China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs quietly published a notice on 25 December confirming that ordinary passport-holders from Spain—and 14 other mainly European and Oceanian countries—may enter China visa-free for stays of up to 15 days as of 1 January 2026. The measure, described by Beijing as a “pilot” that will run for one year, eliminates the need for a €125 visa application and in-person biometric visit to the Chinese consulate, costs and paperwork that had been a deterrent for many Spanish business travelers and tourists.
The decision is part of a wider post-pandemic reopening strategy. China’s inbound arrivals remain about 40 % below 2019 levels; officials hope scrapping visas for Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and others will accelerate recovery. Online travel agency data show flight searches from Madrid and Barcelona to Shanghai and Beijing surged 35 % within 24 hours of the announcement, while Iberia and Air China said they are reviewing capacity for the summer 2026 season.
Travelers looking to make the most of the new policy—and to coordinate onward journeys to nearby markets that still demand paperwork—can turn to VisaHQ’s Spain platform (https://www.visahq.com/spain/). The service tracks rule changes in real time and, when visas are still necessary, handles the entire application process, from digital forms to courier pickup, saving both individuals and corporate travel departments valuable time.
![China Grants Spain Visa-Free Access in 2026 Pilot, Opening Asia’s Biggest Market to Spanish Travelers]()
For Spanish corporates, the immediate benefit is speed: executives can now schedule factory inspections or client visits on short notice. Law firm Cuatrecasas warns, however, that the 15-day cap is strict—multiple entries are allowed during the pilot year but each stay resets only after exiting China. Companies should also remind staff that pre-departure health declarations and hotel registration on arrival remain mandatory.
Travel managers expect meaningful savings. A mid-sized exporter sending ten engineers to China twice a year used to spend about €2,500 in visa fees alone; that budget can now be re-allocated to airfare or extra nights. The Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Beijing predicts the policy will particularly help SMEs exploring supply-chain diversification, while tourism boards in Andalucía and Cataluña are preparing marketing campaigns to attract new Chinese visitors in return.
Long-term, analysts say the move could nudge Brussels to accelerate negotiations on an EU-China visa-waiver agreement. Much will depend on operational success—Chinese authorities reserve the right to suspend visa-free entry “for reasons of public order” and will review overstay statistics quarterly. Companies should monitor updates and keep contingency budgets in case the pilot is curtailed.
The decision is part of a wider post-pandemic reopening strategy. China’s inbound arrivals remain about 40 % below 2019 levels; officials hope scrapping visas for Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and others will accelerate recovery. Online travel agency data show flight searches from Madrid and Barcelona to Shanghai and Beijing surged 35 % within 24 hours of the announcement, while Iberia and Air China said they are reviewing capacity for the summer 2026 season.
Travelers looking to make the most of the new policy—and to coordinate onward journeys to nearby markets that still demand paperwork—can turn to VisaHQ’s Spain platform (https://www.visahq.com/spain/). The service tracks rule changes in real time and, when visas are still necessary, handles the entire application process, from digital forms to courier pickup, saving both individuals and corporate travel departments valuable time.
For Spanish corporates, the immediate benefit is speed: executives can now schedule factory inspections or client visits on short notice. Law firm Cuatrecasas warns, however, that the 15-day cap is strict—multiple entries are allowed during the pilot year but each stay resets only after exiting China. Companies should also remind staff that pre-departure health declarations and hotel registration on arrival remain mandatory.
Travel managers expect meaningful savings. A mid-sized exporter sending ten engineers to China twice a year used to spend about €2,500 in visa fees alone; that budget can now be re-allocated to airfare or extra nights. The Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Beijing predicts the policy will particularly help SMEs exploring supply-chain diversification, while tourism boards in Andalucía and Cataluña are preparing marketing campaigns to attract new Chinese visitors in return.
Long-term, analysts say the move could nudge Brussels to accelerate negotiations on an EU-China visa-waiver agreement. Much will depend on operational success—Chinese authorities reserve the right to suspend visa-free entry “for reasons of public order” and will review overstay statistics quarterly. Companies should monitor updates and keep contingency budgets in case the pilot is curtailed.
