China Extends Visa-Free Stays for Dozens of Countries

China has confirmed it will extend its visa-free entry policy for citizens of France and several other countries until December 31, 2026. The program, which allows travelers to stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa, was originally set to expire at the end of 2025.

The announcement was made by Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a press briefing in Beijing. Mao stated that the extension supports China's broader goals of encouraging international travel, strengthening global cooperation, and advancing the country's open-door initiatives.

"Extending visa-free access for citizens of France and other partner countries reflects China's commitment to high-standard opening up and to promoting convenient cross-border exchanges," Mao said.

Countries Included in the Extension

According to the Ministry's official consular services website, the policy now covers 45 countries and regions, including:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, 

Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, 

Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, 

Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, 

Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, 

Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Uruguay.

Travelers from these countries can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, family visits, or business activities.

Sweden Joins Visa-Free Program

In a related update, Mao announced that Swedish citizens will be able to enter China visa-free starting November 10, 2025, with the arrangement also valid until December 31, 2026.

Sweden's inclusion expands the list of countries benefiting from the program, as China continues to encourage international travel and strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

Growing Tourism and Business Exchanges

Data from China's National Immigration Administration indicates that visa-free travel has become a key driver of inbound tourism. 

In the third quarter of 2025 alone, 7.25 million foreign visitors entered China under visa-free arrangements—an increase of 48.3% compared with the same period in 2024.

Visa-free arrivals represented more than 70% of all foreign entries, underscoring the impact of the policy on tourism and business engagement.

Chinese officials view the extension as an effective step in promoting economic recovery, international cooperation, and the country's image as an open and welcoming destination.

Source: Baidu