China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on 13 November that its unilateral 30-day visa-waiver programme for citizens of 47 countries—including Belgium—will be prolonged to 31 December 2026. Sweden was added to the eligibility list effective 10 November. The scheme permits stays for tourism, business, family visits and transit but excludes employment and study.
The decision gives European tour operators and corporate travel planners a two-year planning horizon, critical for long-cycle events such as trade fairs and expatriate family visits. Before the pandemic, Belgium generated more than 120,000 annual arrivals to China; numbers have yet to recover fully. Airlines operating the Brussels–Beijing and Brussels–Shanghai routes are expected to increase frequencies for the 2026 Chinese New Year peak.
![China Extends Visa-Free Entry for Belgian Travellers Until End-2026]()
While the waiver eases entry, travellers must still hold passports valid for six months and proof of onward travel. Border officials may request evidence of purpose; Belgian companies should prepare invitation letters and registration documents in advance. The policy does not apply at all Chinese ports of entry, so route planning remains important.
The extension also feeds into Belgium’s wider Asia-Pacific mobility strategy as logistics and tech firms deepen supply-chain ties with mainland partners. Visa facilitation lowers costs for short-term technical visits and accelerates project kick-offs.
The decision gives European tour operators and corporate travel planners a two-year planning horizon, critical for long-cycle events such as trade fairs and expatriate family visits. Before the pandemic, Belgium generated more than 120,000 annual arrivals to China; numbers have yet to recover fully. Airlines operating the Brussels–Beijing and Brussels–Shanghai routes are expected to increase frequencies for the 2026 Chinese New Year peak.
While the waiver eases entry, travellers must still hold passports valid for six months and proof of onward travel. Border officials may request evidence of purpose; Belgian companies should prepare invitation letters and registration documents in advance. The policy does not apply at all Chinese ports of entry, so route planning remains important.
The extension also feeds into Belgium’s wider Asia-Pacific mobility strategy as logistics and tech firms deepen supply-chain ties with mainland partners. Visa facilitation lowers costs for short-term technical visits and accelerates project kick-offs.
