It’s a daunting question. And it’s a tough one to answer, not least because the thought of setting up a legal entity in China feels like a bureaucratic nightmare. It’s a big commitment that stops many businesses in their tracks.

Quick Note: There are ways to hire staff in China without the red tape of setting up your own company. We’ll explain how that works later.

However, it doesn’t have to be a guessing game. At Kinyu, we use a few specific “litmus test” questions to help businesses decide. If you find yourself nodding “yes” to these scenarios, the move to a local team will likely pay for itself.

Are You Managing More Than One Supplier?

Most businesses start by ordering one product from one supplier, often directly via sites like Alibaba. It’s manageable. But once you add a second or third supplier, your DIY model will start to break.

• Communication: First, your supplier’s sales manager might speak perfect English, but the people actually making your goods (the production line managers and engineers) usually don’t. You are relying on the sales rep to translate your technical needs perfectly.
• Coordination: With multiple suppliers, it’s easy to spend your entire day chasing updates. To cope, most businesses start paying “per-visit” fees to inspection companies or sourcing agents for every factory. These costs add up fast.

The Fix: If you are coordinating between two or more factories, you need a Supplier Account Manager on the ground to act as your eyes, ears and voice.

Is Your Supply Chain Becoming Too Valuable To Leave To Chance?

As a start-up, it’s essential to keep costs low. But as you scale, you have more to lose. A single batch of faulty goods can quickly destroy your brand reputation.

It’s not uncommon in China for factories to swap materials or components to save money without telling you. If you aren’t there to see it, you only find out when customers start complaining.

Once your supply chain reaches a certain value, you need a dedicated hire to keep track of three specific things:

• Quality: Catching issues on the line before the goods leave the factory.
• Costs: Keeping a tight grip on your Bill of Materials (BOM) so your margins don’t disappear.
• Ethics: Ensuring your suppliers meet social compliance and certification standards.

Who You Need: A Quality Manager or a Procurement Manager to keep the factories honest and the BOM costs under control.

Are You Overpaying For ‘Middlemen’ or Third-Party Fixes?

Sourcing agents and third-party inspections are expensive. As your volume grows, these partners often become a significant drain on your profits.

1. The Cost Is Higher Than A Salary: Third-party agencies charge a high premium for every visit. As your volume increases, these “per-visit” fees or percentage-based commissions quickly exceed what you would pay for a fixed monthly salary. By bringing this in-house, you significantly reduce your “cost per day” for quality control and sourcing.

2. They Identify Problems, But They Don’t Fix Them: This is the biggest limitation of outsourcing. A third-party inspector has a very strict remit: they turn up, check a box, and give you a “Pass” or “Fail” report. The headache of fixing a bad batch falls entirely on you. An in-house hire, however, can stay at the factory to perform a root cause analysis and work with the engineers to ensure the mistake never happens again.

The Fix: Once your monthly spend on agents and inspectors hits a certain level, an in-house hire becomes the cheaper, more effective option. By conducting inspections and procurement in-house, you save on daily costs and own the relationship with the factory directly.

Are You Building Something Custom Or High-Tech?

China has many incredible original design manufacturers, but developing custom tech from another time zone is a minefield. Managing hardware, software and compliance via email rarely works.

Without someone on-site to oversee the R&D cycle, your requirements are easily misinterpreted, leading to months of expensive delays and compromised IP.

The Fix: You need a Project Manager with industry-specific expertise. They act as the bridge between your vision and the factory’s engineers, ensuring the product actually works and meets all standards.

How To Hire In China (Without The Legal Headache)

If you’ve decided you need a team but you’re dreading the paperwork, this is where The China Desk comes in.

We are an Employer of Record (EOR) platform. This means you can hire staff on the ground in China without setting up your own legal entity.

• Speed: Quickly get full-time or part-time staff active in days, not months.
• No Red Tape: You manage the person; we handle the complex Chinese bureaucracy and HR.
• Flexibility: Whether you need a full-time Quality Manager or a part-time Merchandiser to review suppliers, we handle the local contracts, payroll, and compliance.

The post Is It Time to Hire Your Own China Team? appeared first on Kinyu.

Having a dedicated team on the ground is undoubtedly the most effective way to manage your supply chain in China. But for foreign companies, deciding who to hire and when can be a difficult and risky process.

Initiate your China operations by hiring our Streamline Manager!

To alleviate these common pain points, Kinyu is launching a flexible, part-time model of its China Desk service called ‘Streamline.’ We can help you engage supply chain personnel for up to 10 hours a week without any strings attached, long-term commitment, or involvement with China labour laws. 

With Streamline, you receive your dedicated Manager within 72 hours and can flexibly deploy them while our Kinyu Management team helps you plan your long-term China strategy. The Streamline Model offers flexibility and is an optimal solution for startups and high-growth companies aiming to establish a foothold in China.

Streamline will also open access to a part-time China-based team member, representation on the ground, flexible deployment, access to Kinyu’s resource platform, expert advisory, and partner networks. 

Discover the benefits of the Streamline Model and set your business on a trajectory of success in China today!

To learn more about, check out our new web page or book a meeting with one of our experts!

The post The China Desk: Streamline – Hire personnel part-time in China! appeared first on Kinyu.

Here are some key areas to consider:

Time difference

A key factor to consider is the time difference. China’s time zone is UTC +8, so if you are in Europe or America, you will be asleep through a significant portion of China’s working day. Therefore, your contact windows with your China remote team are relatively small. As a result, it’s possible that your team members in China may not communicate with their colleagues during the morning hours.

Kinyu’s Founder, Benjamin King, experienced this challenge firsthand in his previous role as a China Country Manager. “It can feel quite lonely working from home all day with your colleagues only come online at 4pm.” This disconnect can adversely affect your team’s productivity and impact your operation.

As challenging as this can be, there ARE ways to support your team members and make remote working a successful arrangement for all parties. Our first recommendation is to set clear tasks and instructions for your team member so they wake up with a plan of action. Plenty of programs are available to simplify this process, such as Trello, Microsoft Planner and others (but make sure the software you use works in China!) 

Another option is for your employee to consider working later hours, starting late and finishing late, so there is more overlap with the rest of your team. However, this arrangement typically works better for European companies than American companies. You should also check out a Non-fix working time system 不定时工作制, which is a form of employment agreement you register with the local labour bureau. The Virtual General Manager Function in The China Desk is a tool to help with the time difference, where we check in with your team members, as they are often in the same office as our team.

Social insurance

Working remotely opens up opportunities to collaborate with individuals from all over the world, including China. However, it’s crucial to ensure that you comply with local labour laws and employ individuals correctly. This compliance applies domestically in China as well. For example, if you plan to hire someone in Tianjin but are based in Guangzhou, you cannot pay Tianjin social insurance from your company. As an employer, you are responsible for communicating this to your employees and ensuring they understand.

This same principle applies when hiring someone in China from an office in a different country. For more information on this topic, check out our blog on social insurance.

Team engagement

The importance of team engagement ties into the time difference issue in China. If you read about the foundations of Guanxi in our previous blogs, you will know that Guanxi is all about relationships – including those built in the workplace.

Therefore, it is crucial to have regular face-to-face meetings with your team and frequent non-work related video calls to foster these relationships. In addition, organising team-building events once or twice a year helps improve team engagement. For example, at The China Desk, our management team ensures a quarterly engagement trip to visit all China Desk employees and gain insight into their challenges and opportunities in business. This promotes solid relationships and a sense of camaraderie within the team.

Working from home

Whether working from your home office or your Garden Shed, it’s important to remember that many Chinese employees may not have the luxury of space at home. Due to the high population density, most people in China live in small apartments with only 1 or 2 bedrooms, making it difficult to have a separate office room.

Additionally, office amenities may be limited, causing working from home to be less prevalent in China than in the West. Instead, team members in China may opt to work from a local café rather than from home.

At Kinyu, we understand these difficulties and offer The China Desk as a flexible workspace option for your team members in China. This way, they can come and go as they please. So it’s crucial to think twice about the remote working options in China and ensure you have the correct set-up to make your China team member thrive! Download a case study, or book a call to learn more about The China Desk and how we can empower your employees!

The post Hiring Remote Workers in China: Key Things to Consider appeared first on Kinyu.

The return of The Canton Fair has brought many business travellers back to China for the first time in over three years. However, as you may have read in our recent review, many people could not join the Canton fair this year due to flight and visa issues. So for those of you still to return, let’s look at the updated situation on travelling back to China. 

Flights

As before, every month sees a resumption of more flight paths. Chinese airlines are increasingly confident about the cross-border demand, with many routes restarting, such as Scotland’s direct flight to Beijing with Hainan Airlines. 

Flight prices remain much higher than pre-covid and often double. As supply slowly catches up with demand, we hope to see this decrease, but travellers are yet to see savings.

Flights from the US are still particularly tight, so keep your eyes peeled for more flight route announcements.

Here is a list of all current flights in and out of mainland China operated by Chinese airlines. However, Flying to Hong Kong and taking a train or transfer flight remains the most sensible option, as it has greater capacity and flights are generally cheaper. 

Covid Testing

Good news! China has scrapped PCR tests upon entry! The official policy is that you should now do a RAT at home and then declare the result at customs. This result is not checked by the airlines or at customs and immigration and is only part of the customs declaration form you must fill in when you arrive.

PCR test requirements for returning to your home country

Thankfully, all countries have also dropped this requirement, so you can rest easy knowing that the governments have consigned cross-border testing requirements to history. 

Visas

As mentioned previously, the Chinese government has reinstated visas of all categories have now been reinstated. However, there can still be longer than usual waiting times as the backlog of applications is still significant. Many people could not get their visas in time for the Canton Fair, so if you have plans to come to China, it is best to get your visa early.

The application forms have changed slightly and undoubtedly become much more detailed, so be prepared to fill in more information about your family and employment! Here is an article explaining all the relevant documents you need to support your application. It is also important to note that tourist visas still need to be opened for application.

You may still need an invitation letter from a business in China. Kinyu SCM has a verified template; if you want us to send you a copy – please request one here.

144-hour visa-free transit policy

Need help getting a visa? Fortunately, the government have reinstated  144-hour transit visas in some areas of China. As a result, you can fly to China on a transit visa, which you do not need to apply for in advance. This visa requires an onward flight ticket to a third country, and you apply for it at the airport on arrival. The transit document is valid for 144 hours, with limitations on where you can travel. For example, you can fly into Beijing and travel within Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei provinces on this transit visa. You can find more information on how it works can be found here. Kinyu recently met a client in Guangzhou who used this method successfully.

Visa on arrival from Hong Kong

At Shenzhen Luohu border port, you can apply for a visa on arrival if you are from one of the specified countries. Make sure you do your research on this method to avoid disappointment.

Entering via Hong Kong

Since Hong Kong has had a much more extended and gradual opening period, the flights to and from Hong Kong are more flexible and cheaper. Furthermore, the high-speed train from Hong Kong to mainland China reopened on 15^th Jan 2023, making travel to regions across China much more accessible. In addition, the train routes have now been fully reinstated to pre-Covid levels so that you can travel to many more cities by train.

To clarify, you do not need a Covid test result to travel to Hong Kong and will not require one to travel from Hong Kong to the mainland. 

Customs Health Declaration

When entering or leaving mainland China, you must complete a health declaration form online. You can do this on WeChat or by scanning a QR code. You will then recieve a black code which the authorities will check at the customs entry/exit point. It’s best to fill out in advance and then take a screenshot. Make sure you fill it out the same day you cross borders.

Keep up to date with the latest.

These policies can change quickly, so keep up with the most recent policy announcements. Although we will update this article occasionally to help keep you informed, we will not refresh it daily, so it’s essential to check if this information applies to you. It is also important to note that China may have different requirements depending on the country you come from and for the reason you are travelling. Kinyu wrote this article for our UK, EU and US customers. 

Get in touch for more support.

We are happy to hear from people travelling to China, so please feel free to get in touch with any questions.

The post MAY UPDATE: Returning to China for the first time in 3 years? Here’s what you need to know… appeared first on Kinyu.

After fifteen days, hours of preparation and hundreds of thousands of attendees, it’s a wrap on the Canton fair! This year’s event is the first offline fair, free from the clutches of Covid, and it was fantastic to see huge crowds flying into Guangzhou, connecting with clients, meeting new people and seeing old friends.

Another reason this year was revolutionary for us is that it was Kinyu’s first time attending as an exhibitor! It was a great experience, and we learned a lot. Unfortunately, not everyone who wanted to participate in the fair this year could, so we have written this review as both a visitor and an exhibitor.

Here are our highlights!

Feedback from visitors

We are delighted to report that all in attendance were happy to be back! The atmosphere was phenomenal, and it was clear that many had anticipated the fair’s return. Businesspeople were extremely busy during the day visiting many different booths, having dinners with their suppliers in the evening and then seeing the factories during the breaks between phases. There was a sense of excitement being back in China; many people for the first time in several years, highlighting that online Zoom calls have been no match for the face to face engagement.

Booth set up

We exhibited in Phase 2, and whilst this was an exciting experience, one lesson we did learn was not to use maps in our booth display! 

The day before the fair opened, we discovered we could not use our back banner as it had a map of China. According to a policy (which needed to be better documented and communicated), organisers prohibit maps of any country to avoid a misinterpretation of where borders lie.

Despite this slight hiccup, the show must go on, and our talented booth designer, Jay Birbeck from Bold Nation, immediately whipped up an alternative and then called our print company KaidPR. Luckily, we resolved the solution within 5 hours, and we could put it on the new display by midnight.

Different cross section of foreign businesspeople

This fair’s demographic was different from previous fairs. We met many visitors from Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa, but visitors from Europe and America were less frequent. Although we noticed this at our booth, it was only in retrospect that we found out other exhibitors were experiencing the same thing.

One inspection company counted that only 1 out of 15 foreign business people that left their name cards were from Europe/US. China’s CGTN also acknowledged this statistic as a ‘different audience’.

The reasons behind this are multifaceted.

Visas – throughout Covid, most businesses visas would have expired (China typically gives two years). So, when the country re-opened in January, many people rushed to get visas, leaving Chinese consulate services with a massive backlog of applications. Kinyu’s CEO Benjamin King spoke to people at the fair and online from the US, Spain, France and the UK whose colleagues or themselves could not get their visas in time. In addition, trade fairs in Hong Kong, such as Global Sources, have been boosted due to its visa-free policies.

Officials have also introduced new biometric requirements for visas. For example, Kinyu’s CEO Benjamin King hosted a delegate from Brazil, who travelled 400km to the nearest consulate to carry out biometric fingerprint scanning.

Flights – As our monthly travel updates expressed, flights to China have not returned to normal yet. Many cities and countries have not fully reinstated all flights. Kinyu’s Benjamin King was talking with a Senior buyer from a French firm; not only could his colleagues get visas, but when searching for flights from Paris, there was only one indirect flight available – via Amsterdam.

Flights from the US are still costly and have been an inhibiting factor, especially for budding entrepreneurs looking for supply partners to develop new ideas.

Geopolitical tensions? – This undoubtedly played a factor in people not attending. However, there are some key industries, particularly in renewables such as solar and hydrogen, where nearshoring has been a growing trend. Policies such as the inflation reduction act have helped along this trend.

However, businesses used this reason disproportionately for not attending the Canton fair. The changing cohort of visitors is almost certainly a combination of the above, but most likely the reason for logistical difficulties since China opened up too soon before the fair for businesses to plan their trips. As a result, we expect a different story in October when the Canton Fair returns.

Fringe events

To get away from the seemingly endless grind of booths, its always good to find out some networking events. You may meet like-minded people, and get some good tips on how to navigate the fair and talk to suppliers. Kinyu attended the Canton fair meet up organized by FBA4U, a platform to empower e-commerce sellers. It was great to see a large crowd of people from all over the globe, although it was a fraction of the size of their 2019 event.

The new Hall D and trade services area

The new Hall D was a topic of conversation for many people. However, if you are walking through the fair complex, you may not realise it’s additional, as it looks almost identical to halls A and B. It is fair to say that Hall D was not as busy as A and B, with some business people saying they did not have time to explore the hall.

Before the product halls, you could find the latest trade services area in a new multi-functional conference hall. The space itself was okay, well-lit and air-conditioned, but it could have generated a better level of footfall. We attributed this to 3 main reasons:

Services not products – most people visit Canton Fair to look for products and trade services. Fewer people will seek you out unless your services booth is in a strategic footfall location, such as on the bridge between Halls B and C.

New Hall D – as mentioned above, the footfall in New Hall D was not as high, and there this trade services area was not seen by many visitors.

Almost no one knew about the trade services area. There is little to no information about it online, and they poorly signed the conference hall. Not only was this bad for footfall, but it was also difficult to direct people to our booth, as they had no idea about this area.

This lack may improve as people become more familiar, but Kinyu calls on organisers to promote this area more to people walking past.

Trade Services Area – Notable companies like Kinyu offer game-changing services like The China Desk here! (Some less notable companies do too, but you don’t need to visit them.)

Overall it was a great experience; Kinyu generated some good business leads and met many interesting people from all over the globe. As our first time exhibiting, we have become more experienced and learned lessons about booth design, location and preparation.

The post Canton Fair Spring 2023 – Kinyu review of 133rd fair appeared first on Kinyu.

This new hall extends the fair complex by a third with areas 17-20 being added. This now makes the Guangzhou venue the largest expo center in the world – with this new hall completed, the fair complex will make up 1.62 million square meters and hold thousands of exhibitors.

One of those exhibitors is Kinyu! The New Hall D will have an international services pavilion in 20.2 for Phase 2. This emphasis on services, will help Canton fair increase its status as the fair to visit for all your China supply chain needs.

Kinyu’s CEO Benjamin walked through to the new hall during Phase 1, and its extension is seamless – it feels as if it was always there! This continues the trend of a well-organized event which somehow manages to accommodate thousands of exhibitors across multiple industries.

The hall will have multiple functions, holding various products and services companies – so we look forward to seeing you there soon. Book a meeting to visit our booth here!

The post <strong>Canton Fair Complex – New Hall D</strong> appeared first on Kinyu.

Location and getting there

The Global Sources fair is held at the Asia World Expo in Hong Kong. This exhibition centre is near the airport and is well-served by the airport express line. Therefore getting to the trade show from anywhere in Hong Kong is very easy, and you can apply for a free airport express return ticket. Hong Kong has pretty much dropped all restrictions for international travelers, and is keen to catch up on lost opportunities in the last 3 years.

Was the fair well attended?

Yes it was! The fair was very busy, with queues not only at the restaurants but also to get into the exhibition itself. There were many exhibitors across the consumer electronics sector, stretch from smart home cameras, to cables, components and accessories. The exhibition areas were split into various pavilions, which helped provide a sub-sector focus.

How about the exhibitors?

The fair is primarily for sourcing products and suppliers, there is not much representation of trade services at the event. It is also more industry focused compared to the Canton Fair, for example this phase was all about consumer electronics, whereas at the Canton Fair, consumer electronics is bundled with more product categories.

Next stop Guangzhou!

Global Sources is the precursor to the Canton Fair. Many people fly into Hong Kong and then travel up into Mainland China. Don’t forget to read our returning to China blog, as there are still some Covid restrictions that apply. Kinyu is exhibiting at Canton Fair, so you can visit us in Hall D H 03. You can even book some time here for a free coffee!

The post <strong>Global Sources Trade Fair 2023 Review – the first show in 3 years</strong> appeared first on Kinyu.

One stop hub for all industries

The variety of product categories on display, over 3 phases, is a major draw for people. Sourcing companies can view products and meet suppliers from across multiple industries and from all over China.

Travelling in and around China is not easy, especially after Covid. Instead of travelling to distant factories and trade shows across China, many foreign business people want to fly into a foreign friendly manufacturing hub, and view everyone that China has to offer. Of course, the Canton Fair cannot showcase everything China has to offer, but it is indeed the closest thing.

With Guangzhou’s history of being foreign friendly and open for business, it’s a great nexus of manufacturing and foreign trade. This is what has made the Canton Fair one of the world’s largest trade fairs.

What do people look for at the Canton Fair?

People come to Canton Fair for many different reasons – which is what makes it such an exciting and vibrant occasion:

Finding new suppliers

It is a great place for connecting with new suppliers and a refreshing alternative to searching for partners online. People travelling in for Canton Fair to want to meet new suppliers, who bring their team and products to display.

Source new products and ideas

China is notorious for its product development, if there is a need, there is a product! It is a great opportunity for foreign business people to walk around and see what product innovations are on display, and analyse what market potential there is back home.

Catching up with existing suppliers

The Canton fair provides a great opportunity for business people to catch up with existing suppliers and partners – discuss new business deals and cooperation methods. Although we expect suppliers to be swept off their feat with new enquiries and connections.

Finding new trade services

Working in and with China has been challenging over the last few years, and more companies have been relying on service partners on the ground here. There is a large trade services section at the Canton Fair, where business people can find some great resources to facilitate their supply chain management.

This is where Kinyu will be! The China Desk is a great platform for you to hire personnel and access resources on the ground to facilitate your resources. If you are attending the fair, visit our booth for a coffee!

If you cannot come this year, but interested to know more about the fair and The China Desk – you can book in a call with us here.

The post What are you looking for at the Canton Fair? appeared first on Kinyu.

As the first time exhibiting at this global trade show we are excited to showcase our turnkey services including The China Desk – how you can build your team in China.

Make sure you check out the categories for each phase below and be sure to review our latest blog on travelling to China post Covid.

The Canton Fair Program for Attendees

The fair will take place according to the following schedule:

PHASE 1: April 15th-19th

Electronic & Electrical Products, Lighting Equipment, Bicycles, Vehicle Spare Parts, Construction and Agricultural Machinery, Hardware, Tools and Chemical Products.

PHASE 2: April 23rd-27th

Kitchenware & Tableware, General Ceramics, Household Items, Personal Care Products, Toiletries, Clocks, Toys, Gifts and Premiums, Festival Products, Art Ceramics, Glass Artware, Weaving, Rattan and Iron Arts.

PHASE 3: May 1st-5th

Men’s and Women’s Clothes, Kid’s Wear, Shoes, Bags, Office Supplies, Recreation Products, Medicine, Health Products and Medical Devices.

As the event fast approaches, our excitement is growing. We warmly invite you to come down and visit us in person! To learn more, book a coffee and conversation with Kinyu’s CEO, Benjamin King. Additionally, visit our website to learn more about Kinyu SCM and our services. 

About Kinyu SCM

Kinyu SCM is a leading supply chain management and logistics service provider. We specialise in finding, hiring, onboarding and engaging employees on the ground. Our mission is to help businesses succeed in China by providing reliable and innovative solutions. With a global network of partners and a team of experienced professionals, we are dedicated to delivering the best possible service to our clients.

The post Kinyu is Exhibiting at the Canton Fair! appeared first on Kinyu.

We are now in Q2, and people are again flocking to China. High-profile business people like Tim Cook in Beijing and Maye Musk in Guangzhou have also returned. So when are you returning to China? First, let’s look at the updated situation on travelling back to China.

Flights

Whilst flights from Europe are getting cheaper month by month, flights from the US remain expensive. Additionally, from 1^st April, Lufthansa will be operating three flights a week to Shanghai and in August, they will become daily.

Flight prices remain a lot higher than pre-covid. This inflation is partly due to capacity and considerable travel demand in both directions. We can expect flight capacity to reach 50-60% of pre-covid levels by the end of 2023.

We still recommend flying to Hong Kong and taking a train or transfer flight, as there is more capacity and flights are generally cheaper. However, for those looking to fly directly,  here is a list of each flight currently carrying passengers in and out of mainland China.

Covid Testing

The list of countries that no longer require Covid tests to travel to China is growing, which is an exciting prospect! Travellers from these 31 countries will not have to complete a PCR test before boarding:

Whilst the UK, US, and Germany are still not on the list, hopefully, they will be soon.

Unfortunately, if you are flying from a country not on this list, you will still require a 48-hour Covid test to board. This test must be a PCR test, as Rapid Antigen tests are invalid. On the plus side, there is no specific list of certified testing centres, a centre certified in your country is sufficient. For example, the pharmacy Boots could provide a valid test in the UK.

PCR test requirements for returning to your home country

Although many countries have dropped this requirement, some still require a Covid test for your return flight. In the last three weeks, Kinyu has helped two businesspeople who forgot about this requirement, so PLEASE remember to check! The UK is dropping this requirement on 5th April, and Japan recently announced the same. Every city has designated test sites for this, but the process can be cumbersome. So, it is best to find a local person to help you. If you have a Chinese supplier or team member in China, they may be able to assist you. However, don’t worry if you don’t; at Kinyu, we provide this support to our China Desk members.

There are many test centres throughout various Chinese cities that you can use, provided you can show the result on your phone in English. Unfortunately, officials have shut down most test sites, so the safest option for international travellers is to go to an international hospital, such as United Family Hospital in Guangzhou. However, it is essential to note that the result may take up to 12 hours to arrive – so leave enough time! The test Centxdfre in Hong Kong airport will also suffice, but leave plenty of time for the result to come through – in Hong Kong; it usually takes 3-4 hours.

If you need to find a local one in another city, don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will help you.

Visas

We have great news in this department! Officials have not reinstated visas issued before March 2020, so if you have a 10-year permit from the China consulate in the US, this should now be valid! Although many visas will probably expire by now, you may need to apply for a new visa.

China has also announced they are re-issuing tourist visas, significantly boosting cross-border travel and making visa centres even busier with applications. Therefore, you must get your application in early, especially if you plan to visit the upcoming trade fairs.

The application forms have changed slightly – the application form has undoubtedly become much more detailed, so be prepared to fill in much more information about your family and employment! Here is an article explaining all the relevant documents you might need to support your application. Unfortunately, tourist visas are still not open for application.

You may still need an invitation letter from a business in China. Kinyu SCM has a verified template for this. If you want us to send you a copy – please request one here.

144-hour visa-free transit policy

Are you struggling to get a visa? Fortunately, some areas in China have reinstated the 144-hour transit visas. As a result, you can fly to China on a transit visa, and you do not need to apply in advance. This visa requires an onward flight ticket to a third country, and you use it at the airport on arrival. The transit document is valid for 144 hours, with limitations on where you can travel. For example, you can fly into Beijing and travel within Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei provinces on this transit visa. You can find more information on how it works here. Kinyu recently met a client in Guangzhou who used this method, and it was highly successful.

Keep up to date with the latest

These policies can change at terse notice. As a result, you must keep abreast of the most recent policy announcements. We will update this article occasionally to help keep you informed, but we will not refresh it daily, so it’s essential to check if this information applies to you. It is also important to note that China may have different requirements depending on the country you come from and for the reason you are travelling. This article was written for Kinyu customers based in UK, EU and US.

Get in touch for more support.

We are happy to hear from people travelling to China, so please feel free to get in touch here for any questions or if you need to find a local one in another city.

The post March Update: Returning to China for the first time in 3 years? Here’s what you need to know… appeared first on Kinyu.