Mainland China: 15-Day Visa-Free Travel Program Expanded

China has expanded its 15-day visa-free travel policy, allowing citizens from several European countries and Malaysia to explore the mainland without a visa for up to 15 days. This opens doors for business, tourism, visiting relatives, and transit through visa-free travel or an e-visa.

The eligible countries now include France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg during specified periods in 2023 and 2024. This expansion aims to facilitate entry procedures and promote exchanges between China and other nations through the diversity visa program.

Countries with Mutual Visa Exemption Agreements

China has mutual visa exemption agreements with several countries that allow ordinary passport holders to travel visa-free for up to 30 days. These countries include:

1. Armenia
2. The Bahamas
3. Barbados
4. Belarus
5. Bosnia and Herzegovina
6. Brunei
7. Croatia
8. Cyprus
9. Dominica
10. Ecuador
11. Grenada
12. Jamaica
13. Mauritius
14. Montenegro
15. Morocco
16. Namibia
17. Peru
18. Qatar
19. Russia
20. Serbia
21. Seychelles
22. Singapore
23. Trinidad and Tobago
24. United Arab Emirates
25. Vanuatu

Travelers from these countries can enjoy visa-free entry into mainland China for tourism, business, or transit purposes for up to 30 consecutive days. This mutual visa exemption facilitates travel and promotes exchanges between China and these nations.

Countries with 30-day Visa-Free Travel

Visa-Free Entry to Hainan Island

Foreign nationals from 59 countries are eligible for 30-day visa-free entry to China’s Hainan Island, a popular tourist destination. These countries include:

1. Albania
2. Argentina
3. Australia
4. Austria
5. Belarus
6. Bosnia and Herzegovina
7. Brazil
8. Brunei
9. Bulgaria
10. Canada
11. Chile
12. Croatia
13. Cyprus
14. Czech Republic
15. Denmark
16. Estonia
17. Finland
18. France
19. Germany
20. Greece
21. Hungary
22. Iceland
23. Ireland
24. Italy
25. Japan
26. Kazakhstan
27. Latvia
28. Lithuania
29. Luxembourg
30. Malaysia
31. Malta
32. Mexico
33. Monaco
34. Montenegro
35. Netherlands
36. New Zealand
37. North Macedonia
38. Norway
39. Philippines
40. Poland
41. Portugal
42. Romania
43. Russia
44. Serbia
45. Singapore
46. Slovakia
47. Slovenia
48. South Korea
49. Spain
50. Sweden
51. Switzerland
52. Thailand
53. Turkey
54. Ukraine
55. United Arab Emirates
56. United Kingdom
57. United States
58. Uruguay
59. Vatican City

This visa-free policy allows foreign visitors to explore the tropical island province of Hainan for up to 30 consecutive days without the need for a visa, facilitating tourism and cultural exchanges.

Visa-Free Transit in Major Cities

Foreign citizens from 54 countries are eligible for 72/144-hour visa-free transit in major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu. These countries include:

1. Albania
2. Argentina
3. Australia
4. Austria
5. Belarus
6. Belgium
7. Bosnia and Herzegovina
8. Brazil
9. Bulgaria
10. Canada
11. Chile
12. Croatia
13. Cyprus
14. Czech Republic
15. Denmark
16. Estonia
17. Finland
18. France
19. Germany
20. Greece
21. Hungary
22. Iceland
23. Ireland
24. Italy
25. Japan
26. Latvia
27. Lithuania
28. Luxembourg
29. Malta
30. Mexico
31. Monaco
32. Montenegro
33. Netherlands
34. New Zealand
35. North Macedonia
36. Norway
37. Poland
38. Portugal
39. Romania
40. Russia
41. Serbia
42. Singapore
43. Slovakia
44. Slovenia
45. South Korea
46. Spain
47. Sweden
48. Switzerland
49. Turkey
50. United Arab Emirates
51. United Kingdom
52. United States
53. Uruguay
54. Vatican City

This visa-free transit policy allows foreign nationals to stay in these cities for up to 72 or 144 hours without a visa, facilitating international travel and transit.

Other Visa-Free Policies

1. Holders of valid APEC Business Travel Cards from the 10 ASEAN member states can enter and exit China without a visa via Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, with a maximum stay of 144 hours.
2. China and Singapore have agreed to implement a 30-day visa-free entry policy for their citizens, starting from February 9, 2024. Previously, citizens of Brunei and Singapore were eligible for 15-day visa-free travel to China, but this policy was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and later resumed with Singapore’s policy upgraded to 30 days.
3. Holders of ordinary passports from certain countries like the Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Dominica, and others can enter mainland China without a visa for 30 days.
4. Holders of passports for public affairs from certain countries can enter China without a visa, and holders of diplomatic, official, service, or special passports from certain countries can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days.
5. Citizens of 5 countries (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Russia) can visit China for up to 30 days (15 days for Russia) without a visa if traveling in a tour group.

These visa-free policies facilitate travel, business, and cultural exchanges between China and various nations, promoting international cooperation and understanding.

Countries with 15-day Visa-Free Travel

China has expanded its 15-day visa-free travel policy to several countries, allowing their citizens to explore mainland China without a visa for up to 15 days. This expansion aims to facilitate entry procedures and promote exchanges between China and other nations.

European Countries with 15-day Visa-Free Travel

1. France
2. Germany
3. Italy
4. Netherlands
5. Spain
6. Switzerland
7. Ireland
8. Hungary
9. Austria
10. Belgium
11. Luxembourg

The 15-day visa-free travel policy for these European countries is effective from March 14 to November 30, 2024, and has been further extended until December 31, 2025.

Other Countries with 15-day Visa-Free Travel

1. Malaysia
2. Brunei
3. Singapore

Previously, China had a 15-day visa-free travel policy for citizens of Japan, Brunei, and Singapore, which was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic but has since been resumed for Brunei and Singapore.

This 15-day visa-free travel policy allows ordinary passport holders from the eligible countries to enter China for purposes of business, tourism, visiting relatives/friends, and transit, without needing to apply for a visa in advance.

China’s visa-free policies have led to a significant increase in foreign tourists, especially during the Spring Festival holiday in 2023. To address the decline in international tourism during the pandemic, the Chinese government has implemented these 15-day visa-free travel policies for visitors from several countries. China has also taken measures to boost inbound tourism, such as shortening visa application forms, lowering visa fees, and streamlining approval procedures.

Conclusion

China’s expansion of visa-free travel policies for citizens of various countries represents a significant step towards promoting international cooperation, cultural exchange, and tourism. By allowing visa-free entry for up to 15 or 30 days, China has opened its doors to visitors from Europe, Asia, and other regions, fostering stronger ties and facilitating seamless travel experiences.

This move not only benefits individual travelers but also holds the potential to boost economic growth and foster mutual understanding between nations. As the world continues to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, such initiatives by China showcase its commitment to reviving international tourism and strengthening global connections. While challenges may arise, the visa-free travel policies pave the way for enhanced people-to-people exchanges, leading to a more interconnected and harmonious global community.

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