Spanish companies eyeing post-pandemic expansion in Asia received good news on 26 December when China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Spain will be added to Beijing’s pilot visa-waiver scheme from New Year’s Day. Under the plan, holders of Spanish ordinary passports may enter mainland China without a visa for stays of up to 15 days for business meetings, trade-fairs, tourism or visiting relatives.
Spain becomes the seventh EU country to join the programme, which already covers France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Ireland. The move removes the need for the standard €60 tourist (L) visa or the more onerous business (M) visa, along with the time-consuming invitation-letter process. Travellers will still complete China’s online arrival declaration and may be asked to show proof of onward travel or accommodation, but consular appointments disappear overnight—a significant administrative and cost saving for mobility teams.
For Spanish companies that still require visas to other jurisdictions—or for trips to China that exceed the 15-day waiver—VisaHQ offers a convenient one-stop solution. Through its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/), travellers and mobility managers can access real-time entry requirements, generate personalised checklists, and arrange secure document collection and delivery, ensuring compliance and minimising downtime across global travel plans.
![China to grant Spaniards 15-day visa-free entry from 1 January 2026]()
For multinationals with engineering, automotive or renewable-energy interests in China, the change means project managers can schedule site visits at short notice during the crucial first quarter without visa uncertainty. Spanish chambers of commerce welcomed the pilot, noting that bilateral trade topped €45 billion in 2025 and is poised to grow. Airlines are already reporting a spike in seat searches on Madrid-Shanghai and Barcelona-Beijing routes operated by Iberia, Air China and Level.
Immigration advisers caution that the 15-day clock is strict. Exceeding it without converting to a longer-stay permit could trigger fines or re-entry bans. They also remind travellers that the waiver does not cover work activities requiring a Z-visa or employment licence. Companies should update their travel-approval workflow to ensure short trips remain compliant.
If the pilot succeeds, industry observers expect China to consider extending the waiver or expanding it to cover multiple entries, a development that would further integrate Spain into Asia-Europe business corridors.
Spain becomes the seventh EU country to join the programme, which already covers France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Ireland. The move removes the need for the standard €60 tourist (L) visa or the more onerous business (M) visa, along with the time-consuming invitation-letter process. Travellers will still complete China’s online arrival declaration and may be asked to show proof of onward travel or accommodation, but consular appointments disappear overnight—a significant administrative and cost saving for mobility teams.
For Spanish companies that still require visas to other jurisdictions—or for trips to China that exceed the 15-day waiver—VisaHQ offers a convenient one-stop solution. Through its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/), travellers and mobility managers can access real-time entry requirements, generate personalised checklists, and arrange secure document collection and delivery, ensuring compliance and minimising downtime across global travel plans.
For multinationals with engineering, automotive or renewable-energy interests in China, the change means project managers can schedule site visits at short notice during the crucial first quarter without visa uncertainty. Spanish chambers of commerce welcomed the pilot, noting that bilateral trade topped €45 billion in 2025 and is poised to grow. Airlines are already reporting a spike in seat searches on Madrid-Shanghai and Barcelona-Beijing routes operated by Iberia, Air China and Level.
Immigration advisers caution that the 15-day clock is strict. Exceeding it without converting to a longer-stay permit could trigger fines or re-entry bans. They also remind travellers that the waiver does not cover work activities requiring a Z-visa or employment licence. Companies should update their travel-approval workflow to ensure short trips remain compliant.
If the pilot succeeds, industry observers expect China to consider extending the waiver or expanding it to cover multiple entries, a development that would further integrate Spain into Asia-Europe business corridors.
