Singaporeans need Visa to travel to China?

Stoven · Post by **Stoven** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 6:51 am

I've read online that China decided to require Singaporeans to have a visa to visit China due to the Olympics. Is this true? I have already booked tickets since I have a Visa but I was under the assumption that my Singaporean wife did not need one. Her passport expires in a few months and Visa applications say they require a passport that is still valid for 6 months. If this is the case, then I'll have to cancel my trip. We are in the U.S. and it would take too long for her to renew her Singaporean passport.

Thanks,

Steve

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 7:15 am

She might have trouble traveling anywhere as most country's require a minimum of 6 month's left in a passport before entry is allowed. Have you called you nearest Singapore Consulate to inquire on the waiting time for a new one?

Stoven · Post by **Stoven** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 7:26 am

She called and was told it would be at least 2 weeks. And then she would have to wait for the Visa. I will be heading to China in a week and she was going to meet up with me once I'm done with work to spend a few days in Shanghai and then fly up to Beijing before the olympics start.

She put off renewing her passport because she was planning on returning to Singapore in October and renewing it then.

I just found out about my business trip to China a few days ago, so I was trying to tag on a vacation at the end.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 7:36 am

Don't know what else to say

Saint · Post by **Saint** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 8:04 am

Don't worry, kimtaymour will be along soon to give you advice as to what to do!

durain · Post by **durain** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 8:05 am

because of the olympics, visa is very strict because china doesnt want tourist to go to china and sleep on the street. so the visa application is subject to you having a hotel confirmation or if you got somewhere to stay.

cutiebutie · Post by **cutiebutie** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:15 pm

Why would you assume that your wife didn't need a visa? Asian is Asian, is it?

sillingw · Post by **sillingw** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 1:13 pm

The new restrictions kicked in a couple of months ago, prior to that, singaporeans did not need a visa, but now they do. I also have had 8 years of multiple entry visas that lasted a year (on my UK passport) - I went to renew a few weeks ago and they would only give me a single entry - hopefully they will become more relaxed again after the games, i'm just not travelling there until the games are over

Stoven · Post by **Stoven** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 1:14 pm

cutiebutie - what are you implying?

Since 2003, Singapore citizens did not need to have a visa to visit China. Due to the Olympics, China changed their policy to require Singaporeans to have a visa starting July 1st. The requirement is only temporary until after the Olympics though.

ScoobyDoes · Post by **ScoobyDoes** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 2:05 pm

sillingw wrote:The new restrictions kicked in a couple of months ago, prior to that, singaporeans did not need a visa, but now they do. I also have had 8 years of multiple entry visas that lasted a year (on my UK passport) - I went to renew a few weeks ago and they would only give me a single entry - hopefully they will become more relaxed again after the games, i'm just not travelling there until the games are over

Yes you are right. They even stopped issuing Multiple Entry Visas to foreigners in HK even if they have a HKID and a history of getting MEV.

sillingw · Post by **sillingw** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 2:43 pm

The visa process for a visitors visa is very quick though, you can usually get within 24 hours, so if she does renew the passport, the visa would not be a problem, it may still be doable

Wind In My Hair · Post by **Wind In My Hair** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 3:31 pm

If you go down in person to the Singapore embassy, and show them proof of purchase of tickets to the Beijing Olympics (and airfare if relevant) they might expedite the passport renewal. The official reply is always that they take two weeks but sometimes if you ask nicely and with good reason they can do it even within a day. They do it here, not sure about in the US. Worth a try, but do go in person. It's amazing what can be done if you ask enough times in the right way.

ksl · Post by **ksl** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 6:11 pm

Wind In My Hair wrote:If you go down in person to the Singapore embassy, and show them proof of purchase of tickets to the Beijing Olympics (and airfare if relevant) they might expedite the passport renewal. The official reply is always that they take two weeks but sometimes if you ask nicely and with good reason they can do it even within a day. They do it here, not sure about in the US. Worth a try, but do go in person. It's amazing what can be done if you ask enough times in the right way.

You are dead right It it can be done in less than a couple of hours, if one approaches the right person, and they are on your side, it's always worth a try!

Zeenit · Post by **Zeenit** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 6:41 pm

Saint wrote:Don't worry, kimtaymour will be along soon to give you advice as to what to do!

LOL

cutiebutie · Post by **cutiebutie** » Thu, 10 Jul 2008 9:36 pm

Stoven wrote:cutiebutie - what are you implying?

Oops, misread the original post. My bad, I'm sorry

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Singaporeans need Visa to travel to China?

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