French passport-holders planning short business trips or holidays to mainland China can breathe easier: Beijing has prolonged its unilateral 30-day visa-waiver scheme for France and 44 other nations until 31 December 2026. The announcement, published 10 November 2025 by travel-management firm Uvet and confirmed by the Chinese foreign ministry, also unveils a forthcoming e-arrival card that travellers must complete online from 20 November.
The extension removes a bureaucratic cliff-edge that had worried corporate travel managers; the waiver was due to lapse on 31 December 2025. French exporters—especially in luxury goods and aerospace—say it will ease scheduling of factory audits, trade-fair visits and after-sales missions that often last under a month. Tour operators expect renewed momentum as simplified entry compensates for lingering concerns about post-pandemic red tape.
![China Extends 30-Day Visa-Free Entry for French Nationals to 2026]()
What’s new beyond the extra year? China will soon require all visa-free visitors to file a digital arrival declaration, similar to Australia’s ETA or the US CBP One app. Details on cost and validity remain sparse, but businesses should budget for a nominal fee and train travellers to complete the form before departure to avoid airport bottlenecks.
For mobility teams the headline takeaway is straightforward: no need to switch to M- (business) or L- (tourist) visas in 2026 for trips up to 30 days. However, those planning longer assignments still need the appropriate Z-work permit or S-dependent visa, which remain unchanged. Companies should also verify their travel-risk insurance policies cover China in light of heightened regulatory scrutiny on data-heavy devices at customs checks.
At the geopolitical level, Beijing’s decision underscores its desire to revive inbound tourism—still only at 36 percent of 2019 levels—and to court EU investment amid US tech-export restrictions. France, for its part, gains leverage in negotiations over flight frequencies and the reopening of additional consular posts outside Paris.
The extension removes a bureaucratic cliff-edge that had worried corporate travel managers; the waiver was due to lapse on 31 December 2025. French exporters—especially in luxury goods and aerospace—say it will ease scheduling of factory audits, trade-fair visits and after-sales missions that often last under a month. Tour operators expect renewed momentum as simplified entry compensates for lingering concerns about post-pandemic red tape.
What’s new beyond the extra year? China will soon require all visa-free visitors to file a digital arrival declaration, similar to Australia’s ETA or the US CBP One app. Details on cost and validity remain sparse, but businesses should budget for a nominal fee and train travellers to complete the form before departure to avoid airport bottlenecks.
For mobility teams the headline takeaway is straightforward: no need to switch to M- (business) or L- (tourist) visas in 2026 for trips up to 30 days. However, those planning longer assignments still need the appropriate Z-work permit or S-dependent visa, which remain unchanged. Companies should also verify their travel-risk insurance policies cover China in light of heightened regulatory scrutiny on data-heavy devices at customs checks.
At the geopolitical level, Beijing’s decision underscores its desire to revive inbound tourism—still only at 36 percent of 2019 levels—and to court EU investment amid US tech-export restrictions. France, for its part, gains leverage in negotiations over flight frequencies and the reopening of additional consular posts outside Paris.
