Singapore, China to allow 30-day visa-free travel

BEIJING – Singapore and China are working together to make a deal where people can visit each other’s countries for 30 days without needing a visa, the foreign ministry of Singapore said on Thursday.

The authorities in both countries have decided to make travel better with the fresh move and Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister also confirmed the development.

Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, who is also the Finance Minister, is currently in China leading the 19th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) and recently emphasized increasing the number of people traveling between Singapore and China. Wong also pointed out that the number of flights between the two countries has almost reached the levels seen before the pandemic.

Before the Coronavirus and its different variants emerged in 2019, Singapore happily received 3.6 million visitors from China. These visitors spent a total of about S$4.1 billion during their time in Singapore.

Starting from December 1 of this year, Malaysia has also decided that people from China and India can visit the country without needing a visa for up to 30 days. This new rule will be in place until December 31, 2024. The visa relaxation means that citizens from China and India can stay in Malaysia for up to 30 days without going through the process of getting a visa.

The initiative announced by China and Singapore can lead to a more convenient and accessible travel experience for citizens of both nations, encouraging more visits for tourism, business, and cultural exchanges.