“The national immigration authorities have, with immediate effect, suspended the issuance of visas for Korean and Japanese citizens and the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy for South Korean and Japanese citizens,” China’s National Immigration Administration said in a statement.
Travellers from scores of countries are eligible for 72-hour visa-free transit through China if they can show proof of pending travel to a third country, with some eligible for a 144-hour stay in certain cities and provinces.
That policy was complicated by the pandemic, with China requiring all inbound travellers to undergo mandatory quarantines – a requirement lifted on Sunday.
Tokyo said on Wednesday it had protested China’s decision to scrap short-term visas for its citizens, demanding that Beijing reverse the decision.
Source: CNA
