Middle Eastern countries are rich in oil resources and rely on imports for most items other than oil. China has a long history of trade with Middle Eastern countries, as evidenced by the famous Silk Road and Spice Route. In recent years, the increasing development of the internet and the rise of e-commerce has boosted trade between the two sides. For Middle Eastern importers, the biggest concern in cross-border trade is the integrity of the supplier. If you want to confirm the compliance of the other company and the quality of the product, seeing it with your own eyes is the most direct way. When you come to China, then applying for a visa efficiently and in accordance with the regulations is an essential step.

I. The importance of applying for a visa and visiting China

1. Confirming the integrity of the supplier

Visit China and the scale of the supplier's company to see whether it is a factory or a foreign trade company. The scale of the company reflects a certain extent its credibility. The size of the company reflects its credibility to a certain extent. Comparing the actual situation with the information communicated earlier is an important step to further confirm the partnership. Also in face-to-face communication with the supplier, you can feel the warmth and sincerity of Chinese.

2. Confirming the quality of imported products

Of course, the quality of the product can be confirmed to a certain extent just by contacting them online, from product pictures, videos, test reports and certifications. But a visit to the supplier's warehouse, where you can take any product from a large shipment and see its details. It is a more efficient way of confirming the supplier's quality control. A visit to the factory production line is also an important way to further understand the raw materials, production process and quality control of the product.

3. Showing your strengths

There is no denying that the cost of a site visit to China is relatively high. In addition to the cost of visas, flights and hotel accommodation, you also have to pay for your time. But if you can plan ahead and get a thorough understanding of suppliers you are working with during your visit to China, it is worth the cost. And in this way, the supplier will get a sense of the strength of your company and the importance it places on its products.

4. Understanding the market and products

The most traditional way to find the right partner for international trade is by attending trade fairs. You can communicate directly with thousands of suppliers and see the quality of the actual products. At the various exhibitions, you have the opportunity to see many new products and get the most competitive prices, which could become the best-selling products in your country. A face-to-face approach to communication is very important to develop business relationships.

II. The process of applying for a visa

The process of applying for a Chinese visa is not complicated and is similar to that of other countries you have applied for. You can make an appointment directly at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (https://bio.visaforchina.org/globle/) or ask your local travel agent to do it for you at the service centre. The Visa Centre is a commercial service organization registered in accordance with local laws and regulations and recognized by a Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General to handle the daily routine work of processing ordinary visa applications. However, it operates independently of diplomatic missions and is neither a branch nor an affiliated organ. Please note that the Visa Centre does not participate in the assessment and approval of Chinese visas.

The visa application process basically consists of three steps: an appointment for application, preparing and submitting documents, paying and collecting. Let's take the example of applying for a Chinese visa locally in Dubai.

1. Appointment application process

1) First go to the Centre's online website, locate the area to Dubai and the page will automatically jump to the local homepage.

2) Select ‘Quick Access’ on the homepage and go to the next page.

3) Be sure to complete the ‘People's Republic of China Visa Application Form’ online on the website and then make a successful appointment. Applications without an appointment will not normally be accepted.

2. Prepare and submit documents

After a successful online appointment, you will be notified of the date of your visit to the Visa Centre, before which you will need to prepare the following required documents, pre-check them and submit them. The documents required for each visa type are different and you can select the visa you require from the 'Step By Step Guidance' and the system will prompt you for the documents required for the corresponding visa.

For example, for an M visa for a local resident of Dubai, i.e., for the ‘Commercial trade activities’ category, you will need to prepare:

1) Passport

Original passport with at least 6 months remaining validity and a blank visa page.

2) Visa application form and photo

Complete the ‘Visa Application Form’ online on the website and upload an electronic photo, then follow the instructions to print and sign the visa application form. If the online form indicates that the photo is not acceptable, please bring a recent colour passport photo (bareheaded, full face) (size: 48mm x 33mm) taken on a white background to the Centre when submitting your application.

Note:

a. When uploading an electronic photo and the system alerts you that the quality check has failed, you can continue to fill in the next step after several attempts to upload the photo.

b. When filling in the passport information (name/date of birth/gender/passport number, etc.), please note that the content on the application form should be the same as that on the passport.

c. After print (print size: A4), please sign the first page and section 9. For the applicant who is less than 18 years old, the parents should sign the application form on the first page & both sections 9.1 & 9.2 and provide a copy of his/her passport.

3) Documents concerning commercial activity issued by a trade partner in China, or trade fair invitation, etc. The invitation letter should contain:

a. Information about the applicant (including full name, gender, date of birth, etc.)

b. Details of the planned visit (including the purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, location of the visit, the relationship between the applicant and inviting party, details of any financial support to be provided during the stay in China)

c. Information about the inviting party (including name, contact telephone number, address, official seal, legal representative or personal signature).

Note.

Applicants who have obtained M-visas more than twice over the previous two years, (or obtained an F-visa before September 1, 2013, for the purpose of commercial and trade activities), or have a certificate of investments in China, a business license or other documents, may apply for a multiple-entry M-visa valid for half a year or one year, but the applicants must provide photocopies of the aforementioned visas or relevant documents. The consular officer will decide whether to issue a visa and the validity, duration of stay and number of entries depending on the applicant's particular circumstances.

3. Pay and collect

Be on time on the day you reach the Visa Centre on the date requested. Upon arrival, present your appointment details to the reception counter and you will be given a queue number to submit your application. Wait for your number to be called, submit your application and documents at the designated counter, receive a payment notice and pay at the counter. You will receive a collection slip, which is a receipt showing your application details and the expected date of visa collection. Please check all the details on the collection form and keep the collection form as it must be presented at the time of collecting your passport. Fees to be paid include:

- Visa fee collected on behalf of the Chinese Embassy/Consulate-General

- Service fee charged by the Centre

III. Issues and points to note in relation to the visa application

1. What would be the best time for me to apply for a visa before my planned departure for China?

It is advisable that you apply for a visa one month before your intended date of entry into China but not earlier than three months. The Chinese visa is typically valid for three months. If you apply for a visa too early, the visa may expire before your departure. For instance, if you plan to enter China on July 1, the best time to submit your application would be around June 1 (counting working days only). Please note that the validity of some visas is equal to or shorter than one month. In that case, you may apply for the visa around two weeks before your intended date of entry into China.

2. Is it permitted for someone else to submit my application to the Visa Centre on my behalf?

Generally speaking, you should submit your application in person and collect your passport with an issued visa. If circumstances really prevent you from doing so (e.g., illness), you may entrust someone else to do it for you (need to provide a power of attorney) providing that you have prepared all the documents required and signed the application form.

3. Is it possible to extend the duration of the stay of my visa in China?

You may apply for an extension of the “duration of stay” of your visa at a local public security authority before it expires, but without the assumption that the application will be automatically approved. Overstay violates the laws of China and will be punished.

IV. Current scope of Visa application and Chinese vaccination requirements

At present, the current scope of Visa application only includes the following cases.

1、Crew visa (C) 

2、For necessary economic, trade, scientific or technological activities;

3、‘Humanitarian needs’, in principle refers to visiting a direct family member who is in a critical condition in a hospital or attending a direct family member's funeral.

If it is necessary to entry China, the latest epidemic prevention measures, issued by the Chinese government (8th edition), currently provide for the following for people entering China from abroad: 14 days of medical observation in isolation. For those who have completed a distal nucleic acid test (only a negative nucleic acid test is required for those with a history of vaccination), the "7+7" quarantine medical observation measure can be implemented on a voluntary basis if the conditions of closed transfer management, home isolation (with a separate room and separate bathroom) and precise community control are available. A nucleic acid test will be conducted on days 1, 4, 7 and 14 of the medical isolation period for all arrivals. After release from quarantine, you will be monitored at home for 7 days, during which time, monitoring of body temperature and symptoms should be carried out. Personal protection should be taken when going out, and nucleic acid tests should be carried out on day 2 and on day 7 respectively.

In addition, depending on your destination, different provinces, cities and regions may have different vaccination requirements, so be sure to contact local staff for detailed vaccination requirements before entering the country to avoid wasting time and money.

In international trade, in addition to the daily communication of order processes between the two trading parties, maintaining regular visits to each other is an important reason to promote deeper and more stable cooperation. Visiting each other's countries also allows you to have a better understanding of the local market and products, and to be more professional in later product requirements and price negotiations.