China Travel
China has adopted a slew of measures to cope with the surging demand for securing passports, visas and other travel permits across the country following the relaxing of its COVID-related travel restrictions.
The country on Sunday downgraded its management of COVID-19 infections to a less strict Class B from the previous Class A level, in a major shift of its epidemic response policies.
Crowds were seen lining up for travel documents in one of Beijing's dozens of Exit and Entry management centers, even before outbound travel for Chinese officially re-emerges from COVID control protocols.
Everyone seems to have made travel plans.
"I just had my passport renewed, and will get the new one on the 17th. Then I could start planning overseas trips. I think I would probably visit Thailand for a vacation as my first stop," said a girl.
"I'm here to get a pass for traveling to Hong Kong because I have business dealings there. And I'm also planning to travel to Japan because my sister is there and we haven't seen each other in three years," said a young man.
"We are planning for a trip to Shenzhen for our entire family for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year," another resident told CGTN.
Officials say demand for all kinds of travel permits have steadily risen since the new and much relaxed travel policies were announced last month, and it's expected to rise even more leading up to the Chinese New Year.
"We have anticipated the demand for travel permits will rise. Therefore we have taken measures in advance to better serve the needs of the applicants. For example, we have consulted with enterprises in Beijing about their plans and demands for overseas business trips, and have opened green channels together with targeted services including special window for them, in an effort to help promote resumption of work and production," said Liu Jing, officer with Exit and Entry Administration Office of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.
For foreigners in China, the handling of applications for extension, change and re-issuance of visas and stay permits are facilitated through both offline and online systems.
Related management officials say they would work to meet demands for travel documents, whichever way they come.
Under the Class B management, inbound travelers are no longer required to quarantine upon arrival, but they still need to take a COVID-19 test 48 hours before departure.
Meanwhile, arrangements and visas for foreigners coming to China for work and business have also been streamlined.