China has given French companies and tourists a two-year planning horizon by extending its unilateral 30-day visa-free entry scheme for holders of ordinary French passports until 31 December 2026. The move, announced in Beijing on 5 November by Foreign-Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, keeps France on a list of 44 countries whose nationals can enter China for business, tourism, family visits, transit and other short-term purposes without obtaining a visa in advance.
Background. China first introduced the pilot exemption for France in December 2023 to jump-start inbound travel after the pandemic. French arrivals rebounded sharply in 2024, but were still 35 % below their 2019 level. Airlines have since restored 94 % of seat capacity on the France-China market, and Air France plans to return to double-daily Paris–Beijing flights in summer 2026. Extending the waiver provides certainty for carriers, tour operators and corporates drafting mobility budgets for the 2026 financial year.
![China extends 30-day visa-free entry for French travelers until the end of 2026]()
Business implications. French firms with operations in China—more than 1,100 according to the French Chamber of Commerce—no longer need to reserve quota within the Talent Passport or M-class business-visa channels for short visits. Mobility managers can redirect consular budgets toward longer-term assignments, while employees gain flexibility to attend last-minute meetings or audits. The exemption also dovetails with China’s new automated immigration e-gates, which accept French biometric passports and cut arrival processing times to under three minutes at major airports.
Practical advice. Travelers must still carry proof of onward travel within 30 days, accommodation details and travel insurance. The exemption cannot be converted in-country to work or residence status; overstays incur fines of ¥500 per day. Frequent flyers should keep a buffer of at least one day between trips because consecutive visa-free stays are counted back-to-back.
Outlook. Beijing signalled that it may add further EU states if the trial continues to boost inbound spending without security incidents. France, for its part, is expected to maintain its own short-stay visa-free facility for Chinese officials attending the 2026 Winter Youth Olympics in the Alps, creating more symmetry in bilateral travel regimes.
Background. China first introduced the pilot exemption for France in December 2023 to jump-start inbound travel after the pandemic. French arrivals rebounded sharply in 2024, but were still 35 % below their 2019 level. Airlines have since restored 94 % of seat capacity on the France-China market, and Air France plans to return to double-daily Paris–Beijing flights in summer 2026. Extending the waiver provides certainty for carriers, tour operators and corporates drafting mobility budgets for the 2026 financial year.
Business implications. French firms with operations in China—more than 1,100 according to the French Chamber of Commerce—no longer need to reserve quota within the Talent Passport or M-class business-visa channels for short visits. Mobility managers can redirect consular budgets toward longer-term assignments, while employees gain flexibility to attend last-minute meetings or audits. The exemption also dovetails with China’s new automated immigration e-gates, which accept French biometric passports and cut arrival processing times to under three minutes at major airports.
Practical advice. Travelers must still carry proof of onward travel within 30 days, accommodation details and travel insurance. The exemption cannot be converted in-country to work or residence status; overstays incur fines of ¥500 per day. Frequent flyers should keep a buffer of at least one day between trips because consecutive visa-free stays are counted back-to-back.
Outlook. Beijing signalled that it may add further EU states if the trial continues to boost inbound spending without security incidents. France, for its part, is expected to maintain its own short-stay visa-free facility for Chinese officials attending the 2026 Winter Youth Olympics in the Alps, creating more symmetry in bilateral travel regimes.
