China will start issuing visas to foreigners on Wednesday in a further easing of travel restrictions to the country, its foreign ministry has said.

In addition to new visas being reviewed and approved, those issued before 28 March 2020 that remain valid will once again allow entry to China, a notice posted Tuesday on a social media account affiliated with the foreign ministry’s consular affairs bureau, said.

Similar notices appeared on the websites of several overseas Chinese missions, including its embassies in the United States and France.

The updated policy will also allow for the resumption of visa-free travel for those arriving on cruise ships to Shanghai as well as for certain tourist groups from Hong Kong, Macau and countries within the ASEAN regional grouping, the notice said.

Beijing announced in late December that inbound travelers to the country would no longer need to quarantine from 8 January but kept in place visa restrictions on foreigners.