This Nov 17, 2016 photo shows the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Central. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said on Friday it will simplify the visa application process for those who have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced in China.

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Under the new rule, which will be effective from Monday, foreign nationals and their family members visiting the Chinese mainland for resuming work and production in various fields need only to provide documents required before the pandemic if they can present a vaccination certificate, according to a statement issued by the office.

Holders of valid APEC business travel cards may apply for the M visa by presenting the travel card and the invitation letter issued by the inviting party in the mainland, the Commissioner's Office said

Invitation letters issued by provincial departments or central state-owned enterprises are no longer necessary.

The office will also expand the scope of applicants eligible for applying for a visa out of emergency humanitarian needs to cover more family members of Chinese citizens or permanent residents of China, including spouse, parents, children and other close relatives.

Holders of valid APEC business travel cards may apply for the M visa by presenting the travel card and the invitation letter issued by the inviting party in the mainland, the office said.

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The office noted that the visa facilitation above applies only to applicants who have been inoculated with Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines, either having received two doses with the stipulated gap in between or having received a single-dose vaccine at least 14 days prior to the application, and have obtained the vaccination certificate.

A proof of a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result and the Health and Travel Record Declaration Form for Visa Application are no longer required, according to the statement.