In an unexpected Christmas present for Spanish travellers and the companies that move them, Beijing has confirmed that citizens of Spain will be able to enter mainland China visa-free for stays of up to 15 days from 1 January 2026. The measure forms part of a broader pilot that already covers several EU states and is designed to restore business and leisure traffic to pre-pandemic levels.
The announcement, published on 26 December, eliminates the need for Spanish passport-holders to secure the standard €60 L-type tourist visa or the more expensive M-type business visa when travelling for short meetings, market visits or trade-fair attendance. Travellers will still have to complete China’s online arrival declaration and may be asked to show proof of onward travel within the 15-day window, but consular appointments and invitation letters disappear overnight.
For anyone whose trip extends beyond 15 days or involves work categories not covered by the waiver, VisaHQ can simplify the process: the Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) provides clear checklists, document validation and real-time tracking for every Chinese visa type, along with expert assistance for applications to more than 200 other countries.
![China to Waive Visas for Spaniards From 1 January 2026 in 15-Day Pilot Scheme]()
The timing is significant for Spanish firms with supply-chain links in Guangdong, Shanghai and Tianjin, many of which have struggled with limited appointment slots at China’s Madrid and Barcelona visa centres. Mobility managers estimate an immediate saving of at least two weeks on trip-planning and around €250 per traveller once courier fees are factored in.
Tourism bodies also expect a lift. China was Spain’s second-largest long-haul outbound market before Covid, but arrivals collapsed by 70 % in 2020-23. Airlines such as Iberia and Air China are already evaluating extra frequencies for the spring timetable, while hotel groups in Madrid and Barcelona anticipate reciprocal growth in inbound Chinese visitors when the pilot is reviewed next autumn.
HR and Global Mobility teams should note that the waiver covers business and tourist activities only. Technical work, media assignments and stays beyond 15 days will still require the appropriate Z, J or F category visa. Companies planning to rotate staff for longer projects in 2026 should therefore keep existing immigration workflows in place and monitor any policy tweaks that Beijing may make after the initial six-month pilot.
The announcement, published on 26 December, eliminates the need for Spanish passport-holders to secure the standard €60 L-type tourist visa or the more expensive M-type business visa when travelling for short meetings, market visits or trade-fair attendance. Travellers will still have to complete China’s online arrival declaration and may be asked to show proof of onward travel within the 15-day window, but consular appointments and invitation letters disappear overnight.
For anyone whose trip extends beyond 15 days or involves work categories not covered by the waiver, VisaHQ can simplify the process: the Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) provides clear checklists, document validation and real-time tracking for every Chinese visa type, along with expert assistance for applications to more than 200 other countries.
The timing is significant for Spanish firms with supply-chain links in Guangdong, Shanghai and Tianjin, many of which have struggled with limited appointment slots at China’s Madrid and Barcelona visa centres. Mobility managers estimate an immediate saving of at least two weeks on trip-planning and around €250 per traveller once courier fees are factored in.
Tourism bodies also expect a lift. China was Spain’s second-largest long-haul outbound market before Covid, but arrivals collapsed by 70 % in 2020-23. Airlines such as Iberia and Air China are already evaluating extra frequencies for the spring timetable, while hotel groups in Madrid and Barcelona anticipate reciprocal growth in inbound Chinese visitors when the pilot is reviewed next autumn.
HR and Global Mobility teams should note that the waiver covers business and tourist activities only. Technical work, media assignments and stays beyond 15 days will still require the appropriate Z, J or F category visa. Companies planning to rotate staff for longer projects in 2026 should therefore keep existing immigration workflows in place and monitor any policy tweaks that Beijing may make after the initial six-month pilot.
