NIA introduces new measures to promote production and operations of enterprises

National Immigration Administration (NIA) has recently rolled out a series of new measures to serve and facilitate the production and operations of foreign-related enterprises, providing support in policies, measures and environmental services to optimize the business environment, stimulate market vitality, ensure the stability and smooth operations of industrial and supply chains, and keep foreign trade and investment stable amid regular epidemic prevention and control.

These new measures focus on the expectations and needs of personnel engaged in industries such as manufacturing, transportation, cross-border services and international trade. Leveraging the role of NIA, those measures were introduced to further smooth the channels for transport to help enterprises reduce operating costs, boost productivity and explore the international market, stabilize macroeconomic performance, and promote a higher level of opening-up.

In terms of serving the production and operations of enterprises, exit procedures for sea trials and delivery shall be directly accessible to newly-built or repaired vessels of vessel building and maintenance enterprises performing international voyages; container ships of international shipping enterprises shall be allowed to temporarily change ports in case of emergencies while passing through domestic ports; entry-exit border inspection procedures shall be completed at one time for staff of international transport enterprises who perform tasks in and out of the country frequently; domestic enterprises shall be granted easier access to passport document processing and outbound and inbound travel when they send employees abroad to participate in important engineering projects; and procedures for the application of residence permits shall be simplified when foreigners employed by Chinese enterprises and public institutions are relocated within the country.

In terms of improving the efficiency of customs clearance at ports, international freight ships shall be entitled to "zero waiting time" for arrivals at domestic ports and "zero delays" for departure from the ports; prioritized verification and rapid clearance shall be implemented for vehicles assigned to the cross-border transportation of medical and anti-epidemic supplies, agricultural products, energy, daily necessities and other key materials; and border inspection procedures shall be simplified for cargo units that stop at freight hub airports and stay within the ports' restricted areas.

In terms of facilitate the permit applications and other services for business personnel, the review and approval procedures shall be made easier for visa extension applications by foreigners who invest, start their businesses, conduct scientific research or are engaged in economic and trade activities in China; cross-border transport enterprises as well as their drivers and passengers in border areas shall enjoy access to permit applications; and personnel of mainland enterprises sent to Macao to attend conferences and exhibitions shall be allowed to handle their permit-related affairs nearby.

Relevant enterprises and personnel can consult the service desks of local exit and entry administration, and call NIA 24-hour service hotline at 12367 to learn more about relevant policies and information.