China has expanded its visa-free entry policy to a record 74 countries, allowing tourists to visit the country for up to 30 days without a visa, marking a relaxation of border controls as Beijing seeks to boost tourism and stimulate the economy.
The new policy, a substantial jump from previous regulations, has already resulted in a surge in foreign visitors.
In 2024, over 20 million people entered China without a visa - more than double the previous year’s figure and accounting for nearly one-third of all foreign arrivals, according to the National Immigration Administration.
While domestic tourists continue to dominate popular sites, China’s travel industry is bracing for a further uptick in international arrivals during the upcoming summer season.
Tour guides and travel agencies are preparing for increased demand, following a sharp rise in interest from countries benefiting from new visa-free access.
China reopened its borders to tourists in early 2023 after ending stringent COVID-19 restrictions. However, only 13.8 million international tourists visited that year - far below the 31.9 million recorded in 2019, the final full year before the pandemic.
The latest policy updates have extended visa-free access to citizens across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
In December 2023, China first granted visa-free travel to citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia.
Since then, nearly all European Union member states have been added to the list, along with five Latin American nations and four Middle Eastern countries.
The list will expand to 75 countries on July 16 with the inclusion of Azerbaijan.
Approximately two-thirds of the visa waivers are being granted on a one-year trial basis, suggesting China may review or adjust the policy based on the volume of tourism and diplomatic factors.
Trip.com Group, a Shanghai-based online travel company, reported that the visa-free initiative had a notable impact. Bookings for air travel, accommodation, and related services for trips to China doubled in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, with 75% of the bookings coming from visa-free countries.
However, despite China's deepening ties with Africa in other areas, no major African country is currently included in the visa-free scheme.
For travellers from 10 countries not covered by the 30-day policy - including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Russia - there remains a workaround.
These citizens can still enter China for up to 10 days under a transit policy, provided they are travelling to a different third country than the one they departed from.
This option is valid at 60 designated ports of entry and is available to citizens of 55 countries overall, with most already qualifying for longer visa-free entry.
