Who can travel visa-free in China for 15 days and more?

China extends visa-free policy 12 countries

In order to further promote the exchange of people between China and foreign countries, China has decided to extend until 31 December 2025 the visa-free policy for 12 countries, namely, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg. Holders of ordinary passports from the above countries who come to China for doing business, travelling, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for not more than 15 days can enter China visa-free, while those who do not meet the conditions for visa-free access are required to apply for visas to China before entering the country.

Information Source: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/wjbzwfwpt/kzx/tzgg/202405/t20240508_11300950.html

Visa-free policy for New Zealand, Australia and Poland

In order to further promote the exchanges between Chinese and foreigners, China has decided to expand the scope of visa-free countries and implement visa-free policy on a trial basis for the holders of ordinary passports from three countries, namely New Zealand, Australia and Poland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) learnt on 25 June 2024.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at the day's regular press conference in response to inquiries about the situation, said that from 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2025, the above countries holding ordinary passports to come to China for business, tourism, visiting friends and relatives and transit for no more than 15 days, can be visa-free entry. Persons from the above countries who are not eligible for visa-free entry are still required to obtain visas to China before entering the country.

Information source: https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202406/content_6959255.htm

Visa-free entry for foreign tour groups coming to China on cruise ships from 15 May, 2024
     
After consulting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the General Administration of Customs, and submitting to the State Council for approval, the National Immigration Administration decided that starting from 15 May 2024, foreign tour groups (more than 2 persons) travelling on a cruise ship and hosted by domestic travel agencies can enter and stay for more than 15 days without issuing visas for the whole group from 13 cities, including Tianjin, Dalian of Liaoning, Shanghai, Lianyungang of Jiangsu, Wenzhou and Zhoushan of Zhejiang, Xiamen of Fujian, Qingdao of Shandong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen of Guangdong, Haikou of Hainan and Sanya. Qingdao of Shandong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen of Guangdong, Beihai of Guangxi, and Haikou and Sanya of Hainan, etc. The whole group can enter and stay in the country without visa for no more than 15 days. Tour groups must accompany the same cruise ship to the next port until the cruise ship out of the scope of activities for coastal provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) and Beijing. At the same time, in order to support the development of cruise tourism, it was decided to add seven cruise ports in Dalian, Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Beihai as ports applicable to China's transit visa-free policy, so as to facilitate the transit of foreign travellers who meet the conditions of the China's transit visa-free policy to take a cruise ship.
The relevant person in charge of the National Immigration Administration introduced that the full implementation of the policy of visa-free entry for foreign tourist groups travelling on cruise ships is an important practice to accelerate the development of China's cruise economy and an important initiative to promote the opening up of our country's system, which further embodies China's determination to comprehensively deepen the reform and opening up of the country's determination and attitude. Next, the National Immigration Administration will work with relevant departments to thoroughly implement the decision-making and deployment of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, adhere to the focus on the central work of economic construction and the primary task of high-quality development, continue to deepen the reform and innovation, strengthen the policy co-ordination and coordination, and form a synergy of work, to better promote the exchange of people between China and foreign countries and foreign exchanges and cooperation, and to serve the country's opening up to the outside world at a high level.

Information source: https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202405/content_6951060.htm

Resume 15-day visa-free entry for Singaporean and Brunei citizens

On 23 July, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore and the Chinese Embassy in Brunei issued a notice informing that starting from 0000 hours Beijing time on 26 July 2023, the Chinese Government will resume the 15-day visa-free entry policy for Singaporean and Brunei citizens holding ordinary passports who come to China for business, sightseeing and tourism, to visit relatives and friends and for transit. Visas for Singaporean and Brunei nationals who have previously been issued visas to China will continue to be valid. Visa applications that have already been processed will continue to be considered for issuance.

List of Mutual Visa Exemption Agreements between China and Foreign Countries

According to the agreement, citizens of the following countries holding ordinary passports can stay in China visa-free for up to 30 days.

Albania
United Arab Emirates
Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados
Bahamas
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dominica
Ecuador
Fiji
Grenada
Georgia
Qatar
Maldives
Mauritius
Serbia
Seychelles
San Marino
Thailand
Tonga
Singapore
Armenia

Visa-free entry is not the same as indefinite stay or residence in the Agreement countries, which requires that a person holding the relevant passport be allowed to stay only for 30 days after visa-free entry.

According to the agreement, visa-free entry with the relevant passport is normally limited to a stay of not more than 30 days. If the holder needs to stay for more than 30 days, he/she is required to apply for residence permit in the country as soon as possible.

Licence holders who need to stay for more than 30 days are required to apply for residence formalities there as soon as possible.

The text of the Agreement is available in the Treaty Database on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. (http://treaty.mfa.gov.cn/web/index.jsp)