Osborne launches 'super priority' visas for Chinese businesses
Chancellor unveils a pilot scheme to allow Chinese tourists to apply for a UK visa using the “Schengen” form, a single application accepted by 26 European countries
11:00PM BST 13 Oct 2013
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George Osborne has announced the launch of a 24 hour “super priority” visa application for Chinese business visitors to the UK in a bid remove bureaucratic barriers that hamper trade.
The Chancellor, who is on trade mission in Beijing, said the new visa was part of an effort to simplify the application process for Chinese visitors that has been criticised for being “colonial”. Britain is thought to be losing £1.2bn a year in lost revenues as Chinese visitors are put off by the visa rules.
Mr Osborne unveiled a pilot scheme to allow Chinese tourists to apply for a UK visa using the “Schengen” form, a single application accepted by 26 European countries. The Schengen application will only be available through “approved” Chinese travel agents organising big tours. But a Government source said the plan would be to expand the scheme to business travellers too. However the Treasury insisted that Britain had no intention of joining the Schengen Area.
In a third part of the overhaul, Mr Osborne said the UK would look to expand its VIP mobile visa service to major cities across China. Under the current system, UK officials go to company offices to issue visas but the service is only available in Shanghai and Beijing.
Mr Osborne, said: “These changes will streamline and simplify the visa application process for Chinese visitors, while ensuring the system is strong and secure. This is good news for British business and tourism.”
He said the new rules reflected a desire to embrace the rise of China and the economic opportunities it offers. "I don't want Britain to resent China's success, I want us to celebrate it,” he said.
He said the new rules reflected a desire to embrace the rise of China and the economic opportunities it offers. "I don't want Britain to resent China's success, I want us to celebrate it,” he said.
The overhaul follows a 10-month campaign by The Telegraph to simplify visa rules for Chinese visitors in order to boost economic growth. At the moment Chinese tourists are forced to have their fingerprints taken, face higher fees and have to lengthy application.
According to the World Tourism Organization, 149,000 Chinese tourist visit the UK each year compared to 1.1m who travel to France which is part of the Scheng Area.
In April, thje Home Office announced some changes to the visa system, including application forms translated into Mandarin, a faster process and the launch of the VIP service. Businesses including International Airlines Group, Travelodge, ExCeL London and Harrods said the moves were not enough. Willie Walsh, head of airlines giant IAG, said the UK has a “ridiculous system.” In June Simon Thomas, chief executive of the Hippodrome Casino in London’s West End, said the visa rules for Chinese visitors were “colonial” and costing Britain “£4m to £5m a day.”
Last night, the Home Secretary Theresa May said: “We are continuing to attract the brightest and best to work and study in the UK, while preventing immigration abuse and bringing net migration down to the tens of thousands. Our Chinese visa system already provides an excellent service and figures demonstrate that Chinese tourists are increasingly choosing to visit the UK. We will continue to make further improvements wherever possible for visitors travelling independently or as part of a group.”