Beijing has gifted Austrian companies an extra year of administrative breathing-space. In a 11 November notice, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that its unilateral 30-day visa-waiver programme for 45 nations—including Austria—will now run until 24:00 (Beijing time) on 31 December 2026. The pilot, launched in 2023, lets ordinary-passport holders enter for business, tourism or family visits without queueing for an M-visa at the Chinese embassy in Vienna.
For export-oriented manufacturers in Upper Austria and Styria, the extension removes the risk of last-minute trip cancellations in Q1 2026. Executives can continue to book spontaneous visits to supplier clusters in the Yangtze River Delta and attend trade fairs in Guangzhou without the eight-day processing time and €140 consular fee that a regular visa demands. Airlines such as Austrian, Air China and Hainan are already analysing whether to add extra Vienna–Shanghai frequencies in summer 2026.
![China Extends 30-Day Visa-Free Access for Austrians Until End-2026]()
Travel managers should still caution staff that the 30-day limit is counted per entry and cannot be reset by a quick hop to Hong Kong or Macau; overstay fines remain RMB 500 per day. Travellers must also complete China’s online health declaration and carry evidence of onward tickets. Those intending to conduct hands-on technical work, study or remain longer than a month must obtain the appropriate Z-, X- or S-series visa in advance.
Strategically, the waiver underscores China’s courtship of European investment amid slow domestic growth. It also benefits Austrian tourism: before the pandemic China was Vienna’s fastest-growing long-haul market, and the ski resorts of Tyrol are targeting high-spending Chinese FIT travellers for winter 2025-26. Mobility compliance teams should update policy handbooks to reflect the new expiry date and monitor Beijing’s future reciprocity signals.
For export-oriented manufacturers in Upper Austria and Styria, the extension removes the risk of last-minute trip cancellations in Q1 2026. Executives can continue to book spontaneous visits to supplier clusters in the Yangtze River Delta and attend trade fairs in Guangzhou without the eight-day processing time and €140 consular fee that a regular visa demands. Airlines such as Austrian, Air China and Hainan are already analysing whether to add extra Vienna–Shanghai frequencies in summer 2026.
Travel managers should still caution staff that the 30-day limit is counted per entry and cannot be reset by a quick hop to Hong Kong or Macau; overstay fines remain RMB 500 per day. Travellers must also complete China’s online health declaration and carry evidence of onward tickets. Those intending to conduct hands-on technical work, study or remain longer than a month must obtain the appropriate Z-, X- or S-series visa in advance.
Strategically, the waiver underscores China’s courtship of European investment amid slow domestic growth. It also benefits Austrian tourism: before the pandemic China was Vienna’s fastest-growing long-haul market, and the ski resorts of Tyrol are targeting high-spending Chinese FIT travellers for winter 2025-26. Mobility compliance teams should update policy handbooks to reflect the new expiry date and monitor Beijing’s future reciprocity signals.
