BEIJING — China will prolong its unilateral visa-free policy for travelers holding ordinary passports from 45 countries until Dec. 31, 2026, and will add Sweden to the scheme effective Nov. 10, the Foreign Ministry said, betting that easier entry will further revive inbound travel and business ties.
The extension maintains 30-day visa-free stays for short-term business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit, according to the ministry’s consular affairs notice. Travelers who do not meet the criteria must still apply for a visa before arrival.
Who’s covered
The policy spans 32 European countries along with Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and a clutch of Latin American and Gulf states. Examples listed by Chinese outlets include Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain.
Sweden’s inclusion follows weeks of signals from Beijing and Stockholm about warming ties; Sweden’s foreign minister said in October that visa-free travel for Swedes was imminent. Swedish media confirmed the start date of Nov. 10 with the 2026 expiration.
Regional and industry reaction
Asian media framed the move as part of a tit-for-tat easing across the region. In recent months South Korea temporarily opened visa-free entry to Chinese group tourists through mid-2026, a step widely covered by Korean and Chinese outlets and seen as complementary to Beijing’s visa waivers.
Pro-government Chinese media emphasized the policy’s role in facilitating “people-to-people exchanges,” while noting the 30-day limit and ordinary-passport requirement. Global Times highlighted Sweden’s addition and restated the entry categories, mirroring the official consular notice. Gulf News told readers the extension was aimed at boosting tourism and international ties, a theme echoed across regional travel press.
Outlets in Australia and India underscored that their nationals benefit (Australia) or do not (India) and published list-style explainers—a sign the changes are already shaping traveler plans.
Context: A broader reopening arc
China has steadily expanded visa-free access since late 2024, when it restored and lengthened stays from 15 to 30 days for a growing roster of countries to spur consumption and travel. Officials also pledged in January 2025 to keep widening the list as part of an inbound tourism push.
In May, Beijing added a one-year, visa-free trial for five Latin American nations—another sign of diplomatic outreach beyond Europe and Northeast Asia.
What travelers should know now
- Dates: The current extension runs through Dec. 31, 2026; Sweden joins Nov. 10, 2025.
- Eligibility: Ordinary passports only; stays up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, or transit.
- Limits: Those not meeting visa-free conditions must obtain a visa before entry.
Why it matters
The measures bring China’s access regime closer to regional competitors trying to capture post-pandemic tourism. Easing entry for Europe, the Pacific and parts of Latin America and the Gulf broadens the funnel for short-stay travel and deal-making, even as visits from countries outside the waiver list still depend on transit exemptions or standard visas. (zai)