Requirements and Procedures for Applying an Invitation Letter

1、上述邀請函應為中國政府機關簽發的邀請函，右上角有統一編碼，而不是像以前一樣由中國境內的邀請公司出具。

The above invitation letter should be issued by the Chinese Government with unified coding at the top right corner. The invitation letter issued by a Chinese company like before would not be accepted now.

2、上述邀請函不能以個人名義申請，必須是以聘用單位或接待單位為主體向中國當地主管部門申請。

The above invitation letter can only be applied from the local authority by the employer or the reception unit, but not be applied in the name of an individual.

3、外國人需要滿足以下條件之一才有可能申請到《邀請函》。

The foreign expats who meet at least one of the below requirements may have the opportunity to apply for the invitation letter.

a.服務于中國國家級及市級重大活動項目；

Serving major national and municipal level projects in China;

b. 服務于市、區國際合作的重點工程、科研項目；

Serving key projects and scientific research programs of international cooperation in cities and regions;

c. 屬于我國相關部門評定的外國高端人才；

Foreign high-end talents assessed by relevant departments in China;

d.屬于當地重要外資企業的核心管理人員和專家。

Core Managers and experts from the local important foreign-funded enterprises.

因為各地主管的要求不同，具體情況請提前向企業所在地的主管部門進行咨詢。但基本原則應是該外籍人員要對該地區的重大項目或重點企業具有“決定性”、“緊急性”和“不可替代性”。

Due to the different requirements of the local authorities, please consult to the authority where the enterprise registered for detail instruction before applying the invitation letter. But the basic requirement should be that the foreign expats plays a role of decisive, urgent and irreplaceable in the local major projects or key enterprises.

4、中國邀請單位可以向哪些主管部門提出申請？

From which authorities the Chinese inviting unit could apply for the invitation letter?

邀請單位可以向企業注冊地所屬的商務局（或商務委員會）、外事辦公室、投資促進局（或外商投資處）、發改委，或企業經營行業所屬的政府主管部門提出申請，具體申請材料按各地主管部門要求進行準備。

The inviting unit could submit the application to the local Commerce Bureau (or Commission of Commerce), Foreign Affairs Office, Investment Promotion Bureau (or the Foreign Investment Department), Development and Reform Commission, where the enterprise registered, or apply from the competent industry supervisor which the enterprise’s business belongs to. All application materials should be prepared according to the details requested by the local authority.

另外，據我們了解，目前各國的中國商會組織也在為其成員與中國相關主管部門進行溝通協調。在華的外資企業也可以向他們尋求幫助。
In addition, as far as we know, Chambers of Commerce from various countries in China are also communicating and coordinating with relevant Chinese authorities for their members now. Foreign-funded enterprises in China could also ask them for help.

5、主管部門收到材料后，會根據企業的實際情況進行初步審核，如符合要求，會進一步向上一級主管機構報批。審批通過后，企業可憑主管部門簽發的邀請函申報表到省市外事辦公室申請最終的邀請函，這個審批流程大概需要2到3周。

After receiving the application materials, the authority would make a preliminary review and approval. Then the approved application would be submitted to the superior authority for final approval. After that, the enterprise can go to the Foreign Affairs Office of the Provincial/Municipal Government with the Application Form of Invitation Letter issued by the authority, to apply for the final invitation letter. It would take around 2~3 weeks to pass through all the above procedures.

6、省市外事辦公室簽發邀請函的同時，會抄送外交部和中國駐國外的使領館。外籍個人持邀請函和所需的其他材料到當地的中國使、領館申辦簽證，使、領館會根據邀請函上的來華事由簽發相應類型的一次性來華簽證。

When the Foreign Affairs Office of the Provincial/Municipal Government issuing an invitation letter, it will also send a copy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese Embassy/Consular where the visa will apply from. And then the foreign expat can bring the Invitation Letter and other required documents to the Local Chinese Embassy/Consular to apply his visa. The Chinese Embassy/Consular will issue a new single-entry visa according to the inviting purpose stated on the Invitation Letter. 

Policies and Convenience of the “Fast Track”

1、什么是“快捷通道”？

What is the “Fast Track”？

中外“快捷通道”的主要目的是為各方重要的商務、物流、生產和技術服務的急需人員提供便利，以維護和發展兩國經貿合作，保持兩國之間產業鏈和供應鏈的穩定暢通。

The “Fast Track” between China and a Foreign Country were built with the purpose of providing convenience to both countries’ important exchanges of business, logistic, production and technical service, to maintain and develop both countries economic and trade cooperation, as well as make the production chain and supplying chain stable and smooth.

2、到目前為止，已有哪些國家和中國開通了“快捷通道”？

So far, how many countries have built the “Fast Track” with China?

除我們FAQ3提到的韓國、德國外，自6月8日起中國和新加坡為有需要的商務和公務人員，開通往返新加坡以及上海、天津、重慶、江蘇、浙江和廣東六省市之間的“快捷通道”。

Besides Korea and Germany that we mentioned in our Article FAQ3, Singapore has been another country built the “Fast Track” with China. In order to facilitate the important business and official exchanges between Singapore and China, since Jun.8, the two countries established a “Fast Track”, which would connect Singapore and six provinces and cities, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin and Zhejiang, in China.

另據媒體5月27日的報道，我國民航局下發的最新通知顯示，包括日本、韓國、新加坡、英國、德國、法國、意大利、瑞士在內的8個國家可從即日起申請開通“中外快捷通道”。這8個國家可由省級人民政府向民航局提出協請安排復產復工客運包機的申請。

Furthermore, it was reported on May 27, Chinese Civil Aviation Administration released a notice shown that there are 8 countries, including Japan, Korea, Singapore, UK, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland, could apply for opening “Fast Track” with China from the publishing date on. The Provincial Government can help these 8 countries apply for the arrangement of charter flight from Civil Aviation Administration to take their foreign expats back to China.

3、“快捷通道”會有哪些便利呢？

What are the advantages of the “Fast Track”?

a. 可在現有航班額度的基礎上向民航局提出運送復工復產人員客運包機的申請，獲得快速審批;

With the “Fast Track”, the Civil Aviation Administration can provide quick approval for a charter flight based on the current flight amount to send foreign expats back to China for their work;

b.可以加快審批時間取得邀請函;

They can receive the Invitation Letter for visa more quickly;

c. 外籍人抵達開通”快捷通道“的省市后，經離境前健康監測和入境后檢疫檢測合格后可以縮短隔離時間。

Once the foreign expats arrive in the province or city where the “Fast Track” is available, their quarantine period could be shortened by their qualified Health Test and Examination both before and after their entry.