(Yicai) Dec. 7 -- The Chinese embassies in New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and some other countries are set to reduce the cost of applying for a temporary visitor visa to China from Dec. 11 to the end of next year.

The Chinese embassy in New Zealand lowered the fees for locals applying for a single-entry visa to NZD105 from NZD140 (USD64.67 from USD86.23), and those for a one-year visa with multiple entries NZD315 from NZD420, it said late yesterday.

The embassy in Wellington also cut application costs for multiple entry visas for US citizens in New Zealand to NZD225 from NZD298 and by around NZD10 to about NZD95 for other passport holders.

Some Chinese embassies have also reduced the fees for visas to China’s special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

China will adjust visa and entry policies for foreigners and resume the unilateral visa-free policy to provide citizens of other countries with more channels and convenience to visit China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Nov. 17.

To simplify the visa application process, China will temporarily stop taking applicants’ fingerprints and cancel appointments at its 260 embassies and consulates by the end of this year.

Citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia holding standard passports can visit China for up to 15 days without needing to apply for a visa between Dec. 1 and Nov. 30 next year, Mao Ning, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Nov. 24.

Editor: Martin Kadiev