China announces visa-free travel for all Australians visiting for up to 15 days

[marcojim]

Arrived in China earlier this week with my AU passport with a visa I got last year as I travel there frequently.

Officer at immigration even mentioned to me that I no longer require a visa to enter China (although I do typically stay longer than 15 days so I would still get a visa regardless). It was at a smaller airport (WUX) so pleasantly surprised to see that they’re aware of it and actively encouraging visa free travel.

 

[RSD]

Can report back that the visa-free entry for China for stays of up to 15 days works very smoothly - they didn't even blink when I flew into Shanghai, fairly simple form to fill out on the plane (stupidly I forgot to take a photo of the form to post here), biggest hassle was that they picked a random page somewhere in the middle of my passport to put their rubber stamp and it took the hotels a while to find it each time when they were checking me in - one couldn't find it at all and so I had to find it for them.

I do remember that one of the questions on the form asked what countries I had visited in the last two years.

 

[AIRwin]

I do remember that one of the questions on the form asked what countries I had visited in the last two years.

Oh yes I struggled to fit my answer in the space

 

[Flashback]

Oh yes I struggled to fit my answer in the space

I had the same when I visited Madagascar back in April, it asked for where you'd been in the previous 2 weeks and I was able to fit in 7 of the countries I had been to........ she laughed when I handed her the form.

 

[RSD]

Oh yes I struggled to fit my answer in the space

@RooFlyer might need to take a typed list with him and attach it to the form!

The nice thing was that it wasn't a "Have you been to any of these countries?" type of thing like when going to the U.S.

 

[kpc]

Reminds me of my visa application for Russia 10 years ago....list every country you have been to in the last 10 years INCLUDING date of entry....got up to 30+ and then the system wouldn't let me enter any more!

 

[Happy Dude]

I wonder what actually is the purpose of knowing which countries one has been to in this instance. Are they not going to let you in if you've been to [insert China's enemy here]?

A few years ago, while filling out a form for a one-off high level security clearance, our government asked me the question but of the last 10 years. The list included Libya, Cuba, Iraq, Russia and China. All as a tourist of course but they still gave me the clearance. So why ask if there's seemingly no line. I've since travelled on an Official Passport and they didn't ask.

 

[Scarlett]

…
The list included Libya, Cuba, Iraq, Russia and China. All as a tourist of course but they still gave me the clearance. So why ask if there's seemingly no line. …

Why ask?
The issue is not which countries you’ve been to, the issue is are you truthful about which countries you’ve been to…

 

[RSD]

Why ask?
The issue is not which countries you’ve been to, the issue is are you truthful about which countries you’ve been to…

That is quite probably the true reason for them asking.

 

[Happy Dude]

Why ask?
The issue is not which countries you’ve been to, the issue is are you truthful about which countries you’ve been to…

Well that just seems like they tryna trick us then.

 

[RooFlyer]

Why ask?
The issue is not which countries you’ve been to, the issue is are you truthful about which countries you’ve been to…

Put another way, if they wish to detain you for any reason, this would be a 'gotcha' question they could hold you on.

 

[Bali Guy]

The question about countries visited could be health related.

Parts of Africa and South America have epidemics.

 

[Austman]

I do remember that one of the questions on the form asked what countries I had visited in the last two years.

I put as many as I could remember and fit in the fairly small space. I might have missed one or two? My current passport is just 2 years old. The official did flip through it.

There was no issue for me.

 

[Happy Dude]

The question about countries visited could be health related.

Parts of Africa and South America have epidemics.

But two years?? The declarations for health issues tend to be for a much shorter period and one would think a similar approach would happen elsewhere. Plus the irony of China trying to prevent a disease getting in..... is too much.

 

[Austman]

Plus the irony of China trying to prevent a disease getting in..... is too much.

They actually have automated individual health check scans now, for international arrivals.

It's a bit like e-gate.