Recently, the consul of the Chinese Embassy in Turkmenistan spoke to Orient about the movement of people between China and Turkmenistan, visa policy and legalization of documents.

1.In January 2023, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President Xi Jinping jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and the establishment of a community of common destiny between Turkmenistan and China. The movement of people between the two countries is becoming increasingly close. What measures is China currently implementing to facilitate this process?

Since 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has been continuously optimizing visa policies and has introduced a series of measures together with relevant departments to facilitate foreigners' visits to China. The Chinese Embassy has abolished the online visa application system and exempted the fingerprinting of applicants for single-entry or double-entry visas for business (M), tourist (L), family (Q2), transit (G) purposes and international vehicle crew member (C) visas until 31 December 2024. The visa application form has been optimized, reducing the textual content and the time for the applicant to complete has been significantly reduced.

In addition, China Southern Airlines added new weekend flights on the Xi'an-Urumqi-Ashgabat route.

To make it easier for guests to visit the Middle Kingdom, the People's Bank of China and other departments have launched the "Guide to Payment Services in China for Foreigners", which explains payment transactions clearly. Let me briefly talk about mobile payments. The two most commonly used mobile payment methods are WeChat and Alipay. You only need to download and install the WeChat or Alipay app on your mobile phone, register and link your bank card according to the instructions, and when you need to pay, open the app and scan the QR code to complete the payment. You can also use these mobile apps to pay for traveling on public transport such as buses, metro, taxis and shared bikes, buying train tickets and airline tickets, booking and paying for hotels, daily payments (water, electricity, gas, phone, fine, etc.), ordering food, online shopping, etc. You can read the full contents of the "Guide to Payment Services in China for Foreigners" on the website of the Embassy.

Please tell me about the visa application process, what materials are required and how long does it usually take to apply?

Fill out the visa application form via the online system "Filling out online forms for Chinese visa" and upload a recent, frontal, color photograph (light background), with uncovered head. Print out the complete visa application form, bring your passport (valid for more than 6 months, with at least 4 blank pages for visas), your domestic passport and necessary application materials for the relevant visa category, to the consular section of the embassy for application. You can find the visa categories and required materials in the Consular Service - Visa section of the Embassy's website. If you require further clarification, you can call the consular counseling direct line +99312488105 or send an email to ashgabat@csm.mfa.gov.cn.

The visa application time is from 9:30 to 11:30 every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and the document issuance time is from 15:30 to 17:00. Normally, the visa is granted within 5 working days and in urgent cases it is granted within 3 working days. The date of receipt is written on the coupon given to you when you submit your application. You are advised to plan your application time in advance so that your trip is not delayed.

2. Where to pay the visa fee?

The Chinese Embassy in Turkmenistan introduces non-cash payments for consular fees. If after submitting your application for various documents, you have not received a message from the embassy refusing to accept your application, you can pay the consular fee at the branch of the State Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of Turkmenistan at “10 ýyl Abadançylyk şaýoly 160”, Aşgabat, on the appointed day of receiving the finished document. Pay in dollars by cash or card to the embassy account 23203000220183800134000 and receive a receipt of payment. Bank commission for consular fees per 1 person is 20 manat. Come to the consular hall of the embassy, bring the original bank receipt of payment and a coupon to receive the document and receipt from the embassy.

3. Can the visa multiplicity and duration of stay be changed?

When applying for a visa, the applicant should indicate the visa multiplicity and the maximum duration of stay in China in the application form. Consuls will comprehensively consider the applicant's purpose of traveling to China, length of stay and application materials to decide the visa multiplicity and intended period of stay. If you feel that the visa you have received cannot meet your needs, you may reapply for a visa, but you will need to resubmit the application materials and pay the fee again.

4. Can I extend my visa? Who should I apply to?

It is recommended that, when applying for a visa, consider your travel plan. If for any reason you are unable to leave China as planned, you should contact the exit and entry control department of the public security authority to apply for a visa extension before your stay expires to avoid unnecessary problems.

5. How to apply for a visa in Hong Kong SAR and Macau?

At present, online applications and online payment for Hong Kong visas have already been implemented. Applicants can find the required information and apply on the Hong Kong SAR Immigration Department website.

Foreign nationals can apply for an "Entry and Stay Permit" immediately at any immigration station upon arrival in Macau. If approved, the maximum period of stay in Macau is 30 days. The relevant policy is available on the Macao SAR Government website.

6. Please tell us about consular legalization of documents. What is it for and how to declare it?

On 7 November 2023, the "Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation of Foreign Official Documents" came into force for China. Official documents issued by the PRC may be sent to the Convention States Parties for use with an Apostille from China, without the need for consular legalization in the PRC or at PRC embassies and consulates general. Official documents sent by States Parties to the Convention to the PRC will also need to be accompanied by an Apostille from the relevant States.

The Chinese Embassy currently provides consular legalization services for legal and valid documents of Turkmenistan used in the People's Republic of China. Before coming to the embassy to apply for consular legalization, you should generally seek notarisation from a local notary office and apply for consular legalization from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan or an agency authorized to carry out consular legalization.

Please find the "Consular Legalisation Questionnaire" under "Consular Service" - "Legalization of Documents" on the Embassy's website and fill it in. Bring the application form, legalization documents, legal and valid ID card of the applicant (if you are not submitting the documents yourself, you must also provide a valid ID card of an agent). If you are applying for legalization of company documents, you will also need to provide a copy of the passport of the legal representative of the company and company documents that can prove the identity of the legal representative of the company.

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