On 23 October 2025 the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs quietly published an updated “List of Mutual Visa-Exemption Agreements,” expanding and clarifying the range of passports that can now enter partner countries—and China—without first applying for a visa. The list, current up to 23 October, confirms that 99 countries now have some form of reciprocal visa-waiver arrangement with Beijing, covering diplomatic, service and—in 43 cases—ordinary passports.
While most of the additional entries formalise agreements that have taken effect since mid-2024 (notably with Malaysia, Micronesia and Azerbaijan), the consolidated list is important for corporate mobility managers because it is the document border officers consult when deciding whether a Chinese—or foreign—traveller is in fact visa-exempt. The update also standardises passport categories and embeds recent “pilot” upgrades, such as 30-day visa-free stays for Argentine, Brazilian, Chilean, Peruvian and Uruguayan ordinary-passport holders, into the core policy framework.
For businesses, the practical upside is faster deployment times and lower compliance costs for short-term assignments in dozens of emerging markets. Chinese executives travelling on public-affairs passports can already enter 70-plus countries visa-free; now ordinary-passport holders benefit as well, streamlining everything from project kick-off visits in Central Asia to plant inspections in Latin America. The flip side is that HR teams must stay current: some waivers apply only to government or service passports, others are time-limited pilots, and several are subject to entry-purpose restrictions (for example, tourism only).
Travel-risk advisors also note that companies need to update internal mobility policies. Staff using visa-free entry often bypass the usual pre-trip visa-tracking systems, raising duty-of-care and tax-presence questions. Multinationals with regional hubs in Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai should adjust their automated workflows to flag where a visa is no longer required but local registration or work authorisation may still be.
The updated list further signals Beijing’s determination to position inbound and outbound travel as growth engines in the 15th Five-Year Plan cycle (2026-2030). Officials have repeatedly pledged to “broaden China’s visa-free circle of friends,” a policy that—together with easier payment options for foreigners—has already doubled visa-free arrivals this year. Companies that align incentive travel, training and client-visit programmes with the new exemptions stand to gain a first-mover advantage.
While most of the additional entries formalise agreements that have taken effect since mid-2024 (notably with Malaysia, Micronesia and Azerbaijan), the consolidated list is important for corporate mobility managers because it is the document border officers consult when deciding whether a Chinese—or foreign—traveller is in fact visa-exempt. The update also standardises passport categories and embeds recent “pilot” upgrades, such as 30-day visa-free stays for Argentine, Brazilian, Chilean, Peruvian and Uruguayan ordinary-passport holders, into the core policy framework.
For businesses, the practical upside is faster deployment times and lower compliance costs for short-term assignments in dozens of emerging markets. Chinese executives travelling on public-affairs passports can already enter 70-plus countries visa-free; now ordinary-passport holders benefit as well, streamlining everything from project kick-off visits in Central Asia to plant inspections in Latin America. The flip side is that HR teams must stay current: some waivers apply only to government or service passports, others are time-limited pilots, and several are subject to entry-purpose restrictions (for example, tourism only).
Travel-risk advisors also note that companies need to update internal mobility policies. Staff using visa-free entry often bypass the usual pre-trip visa-tracking systems, raising duty-of-care and tax-presence questions. Multinationals with regional hubs in Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai should adjust their automated workflows to flag where a visa is no longer required but local registration or work authorisation may still be.
The updated list further signals Beijing’s determination to position inbound and outbound travel as growth engines in the 15th Five-Year Plan cycle (2026-2030). Officials have repeatedly pledged to “broaden China’s visa-free circle of friends,” a policy that—together with easier payment options for foreigners—has already doubled visa-free arrivals this year. Companies that align incentive travel, training and client-visit programmes with the new exemptions stand to gain a first-mover advantage.
