China–Russia mobility took a major leap on 11 December when the two governments simultaneously lifted short-stay visa requirements for ordinary passport holders, creating one of the world’s largest bilateral visa-free zones. From 12 December travellers from either country can enter the other for tourism, family visits, commercial meetings or cultural exchanges for up to 30 days per trip without an entry permit; long-term work and study visas remain outside the waiver.
Early signals point to immediate demand. Chinese online agency Tongcheng reported that searches for “Russia winter tour” tripled week-on-week, while Aeroflot bookings on its Moscow–Shanghai service jumped 41 % for the January holiday peak. Regional airports – Harbin, Hailar and Vladivostok – are adding charter frequencies targeting ski groups and cross-border shoppers.
For business, the impact could be even larger. Energy-service executives say short-cycle contract negotiations can now be arranged “in days rather than weeks,” saving invitation-letter costs. Freight forwarders on the China-Europe rail corridor anticipate smoother locomotive crew changes at Russian junctions, trimming pandemic-era delays. Both governments have pencilled a mid-September 2026 review to decide whether to extend or amend the pilot.
![China and Russia Activate 30-Day Mutual Visa-Free Corridor]()
While short-stay visitors can now move freely, anyone planning assignments longer than 30 days—or needing multiple-entry documentation—will still face standard bureaucratic hurdles. VisaHQ, an online visa and passport service provider, streamlines those processes, offering real-time guidance on Chinese and Russian consular requirements through its dedicated China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/). The platform can arrange invitation letters, work permits and courier services, making it a useful fallback for companies and individuals whose travel falls outside the new waiver.
Mobility managers should remind travellers that border officers retain discretion to request onward travel proof and insurance, and that travellers must respect each country’s registration rules (e.g., hotel check-in within 24 hours in Russia). Companies with project teams straddling the two markets can now schedule rotations without the administrative buffer previously needed for visa processing.
Strategically, the corridor strengthens Beijing’s “Northern Silk Road” vision and gives Moscow an alternative tourism inflow amid continuing Western sanctions. Analysts expect passenger rail traffic on the Harbin–Vladivostok line, dormant since COVID-19, to relaunch before the May 2026 holiday season.
Early signals point to immediate demand. Chinese online agency Tongcheng reported that searches for “Russia winter tour” tripled week-on-week, while Aeroflot bookings on its Moscow–Shanghai service jumped 41 % for the January holiday peak. Regional airports – Harbin, Hailar and Vladivostok – are adding charter frequencies targeting ski groups and cross-border shoppers.
For business, the impact could be even larger. Energy-service executives say short-cycle contract negotiations can now be arranged “in days rather than weeks,” saving invitation-letter costs. Freight forwarders on the China-Europe rail corridor anticipate smoother locomotive crew changes at Russian junctions, trimming pandemic-era delays. Both governments have pencilled a mid-September 2026 review to decide whether to extend or amend the pilot.
While short-stay visitors can now move freely, anyone planning assignments longer than 30 days—or needing multiple-entry documentation—will still face standard bureaucratic hurdles. VisaHQ, an online visa and passport service provider, streamlines those processes, offering real-time guidance on Chinese and Russian consular requirements through its dedicated China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/). The platform can arrange invitation letters, work permits and courier services, making it a useful fallback for companies and individuals whose travel falls outside the new waiver.
Mobility managers should remind travellers that border officers retain discretion to request onward travel proof and insurance, and that travellers must respect each country’s registration rules (e.g., hotel check-in within 24 hours in Russia). Companies with project teams straddling the two markets can now schedule rotations without the administrative buffer previously needed for visa processing.
Strategically, the corridor strengthens Beijing’s “Northern Silk Road” vision and gives Moscow an alternative tourism inflow amid continuing Western sanctions. Analysts expect passenger rail traffic on the Harbin–Vladivostok line, dormant since COVID-19, to relaunch before the May 2026 holiday season.
