China launches 'green channel' for Bangladeshi medical travelers

Dhaka : The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka has launched a special "green channel" to expedite medical visas for Bangladeshi travelers seeking healthcare in the East Asian nation.

The move is aimed at implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of two countries during Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus's visit to China in March, the embassy said in a statement on May 4.

The development will further enhance cooperation in public health and facilitate personnel exchanges between the countries, it added.

The steps taken by the Chinese mission to Dhaka to facilitate the medical visa process include simplification of documentation requirements, inauguration of dedicated hotlines, and streamlining the interview process.

As part of the measures, the local travel agencies with valid business licenses may issue guarantee letters for travelers seeking medical treatment in China regarding bank deposit certificates and proof of kinship, exempting them from obtaining the certificates authenticated by the country's foreign ministry.

Online applications will be prioritized and reviewed immediately upon submission.?

A dedicated counter for medical visas has been set up at the Visa Center, allowing applicants to submit documents on arrival without waiting.?

A "green channel" is available for urgent medical cases, and visas will be issued on the day it is sought.

Medical visa applicants with scheduled appointments will be granted queue-free priority interviews. Where in-person attendance is medically inadvisable, a travel agency's guarantee letter may authorize remote interview proceedings.

The Chinese embassy imposes no restrictions on which Chinese hospitals the Bangladeshi travel agencies could forge partnerships with, nor on the licensed travel agencies to assist applicants with the documentation for Chinese visas.