Travellers who provide false information when applying for a Chinese visa could face entry bans under new regulations published in July.
The new entry and exit regulations, published by China’s State Council, will come into effect on September 15.
Under Article 5, if a foreigner applies for a visa or applies to arrive at a port of entry and provides false material or makes false statements, Chinese immigration authorities or visa authorities may deny entry for between one and five years.
Anyone issuing an invitation letter or other supporting documents for a foreign national will also be responsible for ensuring the information is accurate and must cooperate with checks by Chinese authorities.
Individuals who provide false invitation letters or other fraudulent documents may face fines of CNY5 000-10 000 (R12 000-R24 000). Companies and organisations may be fined CNY10 000-50 000 (R24 000-R120 000).
