In a decree signed on 1 December and published this week, President Vladimir Putin authorised holders of ordinary Chinese passports to enter Russia for up to 30 days without a visa for tourism, business meetings, cultural or sporting events and transit. The measure is valid until 14 September 2026 and mirrors Beijing’s own 30-day waiver for Russian citizens launched in September.
Russian online travel agencies said flight searches on Beijing-Moscow routes jumped 44 % within hours of the announcement, while Aeroflot and China Eastern are already considering restoring seasonal services such as Ningbo–Vladivostok. Analysts expect Chinese arrivals to surpass pre-pandemic 2019 levels by spring 2026, helped by a weak rouble and pent-up leisure demand.
![Russia Opens 30-Day Visa-Free Access to Chinese Travellers]()
For multinational companies active along the Sino-Russian corridor—from LNG projects in the Amur region to e-commerce fulfilment hubs in Harbin—the removal of the visa hurdle cuts lead-times for technical call-outs, acceptance tests and short-term staff rotations. Mobility teams should update travel policies immediately and remind employees that paid work and stays beyond 30 days still require the proper permits.
Travellers must carry proof of onward travel and accommodation and, if staying in private housing, register with local police within seven days. Russian border officials have warned they may carry out invitation-letter spot checks to deter misuse, so assignees should keep corporate support letters handy.
The waiver underlines a broader trend of China expanding—and reciprocating—visa-free regimes to re-energise outbound travel. Companies that rely on China-to-Russia movements for project work or executive visits now enjoy unprecedented scheduling flexibility but must still track sanctions-related export-control rules when moving equipment or technology across the border.
Russian online travel agencies said flight searches on Beijing-Moscow routes jumped 44 % within hours of the announcement, while Aeroflot and China Eastern are already considering restoring seasonal services such as Ningbo–Vladivostok. Analysts expect Chinese arrivals to surpass pre-pandemic 2019 levels by spring 2026, helped by a weak rouble and pent-up leisure demand.
For multinational companies active along the Sino-Russian corridor—from LNG projects in the Amur region to e-commerce fulfilment hubs in Harbin—the removal of the visa hurdle cuts lead-times for technical call-outs, acceptance tests and short-term staff rotations. Mobility teams should update travel policies immediately and remind employees that paid work and stays beyond 30 days still require the proper permits.
Travellers must carry proof of onward travel and accommodation and, if staying in private housing, register with local police within seven days. Russian border officials have warned they may carry out invitation-letter spot checks to deter misuse, so assignees should keep corporate support letters handy.
The waiver underlines a broader trend of China expanding—and reciprocating—visa-free regimes to re-energise outbound travel. Companies that rely on China-to-Russia movements for project work or executive visits now enjoy unprecedented scheduling flexibility but must still track sanctions-related export-control rules when moving equipment or technology across the border.
