The Slovak government has revealed its plans to make the issuance of work visas for Chinese entrepreneurs easier than it currently is. The measure is expected not only to boost employment opportunities but also the relations between the two countries.
The news was shared during a meeting of the Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, and the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, in Moscow, Russia, Schengen.News reports.
During this meeting, which was the second personal meeting with the Chinese President in the last six months, the Slovak PM revealed plans to open a cultural institute in Beijing by the end of this year and also invited China to establish a similar institute in the Slovak capital of Bratislava.
PM FICO Asks for Visa Facilitation for Slovaks Travelling to China
The Slovak Prime Minister has also asked his Chinese counterpart to extend visa-free entry for Slovaks for up to 30 days even after 2025, as currently the Chinese government has facilitated travel for many visitors. Trade disputes between China, the United States, and the European Union were also discussed during this meeting of the officials.
Previously, the Slovak government disclosed that 1,000 national visas would be issued to Chinese nationals every year, as Slovakia has also increased the number of residence permits it grants to foreign workers.
The legal regulation proposes to establish the conditions and purpose for the expression of interest of the Slovak Republic in granting a national visa for the purpose of employment to nationals of the People’s Republic of China who are employees of selected investors for a period of employment of no more than one year.
According to data published by Eurostat, the EU statistical office, Slovakia has issued a total of 642,710 residence permits in 2023, with 225,237 or 35 per cent of the total issued for employment purposes.
Chinese Remain the Top Schengen Visa Applicants in 2023
The Chinese are the number one nationality group to apply for Schengen visas in 2023. According to statistics published by SchengenVisaInfoChinese nationals filed 1.1 million applications for Schengen visas, the majority of which were filed for French visas.
France received 271,111 visa applications from Chinese nationals, followed by Germany (160,479) and Spain (148,533). Slovakia, on the other hand, received 895 visa applications from Chinese nationals, and all 91 per cent of them were approved, accounting for 819 approved visas.