9 New Countries | China Visa-Free Policy
At a press conference held on 1 November 2024, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that starting from 8 November 2024, China will implement a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and South Korea, emphasizing its commitment to opening up more to the world.
From this date until 31 December 2025, ordinary passport holders from these nine countries can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting, for stays of up to 15 days.
To date, the number of visa-free countries has increased to more than twenty. Below, we provide an overview of all the visa-free countries and the evolution of the time when they were announced and applied.
History & Timeline of visa-free countries
[2023/11/24] 6 Countries:
- Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia
- 2023/12/1 to 2024/11/30
- Reference
[2024/03/07] plus (+) 6 Countries:
- Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg
- 2024/3/1 to 2024/11/30
- Reference
[2024/05/07] For the 12 Countries:
- extend to 2025/12/31
- Reference
[2024/06/25] plus (+) 3 Countries:
- New Zealand, Australia, Poland
- 2024/7/1 to 2025/12/31
- Reference
[2024/09/30] plus (+) 4 Countries:
- Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia
- 2024/10/15 to 2025/12/31
- Reference
[2024/11/02] plus (+) 9 Countries:
- Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, South Korea
- 2024/11/8 to 2025/12/31
- Reference
This initiative is part of broader efforts to rejuvenate China’s inbound tourism, which has already shown significant recovery. In the third quarter alone, nearly 8.2 million foreign nationals entered China, marking a 48.8% year-on-year increase, with almost five million benefiting from existing visa-free arrangements. The policy has improved tourism prospects and demonstrated China’s broader commitment to global engagement.
By fostering easier access, China aims to showcase its rich culture, attract foreign investment, and drive economic growth. As the world continues recovering from travel disruptions caused by the pandemic, China’s proactive measures are set to make it a prime destination for international travelers.
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