Finally, after months lockdown, Shanghai eased into normal life on 1st.Jun.2022. At mean time, with the implementation of the resumption of work and production, Chinese foreign policy also has become increasingly relaxed.

Good news! Starting from June 6, 2022, many companies have successively got information from their respective regional authorities. From now on, the following foreign people do not need to apply for a letter of invitation to come to China (PU invitation letter), but can directly apply for a Chinese visa to a Chinese institution abroad with a work permit/work permit notice, or proof of family relationship.

Foreigners who have been approved by the competent authorities to work in China;
Foreign family members of those who have resumed work (including foreigners working in China).

We understand the above notice as below (the following interpretation is for reference only, the official interpretation shall prevail):

Work/Z visa, private affairs/S visa, reunion/Q visa applications are exempt from submitting a PU invitation letter;
If you come to China for other reasons, such as business/M visa, exchange visit/F visa application, you still need to apply for a PU invitation letter;
There is currently no news about the opening of visa applications for visa types such as tourism and study abroad.

At present, the overseas institutions have not issued relevant announcements. It is not clear whether all overseas institutions accept PU-free invitation letters to submit Z\S\Q visa applications; if some overseas institutions still require government-issued invitation letters For visa applications, please refer to the reply of the overseas institution.