Icon

China extends visa-free regime for 11 European countries: important details

Travels
Popular
China
China extends visa-free regime for 11 European countries: important details

To boost tourism and international relations, the Chinese government plans to extend visa-free travel to 11 European countries by the end of 2025. Find out more about which countries tourists can travel to China without a visa

Order an insurance policy for safe travel to any part of the world
Order an insurance policy for safe travel to any part of the world
Buy


China has extended the visa-free regime for citizens of 11 European countries and Malaysia until the end of 2025. This initiative will be introduced in stages from the beginning of 2024 and was initially envisaged for a period of one year. The main goal of this regime is to stimulate a greater flow of people visiting China for business and tourism, as well as to facilitate exchanges between Chinese and foreign citizens.

Citizens of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom will be able to visit China without the need for a visa until the end of next year. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the visa-free program is designed for up to 15 days and is a trial. 


Resumption of international travel to China after the pandemic


During the Covid-19 pandemic, China took strict measures such as mandatory quarantine for all arrivals. This scared off many tourists. Restrictions were lifted early last year, but international travel has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Previously, China granted visa-free entry to citizens of Brunei, Japan, and Singapore, but suspended this option during the pandemic. In July, the visa-free regime was restored for Brunei and Singapore, but not for Japan.

According to immigration statistics for 2023, the number of foreigners entering and leaving China totaled 35.5 million, a significant decline from 97.7 million in 2019.

The Chinese government is actively seeking foreign investment to stimulate the economy. Therefore, some businessmen come to trade shows and meetings, including Elon Musk of Tesla and Tim Cook of Apple. However, foreign tourists remain rare compared to before the pandemic.




Planning a trip or move abroad? An important part of a successful trip is an insurance policy, as it guarantees high-quality medical care anywhere in the world and can protect you from unnecessary expenses while travelling. You can buy insurance from trusted agents on the Visit World portal. 




Simplifying travel to China for Europeans


Last year, there was an increase in European interest in traveling to China, in particular, according to the online travel agency Trip.com. During the reporting period, the number of bookings from Europe to China increased by 663% compared to 2022, and by almost 29% compared to 2019.

Research has shown that the UK and Germany have become one of the main sources of inbound tourists to China. As for popular destinations, Shanghai remains the leader among Europeans due to its unique combination of modernity and tradition. Other popular destinations include Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Sanya, located in the south of Hainan Island, and Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in southwestern China, have become new attractive destinations for European tourists.

In addition to introducing new visa-free programs, China is investing in improving tourism infrastructure, technology, and electronic payment systems to provide convenient conditions for European tourists. Such initiatives are aimed at promoting China's multifaceted cultural and historical heritage through a partnership with Trip.com.






Daria Rogova, Head of Insurance at Visit World


To move, travel or work safely in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can apply for an extended policy on our website here.




Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:


Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in China;

Legal advice on immigration to China;

Travel insurance for foreigners in China;

Medical insurance all over the world.




We monitor the accuracy and relevance of our information. Therefore, if you see any error or discrepancy, please write to our hotline.

Recommended articles

2 min

Travels Top 10 airports in the world with the best restaurants in the terminals

Top 10 airports in the world with the best restaurants in the terminals

Eating at the airport is not just about fast food or duty-free biscuits. In the terminals of many airports, there are large restaurants that offer travelers to enjoy delicious meals while they wait for their flight. Find out which airports in the world have the best establishments

02 maj. 2024

More details

3 min

Travels A selection of the best tree hotels in the world in 2024

A selection of the best tree hotels in the world in 2024

Choosing a hotel is a top priority when planning a holiday. The number of unusual tree hotels is growing rapidly around the world. Find out more about the most popular tree hotels in 2024

04 maj. 2024

More details

2 min

Travels Top 10 tourist destinations in the world where pickpocketing is most common

Top 10 tourist destinations in the world where pickpocketing is most common

Unfortunately, no one is immune from pickpockets, and sometimes even preliminary training and awareness of this issue do not help protect against criminals. And as you know, such cases are most common in tourist cities. Find out which popular locations in Europe have the highest risk of becoming a victim of a pickpocket and where you should be most cautious

07 maj. 2024

More details

3 min

Travels 10 best beach cities in Europe for summer vacation in 2024

10 best beach cities in Europe for summer vacation in 2024

Can't wait for your summer vacation and are counting down the days to your dream getaway? There are many cities by the sea in Europe where you can spend an unforgettable vacation. Find out more about the top 10 best beach resorts in Europe

11 maj. 2024

More details