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TIANJIN, China: Singapore and China on Thursday (Dec 7) announced that they will establish a 30-day mutual visa exemption agreement between both countries, amid a post-pandemic improvement in flight connectivity. The proposal was announced during the 19th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) meeting – the highest-level annual bilateral forum between both countries – held at the Hilton Tianjin Eco-City hotel with a range of agreements set to be signed. This is the first JCBC meeting to be co-chaired by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang. At the start of the meeting, Mr Ding noted how the number of Chinese students studying in Singapore has exceeded 40,000, basically recovering to pre-pandemic levels. He added that the visa-free arrangement would “provide greater convenience for people-to-people exchanges”. Mr Wong said Singapore hopes to even go beyond pre-pandemic levels in terms of direct flight connectivity. “This will be supported also by a mutual 30-day visa-free arrangement between our two countries, which will enable more people-to-people exchanges, thereby fortifying the bedrock of our bilateral relations," he added. Both sides are working out the operational details, with the aim of implementing the scheme in early 2024, the Singapore Prime Minister's Office said in a media release. Chinese citizens currently require a visa to enter Singapore. Singaporeans holding ordinary passports can enter China without a visa for 15 days if they are travelling for business, sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends, and in transit. China resumed this arrangement in July, more than three years after it was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This came on the heels of an upgrade in Singapore-China relations to an “All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership”, after Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in March during an official visit. The JCBC reviews the substantive collaboration between Singapore and China and charts the direction of cooperation. Mr Wong, who is on a four-day official visit to Beijing and Tianjin, said during a bilateral meeting on Wednesday that he was looking forward to signing more than 20 memoranda of understanding and agreements at the JCBC meeting. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/singapore-china-30-day-mutual-visa-free-arrangement-3971566

WASHINGTON: China will once again start issuing a range of visas to foreigners as of Wednesday (Mar 15), the country's embassy in Washington said, a major easing of travel restrictions in force since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The move marks the latest step towards reopening China to the outside world, as Beijing gradually breaks with the strict zero-COVID strategy that defined its pandemic response until a few months ago. In addition to new travel documents being reviewed and approved, visas issued before Mar 28, 2020 that are still valid will once again allow entry to China, said the embassy notice posted on Monday, translated by AFP from Chinese. The updated policy will also allow for the resumption of visa-free travel for those arriving in cruise ships to Shanghai, as well as for certain tourist groups from Hong Kong, Macao and countries within the ASEAN regional grouping, the notice said. China received 65.7 million international visitors in 2019, according to data from the UN World Tourism Organization, before the pandemic led the country to seal itself off from the rest of the world. While most other countries began fully reopening their economies and welcoming international travelers earlier, China only began emerging from its strict COVID-19 containment policies in late 2022, after rare demonstrations against President Xi Jinping's signature zero-COVID strategy broke out across the country. Those protests in late November expanded into calls for more political freedoms, with some even calling for Xi to resign, turning into the most widespread opposition to communist rule since the 1989 democracy uprising that the military crushed. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/china-lifts-visa-curbs-foreigners-travel-restrictions-covid-19-3344721

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Asia-Insight/From-Singapore-to-Thailand-Asia-dangles-visas-to-lure-high-fliers?del_type=1&pub_date=20221004190000&seq_num=2 From Singapore to Thailand, Asia dangles visas to lure high-fliers New programs kick off as companies struggle to find skilled workers KENTARO IWAMOTO, TSUBASA SURUGA and APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT, Nikkei staff writersOctober 4, 2022 06:00 JST TOKYO/SINGAPORE/BANGKOK -- During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore tightly closed its borders. While many countries did the same, it was a sharp shock to the system for a city-state that had thrived as a hub for travel and as a magnet for foreign workers. As some foreign nationals left, and entries were largely halted, Singapore's population dropped by 4.1% over the year through June 2021, to 5.45 million. The latest data released on Sept. 27, however, shows nearly as swift a turnaround, thanks to a gradual lifting of restrictions. The population rebounded by 3.4% to 5.63 million, largely driven by workers in sectors like construction and shipyards -- the unsung labor that keeps the economy going. Now, Singapore hopes to attract more highly skilled professionals with expertise and ideas that could jolt growth in the post-COVID era. "This is an age where talent makes all the difference to a nation's success," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his annual National Day Rally speech on Aug. 21, days before his government announced a new type of visa designed to lure such people. "We need to focus on attracting and retaining top talent, in the same way we focus on attracting and retaining investments." The city-state is far from the only place that covets high-flyers. From Thailand to Taiwan, a competition is heating up to entice the best of the best, and to fill hiring gaps with people equipped to excel in today's pandemic-altered workplace. Innovative sectors like digital technology and biotechnology are especially hungry for talent. Singapore's latest carrot is called the Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass, a new visa for high-skill professionals who earn at least 30,000 Singapore dollars ($20,800) a month. The program will allow people with these visas to stay at least five years and work at multiple organizations. Office workers in Singapore: The city-state's newest visa will allow holders to stay at least five years and work at multiple organizations. © Reuters Thailand, meanwhile, began taking applications on Sept. 1 for a new visa that lets global professionals stay in the country for 10 years. The government hopes to bring in 1 million foreign nationals with the Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, designed for those with skills in targeted sectors such as electric vehicles, biotechnology and defense. Tourism-oriented Thailand, like Singapore, has been hit hard by travel disruptions. Both also have aging populations. While Singapore is expecting growth in the 3% to 4% range this year, the Asian Development Bank's latest outlook forecasts Thailand's growth rate at 2.9%, far below Indonesia's expected growth of 5.4%, Malaysia's 6% and Vietnam's 6.5%. Malaysia, for its part, aims to attract wealthy investors with its new Premium Visa Program. The program, which began accepting applications on Saturday, allows people who can deposit 1 million ringgit (about $215,000) in the country and have an annual offshore income of around $100,000 to stay for up to 20 years. During that time, they can invest, run businesses and work. As part of a broader move to bring in more human resources, Australia recently raised its annual permanent immigration cap to 195,000 for the current fiscal year, from 160,000. These initiatives add to existing programs offered around the region, such as Taiwan's Employment Gold Card system, which started in 2018 for foreign professionals in targeted sectors such as science and technology. "Despite recession fears, many companies are backfilling from the pandemic and hiring for new roles as part of their expansion plans that they have put a pause on for the past two years," said Jaya Dass, managing director of permanent recruitment for the Asia-Pacific region at Randstad, a staffing company. Dass noted that the evolution of business and digital transformation over the past two years have created a need for professionals armed with new skills. "There is now a greater focus on high-value jobs. Besides being digitally adept, employers are looking for talent who are agile, innovative and able to think critically," Dass said. Finding that talent appears increasingly difficult. A survey by ManpowerGroup, another human resources company, found that 75% of about 40,000 companies globally reported challenges in hiring the employees they need, a big jump from 54% in 2019. Companies in some Asian economies are struggling more than the global average: 88% of Taiwanese employers reported such challenges, the highest among the 40 economies the survey covered. Singapore employers did not fare much better, at 84%. Government leaders share a sense of crisis about the competition for talent. "Right now, the best and the brightest minds aren't coming to Australia. They're going elsewhere," Canberra's Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said, announcing the immigration revision on Sept. 2. "If we want Australia to continue to thrive, then we are going to need more help." Japan is rushing to catch up with other Asian nations, planning to expand its own programs for high-skill foreign workers. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, pictured during remarks on Sept. 17, has acknowledged that Japan is "lagging" behind when it comes to competing for human resources. "We are now entering an era of global competition for human resources, in which countries around the world are competing to attract the best foreign talent," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters on Sept. 17. Pointing to Singapore as well as New Zealand as another country with preferential visa programs. "Japan is still lagging in this area, and we must make more efforts," he acknowledged. Businesses seem to appreciate such endeavors. Singapore's new ONE Pass has already drawn significant attention and rave reviews. Kei Shibata, a Japanese entrepreneur who runs a travel startup in Singapore, said he was interested in the new visa, as it offers a longer stay than existing programs and allows holders to work in multiple companies. "In terms of setting up and growing a business here, it would be nice to have a visa for about five years," he told Nikkei Asia. He also noted that some entrepreneurs serve as outside directors of other companies, saying he thinks there is a need for the program. Magnus Grimeland, founder and CEO of Antler, a venture capital firm established in Singapore with over 550 portfolio companies, was also upbeat. "It's a really good scheme," he said. "Super smart." Grimeland said about 60% of the founders his company supports in Singapore have set up their businesses using EntrePass, a separate visa for entrepreneurs. But ONE Pass is more flexible than existing schemes. EntrePass has no minimum salary but is only good for one year to start. Another visa, the Employment Pass (EP), is typically granted for two to three years and is tied to a specific job. "Moving [to Singapore] with their family can usually only be guaranteed for around two years, so the five-year term will give them security," he said. Not surprisingly, the new visa has raised some questions about the impact on citizens. In a parliamentary debate following the ONE Pass announcement, an opposition lawmaker stressed that "skills transfer to Singaporean workers must be at the center of our manpower policies." But the graying population is adding impetus for overseas recruiting. The latest data showed that people aged 65 or older accounted for 18.4% Singapore citizens of the total, up from 17.6% last year. Grimeland suggested Singapore has a lot to gain from programs like ONE Pass. "If you combine the best talent in Singapore with great people from abroad, it's very beneficial," he said. "Many governments are trying to do this. From our experience, Singapore is exceptional on its execution of ways to attract talented people to build companies." Likewise, Thai businesses are welcoming the LTR Visa, which has already attracted hundreds of applications. Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, chair and group CEO of industrial real estate developer WHA, said companies appreciate the policy because there is an urgent need to bring in skilled labor. The need is especially acute in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a development zone envisioned as a hub for high-tech industries such as health care, robotics, biotechnology, electric vehicles and tourism. Jareeporn said that when the EEC is promoted, "many foreigners ask whether we have enough expert workers to work here." The answer? "There are not enough expert workers, so we have to import [them]," she said. "We have to build our own [talent] too, but it takes time." Koji Sako, an associate professor at Japan's Josai International University and a longtime Asian economy watcher, said the strategy behind Thailand's new visa is to offer early incentives to attract professionals in sectors that could be major industries in the future. He suggested the government hopes to get a head start on potential competitors -- say, India, which "could potentially be an EV exporter." The Grand Palace in Bangkok lies empty of tourists in late 2020: As COVID-19 border restrictions come down, countries are looking to rev up their economies by attracting more international talent. (File photo by EPA/Jiji) The battle for high-skill workers is not just an Asian phenomenon, but a global one. For example, the U.K. earlier this year launched a new system called the High Potential Individual visa, allowing graduates of prestigious universities to stay in the country even before they land a job. Meanwhile, some markets are losing human resources. Hong Kong's population fell by 121,500, or 1.6%, over the year through June 2022, the sharpest decrease since comparable data became available in 1961. The Asian financial center has been hit by a decline in births and an outflow of people. China's strict national security law, as well as tight COVID-19 restrictions, appears to be among the reasons people are heading for the exit. Sako pointed out that geopolitics could affect the movement of workers in other ways -- and open up opportunities for Asian economies that offer the right enticements. "Highly skilled workers had been concentrated in the U.S., but due to the recent conflicts between the U.S. and China, some Chinese talent is losing their place to go," he said. With their new programs, he said Asian countries could become a destination for such people.

amazon users take note there wil be 0.5% surcharge for visa transactions unless you use debit card or just use non visa cardss to begin with amazon items also not cheap?? just use lazada or shopee full story here https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/consumer/amazon-to-introduce-05-surcharge-for-visa-credit-card-transactions-in-singapore

Grab will start implementing a S$1 processing fee for all GrabPay Wallet top-ups made using Visa credit cards, starting June 1, 2021. According to Grab, the extra fee is meant to "cover the costs levied by the service provider." This fee will be waived for top-ups of S$400 and above. Can still top up for free using Visa debit cards To cushion the blow of the announcement, Grab has shared three ways to top up your GrabPay wallet without paying a fee. Users can do so with Mastercard or American Express cards, as well as Visa debit cards. You can also transfer GrabPay credit from other users, or top up via your bank account. There will also be no additional charges if you use your Visa card as payment for Grab rides, or for GrabFood orders directly. See Grab's Facebook post here: Source: https://mothership.sg/2021/03/grabpay-visa-credit-card-fee/

Hi all, anyone know where to apply for Australia visitor visa and the damage? Pls advise. tks

Any bro recently travelled to Australia? which website you used for applying ETA visa? why the fees are different USD$39 vs AUD$20, and some of the websites looks quite fake. https://www.migrationexpert.com.au/travel_v...CFVEU6wodLUYAFQ https://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ETA/etas.jsp http://www.singapore.embassy.gov.au/sing/eta_visa.html

Hi, kind of sick of calling the credit card company every year to ask for a waiver and threaten to cancel. Also, I can never charge enough $$$ to get the automatic waiver for the year. Recently applied for ABN-AMRO which is free forever, but it's MASTER card. Is there any credit card that is VISA and have many years or forever fees waiver? Topics merged.... new post today starts here: http://www.mycarforum.com/topic/2085531-visa-credit-cards-with-annual-fees-waiver/?p=5662317

Hi people, just wanna ask a quick question. Do travel agencies help customers apply for the VISA only? Meaning we do not buy the tickets nor accommodation through them. Thanks in advance.

When you use your credit card buying something oversea, sometimes the merchant will ask do you want to charge in SGD or the local currency. Which is better??

HI I am a Singaporean and visiting to Perth. Do I need to apply VISA to enter Perth? If yes, how should I go about it? Please advise Thank you

Maybe its good for local tourism? or floodgate to overcrowding? SINGAPORE: From next month, the validity of the Multiple Journey Visas (MJVs) issued to nationals from the People’s Republic of China can be extended up to a maximum of 10 years. In a press release on Friday (May 15), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the same facility will also be extended to their spouse and children below the age of 21, if the main applicant is eligible. Chinese nationals with a valid MJV need not apply for a visa each time they visit Singapore. The move will provide greater convenience for Chinese nationals, especially business travellers, who travel often to Singapore, said ICA. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) welcomed the move and said this will make it easier for tourists from China to visit Singapore, and enhance STB's efforts to increase visitor arrival and tourism spending. Eligible applicants will also be able to use the automated immigration clearance at Singapore’s checkpoints, said ICA, adding that more details will be announced at a later date. - CNA/fs

Anyone used it as a cashcard in your vehicle IU? Does it require the new IU to be able to read? I tried on my IU but "error".

Looks like I can't visit UAE liao...... http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp...1226685/1/.html

Even our neighbour knows something got to be done. Do we?? http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/A...ory_778984.html Malaysia to tighten visa applications for visitors from China KLUANG, Johor (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia will tighten visa applications for visitors from China to ensure they are not involved in any criminal activities, especially prostitution. Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said that other than using the biometric system, the Government was looking at other ways to differentiate criminals from real tourists. 'Due to cheap air fares, almost anyone including criminals such as drug mules, human traffickers and even terrorists can travel freely from one country to another. 'Prostitution does not only happen in Malaysia but is a global problem which needs to be addressed,' he told reporters after a meet-the-people session at Felda Ulu Belitong here on Saturday. Mr Hishammuddin said he had recently met with his counterpart from China to discuss the issue as many Chinese nationals misused their visas to work as prostitutes. 'One of the ways to solve this problem is by tightening visa applications,' he said, adding that he would make an announcement on the matter soon. In another development, Mr Hishammuddin said those who had proof that the Opposition received financial aid from Jewish groups should come forward instead of making wild allegations. He said the ministry would investigate the matter. Penang Umno deputy chairman Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir urged the Home Ministry to take action against the Opposition which he alleged received financial aid from NGOs that were supported by Jewish groups. Meanwhile, Mr Hishammuddin said the people needed to change their perception that Malaysia was a crime haven. He said Netizens and bloggers had questioned how Malaysia was ranked 19th out of 153 countries worldwide in terms of security and named one of the safest countries in the South-East Asian region. 'Crime cases such as murder and rape are isolated and many are solved by the police. After the introduction of the National Key Result Areas, the crime rate has dropped,' he said.

I am going to buy an air ticket to australia and intend to stay for more than 3 months but the visa is only given 3 months and i will extend it after i have reached there. Will the immigration allow me to step into australia when i show that my return flight is later than my visa ends?

My grand niece age 11 from PRC current staying with me as she is on summer school holiday. I wanted to bring her to Malaysia by driving up north and wonder if she needs a visa to enter Malaysia. I had applied for her visa to stay in SG for 60 days but does she need a visa to enter Malaysia? Any brothers here can advise. Thanks.

Hi all, anyone could advise which website to apply for Australia Visitors visa?

https://www.etavisaaustralia.com.au/Payment...pplyEtaVisa.php

i had plan to visit macau-hongkong-zhu hai in april 2011. any bro or sis know was there any more one day pass application at the border/gate to zhu hai? and just to confirm there was no visa (macau and hongkong) needed for malaysian too rigth ?

Hi all, I'll b gg to CHINA , Guangzhou end of the month. Just to check if VISA application is still require after the Olympics ?

Hi Bros, Planning to go Macau and happen to be during the Olympics period. Does anyone who if I require a Visa to enter Macau? Am confused......... Thanks a lot.

Dear ALL, Scheduled for project into Beijing mid-Jul'08 and had fired multiple emails to China Embassy in SG, but not receive reply till date. Anybody can advice on question in RED? Thanks in advance. Guidelines for your references : 1. Visa is required for ALL nationalities from 01 Jul. 2. Visa validity is ONE MONTH from the date of issue. Can we do multiple trips in and out within the period of ONE month? 3. Maximum duration of stay in china is ONE MONTH from the date of entry into China 4. Visa processing is for Normal 4 days and Urgent 2 days only. Procedural/Requirements: BUSINESS VISA 1.Application form 2. Recent Photo 3. Original approval from an authorised Government Office. (for business visa) What or Which is this

MFA confirms new ruling for short stays; it is expected to be lifted after Olympics in August. -ST Lee Hui Chieh Tue, Apr 22, 2008 The Straits Times IT IS confirmed: Singaporeans travelling to China from July 1 will need a visa - even for stays lasting 15 days or less. This requirement is expected to be lifted after the Olympic Games, which Beijing is hosting from Aug 8 to 24. A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) here said that it was told of the visa requirement by the Chinese authorities yesterday. She said: 'We have been given the assurance that the visa requirement is a temporary measure. The visa-free travel facility for trips of 15 days or less will be reinstated after the Beijing Olympics.' However, Beijing did not specify exactly when this would happen, she added. The MFA's statement yesterday made official the latest change to China's visa rules, first reported in The Straits Times last Saturday. It follows a series of recent changes which have reportedly caused confusion and delays. For example, travellers going to China through Hong Kong were left stranded when the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong stopped granting them visas. The tightened rules are said to be in line with growing security concerns over the Olympics and the unrest in Tibet. Since 2003, citizens from Singapore, Brunei and Japan have been exempted from applying for visas for short stays of up to 15 days in China. The new rule, however, appears to apply only to Singapore, going by a page on the website of China's embassy in the United States, which was updated a week ago. Neither MFA nor the Chinese embassy here could confirm this. The 2003 move was aimed at boosting tourism and business travel to China - and it seems to have done just that. The number of Singaporeans going there has been increasing: In the first 11 months of last year, Singaporeans made over 812,000 visits to China, more than 11 per cent higher than for the same period in 2006. Travel agents last night said they did not foresee tourists cancelling their trips to the mainland largely because the agents will handle visa applications for their customers. Travellers who would experience the hassle of applying personally for their visas are the minority who buy their tickets online or from the airlines, said Ms Alicia Seah, vice-president of UOB Travel Planners. Getting a China visa usually takes four working days to a week. It is not clear yet whether the new rule will result in delays in getting visas here, but travel agents seem confident they will be able to cope. Ms Ivy Tan, Chan Brothers Travel's director of marketing communications, said her company has an entire department handling visa applications. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------