Eligible foreign business persons will be granted a special visa to facilitate their business activities in Guangdong, as per a notice recently issued by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government Foreign Affairs Office.

The policy applies to those who frequently travel to China for business and contribute to Guangdong's foreign economic and trade cooperation, as well as their spouses and children.

Eligible foreign business persons will be granted a five-year, multiple-entry M visa that allows a maximum stay of 180 days per entry. They can apply for this visa at Chinese embassies or consulates abroad by providing a special invitation letter issued by the provincial foreign affairs office, which is valid for three months.

Invitation letters should be secured from a Guangdong-based market entity, such as a State-owned enterprise, private enterprise, or foreign-funded company. These enterprises are required to submit a formal application to the foreign affairs office in their respective city for preliminary approval, after which it will then be forwarded to the provincial foreign affairs office for final authorization.

Inviting enterprises must only apply for visas on behalf of individuals invited by them to engage in business activities in China. Applications for non-business purposes are strictly prohibited.

If a foreign business person who benefits from this visa facilitation program is found to be involved in illegal entry, illegal residence, illegal employment, or other criminal activities after arriving in China, the enterprise responsible for their invitation will be prohibited from applying for such visas in the future.