China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on 17 December that its unilateral 30-day visa-free scheme—first piloted in early 2024—will remain in force until at least 31 December 2026. The announcement, circulated by travel-industry platform GetTransfer and echoed by multiple Chinese embassies, formally adds Sweden to the roster and locks in the policy’s validity window for another year. Ordinary-passport holders from 47 countries may enter China visa-free for tourism, business, family visits or short conferences and remain for up to 30 consecutive days.
The extension is strategically timed. China’s inbound arrivals rebounded sharply in 2025 yet still sit about 20 % below the 2019 high. By guaranteeing continuity through 2026, Beijing is signalling predictability to airlines, tour operators and multinational companies scheduling regional events or short-term assignments. European chambers of commerce had lobbied for such clarity so that 2026 budgeting cycles could lock in China travel without the cost of consular visa runs.
Practically, the policy removes a major administrative hurdle. For example, a French aerospace engineer flying to COMAC’s Shanghai plant or a German executive conducting supply-chain audits in Shenzhen can now book and board with only a passport and return ticket. The headcount cap that once limited daily visa-free entries at busy airports has also been scrapped, according to border officials at Beijing Daxing.
![China extends 30-day visa-free access for 47 countries through 2026, adding Sweden]()
For travelers whose plans fall outside the 30-day waiver—journalists, students, technical staff on longer assignments or anyone from a country not yet covered—VisaHQ can streamline the process. Its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) walks applicants through the required documentation, catches common errors before submission and liaises directly with Chinese consular offices to secure the appropriate visa quickly, sparing individuals and corporate mobility teams the hassle of multiple embassy visits.
Corporate mobility managers should still screen travellers carefully. The waiver covers tourism, meetings and installation work that does not exceed 30 days but excludes journalism, study and any remunerated employment. Visitors must carry proof of onward or return travel and may be asked to show accommodation details at immigration. Violations can trigger fines or future entry bans, so companies are encouraged to issue written travel purpose letters.
Longer term, the move dovetails with China’s broader ‘visa-free hub’ strategy: a 240-hour transit waiver across 65 ports and a network of regional visa-on-arrival pilots. Together, the measures aim to restore China’s share of global business-travel flows and reassure foreign investors that the country is firmly re-opening after the pandemic years.
The extension is strategically timed. China’s inbound arrivals rebounded sharply in 2025 yet still sit about 20 % below the 2019 high. By guaranteeing continuity through 2026, Beijing is signalling predictability to airlines, tour operators and multinational companies scheduling regional events or short-term assignments. European chambers of commerce had lobbied for such clarity so that 2026 budgeting cycles could lock in China travel without the cost of consular visa runs.
Practically, the policy removes a major administrative hurdle. For example, a French aerospace engineer flying to COMAC’s Shanghai plant or a German executive conducting supply-chain audits in Shenzhen can now book and board with only a passport and return ticket. The headcount cap that once limited daily visa-free entries at busy airports has also been scrapped, according to border officials at Beijing Daxing.
For travelers whose plans fall outside the 30-day waiver—journalists, students, technical staff on longer assignments or anyone from a country not yet covered—VisaHQ can streamline the process. Its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) walks applicants through the required documentation, catches common errors before submission and liaises directly with Chinese consular offices to secure the appropriate visa quickly, sparing individuals and corporate mobility teams the hassle of multiple embassy visits.
Corporate mobility managers should still screen travellers carefully. The waiver covers tourism, meetings and installation work that does not exceed 30 days but excludes journalism, study and any remunerated employment. Visitors must carry proof of onward or return travel and may be asked to show accommodation details at immigration. Violations can trigger fines or future entry bans, so companies are encouraged to issue written travel purpose letters.
Longer term, the move dovetails with China’s broader ‘visa-free hub’ strategy: a 240-hour transit waiver across 65 ports and a network of regional visa-on-arrival pilots. Together, the measures aim to restore China’s share of global business-travel flows and reassure foreign investors that the country is firmly re-opening after the pandemic years.
