China has opened its doors wider than ever before. As of July 2025, citizens from 74 countries can now enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
This landmark expansion in the country’s travel policy is aimed at revitalizing inbound tourism, boosting the domestic economy, and enhancing its global soft power.
The sweeping policy shift has already produced notable results. According to China’s National Immigration Administration, more than 20 million foreign nationals entered the country without a visa in 2024, more than double the previous year’s total and nearly one-third of all foreign arrivals. The visa-free scheme, introduced in stages since 2023, now covers most of Europe, large parts of Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
“This really helps people to travel because it is such a hassle to apply for a visa and go through the process,” said Giorgi Shavadze, a Georgian citizen living in Austria, while visiting Beijing’s Temple of Heaven.
While tourist sites remain largely dominated by domestic travelers, international visitor numbers are rising steadily. Tour operators are already preparing for a surge. “I’m practically overwhelmed with tours and struggling to keep up,” said Gao Jun, a veteran English-speaking tour guide with over two decades of experience. “I just can’t handle them all on my own,” he added, noting that he recently launched a training business to develop more English-speaking guides.
European, Asian and Latin American Travelers among biggest beneficiaries
The bulk of visa-free eligibility covers nations in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia were among the first to benefit following a December 2023 announcement. By July 16, the list will grow to 75 countries with the inclusion of Azerbaijan.
About two-thirds of these exemptions are being offered on a one-year trial basis. Norway-based traveler Øystein Sporsheim welcomed the move, saying it spares his family “two round-trip visits to the Chinese embassy in Oslo to apply for a tourist visa,” calling the process previously “much harder.”
In June 2025 alone, five Latin American countries, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay, along with Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, were added. “The new visa policies are 100% beneficial to us,” said Jenny Zhao, Managing Director of WildChina, a boutique travel firm that has seen business increase by 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Trip.com Group, a Shanghai-based travel platform, reported a doubling in bookings for China-bound air and hotel packages during the first quarter of 2025, with 75% of customers coming from visa-free countries.
British Airways pushes for UK inclusion in China’s visa-free list
Despite the sweeping visa liberalization, some key countries remain excluded. The United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States have not been granted 30-day visa-free status. However, British Airways is lobbying for inclusion, citing potential boosts in demand.
“We’re working with the UK government and diplomatically with the China government around seeing if we can get the UK into that program,” said Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, during a media appearance in Shanghai. “I think that that’s one way that we can improve demand.”
The airline suspended its flights to Beijing in October 2024, citing logistical challenges, including restricted access to Russian airspace and a slower-than-expected rebound in Chinese travel.
List of Countries eligible for 30-day Visa-Free Travel to China
China now offers 30-day visa-free entry to citizens of 74 countries across Europe, Asia, Latin America & the Middle East. These include:
Europe: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland
Asia and Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia. Azerbaijan, Armenia and Brunei.
Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay.
Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE.
Transit option for 10 Countries outside the 30-day Visa-Free scheme
While China’s 30-day visa-free policy now covers most of Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, citizens of several major countries remain outside the scheme.
Citizens of 10 countries not included in China’s 30-day visa-free program including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Russia, and Indonesia may still enter visa-free for up to 10 days under a transit policy, provided they arrive and depart via different countries through one of 60 approved ports of entry.
Tourism surge across major Chinese Cities in 2025
The policy appears to be paying off nationwide. In the first half of 2025, Shanghai recorded 2.6 million foreign arrivals, a 44.8% year-on-year increase. Of those, 1.4 million visitors entered under the visa-free scheme, more than triple the previous year’s total. The highest number of arrivals were from South Korea, Japan, the United States, Thailand and Russia.
Beijing saw over 840,000 visa-free entries out of 1.49 million foreign arrivals, doubling its previous-year figure. The southwestern city of Chengdu reported a 120% surge in visa-free entries, reaching 287,000. Hainan province, operating a unique 59-country exemption list, noted that 89% of its 663,000 foreign arrivals in the first half of 2025 entered without a visa.
Thanks to China's visa-free policies and related measures, the popularity of both travel and shopping in China among foreigners has risen, serving as a boost to the country's tourism development. #GLOBALink pic.twitter.com/vCjbLt0zQE
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) July 7, 2025
“Our inbound tourism has already recovered to 70 to 80 per cent of pre-Covid levels. It could be fully recovered this year,” said James Liang, chairman of leading travel service Ctrip. “There are still some bottlenecks to be addressed. If they are tackled, China’s inbound tourism could reach the world’s top tier in 10 or 20 years.”
China-Malaysia visa-free agreement takes effect July 17
Furthering its diplomatic outreach, China and Malaysia are set to implement a mutual visa-free agreement beginning July 17, 2025. The deal exempts both Chinese and Malaysian passport holders from visa requirements for travel, business, and family visits for up to 30 days per entry, with a 90-day cumulative cap within 180 days.
Malaysia remains a top destination for Chinese tourists. According to travel platform Qunar, hotel bookings in Malaysia surged 43% year-on-year this summer, with Kuala Lumpur, Tawau, and Langkawi ranking as the most visited cities.
China opens up as US closes itself under Trump
China’s policy shift stands in sharp contrast to the direction taken by the United States under President Donald Trump, whose administration has imposed severe immigration and travel restrictions. These include new travel bans, revocation of student visas, and heightened entry screenings.
The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that the U.S. could lose between $12.5 billion and $29 billion in tourism revenue in 2025, as international visitors from countries including Canada, Germany, the U.K., and China face delays, device seizures, or outright denial of entry.
Meanwhile, China has signaled its intent to stay diplomatically engaged. Despite tensions, the Chinese government has responded to U.S. actions with restraint. While the U.S. imposes new visa hurdles, China continues advocating for multilateralism and cultural openness.