business visa even if the trainee or intern can show a visa invitation letter. Public Security Bureaus in Shanghai have discontinued extensions for visas for interns and trainees in certain cases.

It is not clear at this time whether the Chinese authorities will make these changes official or whether they will eventually ease restrictions. Under the circumstances, there may still be visa options for those seeking to enter China for short-term assignments on a case-by-case basis, depending upon their proposed activities and eligibility. Employers should contact their immigration service provider for assessment and assistance.

Student (X1 and X2) visa holders studying at Chinese universities continue to be eligible for in-country training and internships, provided they obtain permission to change status from their local Public Security Bureau.

Fragomen is monitoring developments and will provide updates as needed. This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen Global or send an email to [email protected].