China Expands Visa-Free Access to 74 Countries \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ China has expanded its visa-free travel policy to include 74 countries, allowing eligible foreign nationals to stay for up to 30 days without a visa. This unprecedented move has more than doubled the number of visa-free tourists compared to last year, revitalizing the tourism industry post-pandemic. Travel agencies, tour guides, and luxury operators are experiencing a surge in demand as global interest in visiting China rapidly rebounds.
Quick Looks
- Citizens from 74 nations can now visit China visa-free
- Over 20 million tourists entered without visas in 2024
- New policy aims to boost tourism and economic recovery
- U.S., Canada, and UK excluded but allowed limited transit
- Tour operators report rising bookings and staffing shortages
- 30-day entry trial applies to most European and Asian countries
- Business in boutique travel sector is up 50% post-pandemic
- African countries still largely excluded despite diplomatic ties
- Most travelers can enter for tourism or business
- Final expansion to 75 countries set for July 16
Deep Look
China is witnessing a strong revival in international tourism after launching the broadest visa-free travel policy in its history. Now, citizens from 74 countries can enter mainland China for up to 30 days without a visa, representing a major shift in the nation’s foreign travel regulations. The bold policy is part of Beijing’s efforts to rejuvenate the tourism industry, boost the national economy, and expand its global soft power after years of strict pandemic-related border closures.
According to the National Immigration Administration, more than 20 million foreign travelers entered China without visas in 2024, accounting for nearly one-third of all foreign entries and more than double the total from the year before.
“This really helps people to travel because it is such a hassle to apply for a visa,” said Georgi Shavadze, a Georgian national living in Austria, during a recent trip to Beijing’s historic Temple of Heaven.
Though domestic tourists still dominate major tourist hotspots, travel agencies are seeing a surge in foreign bookings, particularly in anticipation of the 2025 summer travel season. Tour guide Gao Jun, a 20-year veteran of Beijing tourism, says the rush has overwhelmed him. “I’m practically overloaded with tours,” he said. To meet growing demand, he launched a training school for English-speaking guides.
Who Can Visit Visa-Free?
Since December 2023, the Chinese government has gradually added dozens of countries to the visa-free list, starting with France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia. Since then, nearly all of Europe has been included. The policy now extends to five Latin American nations, Uzbekistan, and several Middle Eastern countries, with Azerbaijan joining on July 16, pushing the list to 75 countries.
The majority of these visa exemptions are being trialed on a one-year basis, which could be extended if the policy proves successful.
“It used to be expensive and time-consuming to apply for a visa, especially with children,” said Øystein Sporsheim, a Norwegian traveler. “Now it’s so much easier.”
Tourism Sector Rebounding Fast
The post-pandemic tourism revival has already delivered promising signs. Boutique and luxury travel companies like WildChina report that business is up 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
“The new visa policies are 100% beneficial,” said Jenny Zhao, managing director of WildChina. She noted that while the U.S. remains the largest source market (about 30% of their business), European travelers now make up 15–20%, a significant rise from under 5% in 2019.
Online travel giant Trip.com Group confirmed the trend, reporting that bookings for travel to China doubled in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same time in 2024. An impressive 75% of travelers came from newly visa-free countries.
Who’s Left Out?
Despite strong trade and political relationships, no major African country is currently on the visa-free list. The exclusion has raised questions, given China’s longstanding diplomatic investments in the continent.
North American countries such as the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, along with others like the U.K., Sweden, Russia, and Ukraine, are also not part of the 30-day visa-free program. However, they are eligible for a 10-day transit stay if they enter China en route to a different third country — a loophole that offers limited access under China’s transit policy, which covers 60 ports of entry.
While most of the 55 countries included in the transit policy are also part of the 30-day list, this secondary entry method is especially important for travelers from the 10 excluded countries.
Sweden’s Unique Exclusion
Sweden stands out as the only high-income EU country excluded from the 30-day visa-free list. Analysts link the exclusion to deteriorated diplomatic ties following the controversial imprisonment of Swedish publisher Gui Minhai, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2020. Gui’s case, which involved his mysterious disappearance from Thailand in 2015 and subsequent reappearance in Chinese custody, has strained Sweden-China relations ever since.
China Expands Visa
