Expanded visa-free access granted to more than seventy nations by China
In a significant move to facilitate international travel and strengthen diplomatic and economic ties, China has announced an expansion of its visa-free entry policy. As of mid-2025, **travelers from 74 countries** across various regions including Europe, South America, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Central Asia will be eligible for **30-day visa-free entry** to China[1].
This policy change is part of China’s broader strategy to encourage tourism and business, particularly with key regions like Latin America and the Middle East[2]. The 74 countries include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and several countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus[1][2].
Notably, no major African country is eligible for visa-free entry to China, despite relatively close ties[1]. However, the total number of countries eligible for visa-free entry will grow to 75 on July 16 with the addition of Azerbaijan.
The transit policy, which applies to 55 countries, also sees an expansion, with citizens of 10 countries—including the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Sweden, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Russia—now eligible for visa-free transit for up to 10 days[1]. This policy is limited to 60 ports of entry according to the National Immigration Administration.
The reopening of China's borders to tourists in early 2023 after lifting tough COVID-19 restrictions saw a significant increase in foreign visitors. However, the number of tourists in 2023 was still less than half the pre-pandemic level, with only 13.8 million people visiting compared to 31.9 million in 2019[1].
The new visa policy has brought relief to many travelers. Norwegian traveler Oystein Sporsheim, for instance, no longer needs to make multiple visits to the Chinese embassy for a tourist visa[1]. Similarly, Georgi Shavadze, a Georgian living in Austria, stated that the new visa policy helps people travel because it eliminates the hassle of applying for a visa[1].
The tourism industry in China is experiencing a resurgence. Jenny Zhao, managing director of WildChina, reports a 50% increase in business compared to before the pandemic[1]. European travelers now make up 15-20% of WildChina's clients, a significant increase from less than 5% before 2019[1].
The increased number of foreign tourists is also putting pressure on the tourism industry. Gao Jun, a veteran English-speaking tour guide with over 20 years of experience, is struggling to keep up with the growing demand for tours[1].
Trip.com Group, a leading online travel service provider, reports a doubling of air, hotel, and other bookings for travel to China in the first three months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022[1]. Interestingly, 75% of the visitors during this period were from visa-free regions.
In December 2023, China announced visa-free entry for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia[1]. Almost all of Europe has been added to the visa-free entry list since then. Travelers from five Latin American countries and Uzbekistan became eligible for visa-free entry last month, followed by four in the Middle East[1].
Aside from the UK, Sweden is the only other high-income European country not on the 30-day visa-free entry list, due to strained relations between China and Sweden since the imprisonment of Gui Minhai in 2020[1].
In 2024, more than 20 million foreign visitors entered China without a visa, almost one-third of the total and more than double from the previous year[1]. This expansion of the visa-free policy is expected to further boost these numbers in the coming years.
[1] Source: China Daily, South China Morning Post [2] Source: China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China National Tourism Administration
Travelers from the expanded list of 75 countries, including France and Spain, can now enjoy 30-day visa-free entry to China, contributing to a resurgence in the country's tourism industry. This policy change is also helping reduce the hassle for travelers, as Norwegian traveler Oystein Sporsheim no longer needs to apply for a tourist visa.
