Beijing simlifies visa procedures for foreigners

A new online visa and permit application service for foreigners in Beijing was launched on Tuesday by the city's Public Security Bureau. It will simplify procedures for obtaining documents and shorten approval time.

根据北京市公安局消息，一项新的在线签证申请服务于本周二发布。本服务将简化获取签证步骤和缩短申请时间。

Foreigners will be allowed to apply for a visa, a stay permit or a residence permit through the public service section of the website, according to a statement on Sunday by the bureau's Entry and Exit Department. After filling out an online application form and making a reservation, applicants are directed to a designated window at the department, located at No 2 Andingmen Dongdajie, to hand in their materials.

上周日，根据公安局出入境中心声明，外国人可以通过网上公共服务系统可以申请签证、居住许可证和居住证。在线申请填写完之后就进行预约，申请人手持资料到安定门2号办理手续。

Lin Song, a department official, said foreigners who intend to live in Beijing must register their dwelling places at a local police station before they apply.

一个部门行政官员林松说道，计划居住在北京的外国人士在申请签证之前，必须到当地派出所注册他们的居住地。

"When they go to the window to hand in papers, they must bring with them the printouts of their online application forms with the barcodes," he added.

"到窗口提交资料时，外籍人士必须手持带有条形码的在线申请的纸质申请表。"

Another new policy issued on Sunday is designed to help foreigners stay in Beijing without a visa obtained in advance.

周日，另一项新政策是帮助没有签证的在京外籍人士提前获得签证。

Foreigners normally are required to obtain a visa before they arrive in China. They are now allowed to apply on the website and get a visa upon arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport if they had to rush to China for an emergency matter.

一般来说，外籍人士在来中国之前就应该获取签证。根据新的政策，如果因为紧急情况，外籍人士在到达首都国际机场之前可以在线上申请签证并在机场获取签证。

Lin said those who arrive in Beijing at the invitation of a Chinese host for an emergency issue, can apply online and hand in paperwork at offices authorized by the Entry and Exit Department at Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at the airport, where they can get an M or F visa.

林说道，如果是因为紧急邀请来到北京，外籍人士可以可以在国际机场的第2航站楼和第三航站楼的进出境部门申请获得M或者F签。

The Public Security Bureau has also created policies to assist foreigners' visits to Beijing. They took effect at the beginning of this year.

公安局也为协助外国人游览北京而设立新政策。政策于今年年初生效。

For example, a policy was created that allows a foreign family member of a Chinese citizen to stay in Beijing for two years, extending the previous policy by one year. The two-year permits are renewable. A family member of a Chinese citizen, including a spouse, spouse's parent, spouse's child, or spouses of children－is now allowed to live in Beijing for two years. Formerly, their permit required renewal annually.

中国家庭的外籍家属人员—包括配偶，配偶的父母，配偶的孩子或者子女的配偶都容许在北京生活两年。之前，他们的居住证必须每年更新一次。例如，新的政策将会允许一位中国公民的一个外籍家庭成员居住两年，并且签证可以比之前延长一年。两年的有效期签证可以更新。