China expands visa-free policy to 9 more countries

China’s Foreign Ministry has announced a significant expansion to its visa-free policy, adding nine new countries to the programme, including Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan.

Taking effect from November 30, it allows ordinary passport holders from these countries to enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for purposes such as tourism, business, family visits, and exchanges.

The latest additions bring the total number of countries included in China’s visa-free programme to 38, with 29 of these being European nations. This follows earlier extensions made throughout 2024, which granted visa-free entry to countries including Denmark, Greece, Portugal, and Slovenia.

China’s tourism boost

China’s updated visa-free policy is part of broader efforts to revitalise its tourism sector and facilitate international exchanges. According to the National Immigration Administration (NIA), visa-free travel contributed to 13.4 million trips in the first three quarters of 2024, representing 58.8 per cent of all inbound travel.

The surge in interest is already noticeable. Online travel agency Trip.com reported a 65 per cent increase in searches for China on its European site and a 112 per cent spike on its Japan platform within hours of the announcement.

While international travel to China has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, the country remains a popular destination for Europeans. In 2023, there were 35.5 million foreign entries, compared to 97.7 million in 2019, as reported by Euronews.

Cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou continue to attract European tourists, while emerging destinations such as Sanya, a tropical city on Hainan Island, and Chengdu, home to the famous panda sanctuaries, are gaining popularity.

Investments are also being made in technology, travel guides, and e-payment systems to simplify the travel experience for international visitors.

For locals and expats in Europe, China’s visa-free policy provides new opportunities to explore the country with fewer bureaucratic hurdles.

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