China’s Foreign Ministry announced on Friday an expansion of its visa-free entry policy to include citizens from nine additional countries, including South Korea, Norway, and Finland. Nationals from these countries as well as Slovakia, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, and Liechtenstein will be permitted to enter China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit for up to 15 days without a visa. This policy is set to remain in effect until December 31, 2025.
The move aligns with China’s broader efforts to streamline entry processes and boost international tourism. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated that the country is committed to optimizing visa policies to ease travel and stay requirements for international visitors. Recent statistics indicate a significant surge in inbound travel, with 8.186 million foreign travelers visiting China in the third quarter of this year, a 48.8% increase year-on-year. Of those, 4.885 million entered under the visa waiver policy, marking a 78.6% rise.
Lin noted additional conveniences introduced to facilitate smoother travel, including reduced entry inspection wait times and the ability for foreign travelers to use their international bank cards directly for subway travel. The expanded visa-free entry initiative underscores China’s efforts to attract more international visitors and foster a robust tourism recovery.
