It has been roughly one year since the People’s Republic of China announced it would grant 15 days of visa-free travel to citizens of select countries. What started with a list of five eligible European countries in late November 2023 has now been extended to 33 in total. The initial travel trial period has also been extended earlier this year, as visa-free travel will be possible until the end of 2025.
From November 30 onward, nine more passports enable their owners to enter China for two four weeks without applying for a visa. The previously missing Baltic States of Estonia and Latvia are now part of the program as well, just like Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania.
The Chinese government has announced that, starting November 30, the period for visa-free travel will be extended to 30 days instead of previously 15.
Starting Saturday, November 30, citizens of the following European countries can travel to China visa-free for 30 days:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Estonia
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Norway
- North Macedonia
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
In Europe, countries like the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden and the United Kingdom are still missing, despite their neighbors making the list.
The program also includes non-European countries. While Malaysia was announced right at the beginning, other countries like Australia and New Zealand have been added later on. The newest additions are South Korea and Japan, whose citizens can now travel to China with just their passport for touristic purposes.
China Aiming For Foreign Tourists
The immigration process at Chinese airports under the new rules is pleasantly smooth. Since its implementation, four members of our team already travelled to China, and none of them ran into any difficulties. Despite easing up travel and being an incredibly worthwhile destination, the Chinese program to boost tourism has a hard time coming out of the starting blocks.
Many European airlines have discontinued flights to China during the past weeks. While increasing costs due to the closure of Russian airspace are a contributor, they also cite a lack of demand. American carriers lament the same issue, cutting a sizeable number of Chinese destinations compared to the time before the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, if you live in one of the aforementioned countries and always wanted to take a look at the Great Wall near Beijing, the amazing Skyline of Pudong or the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, there is hardly a better time. Immigration to the People’s Republic has never been easier, and ticket prices from Europe are astonishingly low in all travel classes:
Thanks to our source, Loyalty Lobby and gov.cn!