The Chinese government will resume a 15-day visa-free facility for Singaporeans traveling to China from midnight on Wednesday (July 26), more than three years after it was suspended.

These include visas for tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, and transit purposes, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore announced on Sunday morning.

Visas that have been issued to Singapore citizens are still valid, and visa applications that have already been lodged will be processed normally, it added.

China stopped issuing visas to foreigners in March 2020, just after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, and also suspended the 15-day visa-free facility for Singaporeans.

The Chinese government resumed issuing all types of visas to foreigners in March this year, but kept the visa-free facility suspended. Those seeking to travel to China faced long lines and long waiting times for appointments at a designated visa centre in Robinson Road.