Türkiye has kicked off 2026 by opening its doors wider to Chinese travellers. A presidential decree published in the country’s Official Gazette on January 1 confirms that holders of ordinary Chinese passports may enter Türkiye without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, effective January 2. The arrangement applies to trips for tourism and transit, but officials in Ankara say they hope it will also stimulate two-way business traffic.
Background and context: Türkiye had previously offered streamlined e-visa procedures for Chinese visitors, but still required advance authorisation. The new waiver comes after a year in which arrivals from China rebounded sharply—rising more than 60 % year-on-year in 2025—and follows similar unilateral moves by China to extend visa-free stays to multiple Gulf and Latin-American nations. Bilateral trade surpassed US$38 billion in 2025, and Turkish tourism authorities have long argued that cumbersome paperwork was limiting growth from one of the world’s largest outbound markets.
Practical implications: • Airlines operating the busy Istanbul–Beijing and Istanbul–Shanghai routes expect higher load factors through China’s Spring Festival travel rush in February. • Chinese corporates with operations in Istanbul’s free-trade zones can now rotate staff on short notice without consular stops. • Travel-insurance providers should update policy wordings to reflect that Chinese passport holders will enter visa-exempt but still need proof of onward travel and accommodation.
![Türkiye Grants 90-Day Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Citizens Starting Jan 2]()
For travellers who still need documentation beyond the new 90-day visa-free window—be it work permits, study visas or extensions—VisaHQ can take care of the leg-work. Through its dedicated China page (https://www.visahq.com/china/) the service offers real-time requirement checks, digital application tools and courier assistance, helping Chinese applicants and Turkish partners navigate the remaining red tape with minimal hassle.
Businesses should note that work, study and media assignments still require the appropriate Turkish residence permits, and Chinese citizens intending to exceed the 90-day allowance must apply for long-stay visas in advance. Turkish embassies in Beijing and Shanghai have issued guidance reminding visitors to register their addresses within 30 days if they remain in the country for more than one month, in line with local law.
The move is also timed to capture pent-up demand for long-haul leisure trips among young Chinese consumers taking advantage of China’s extended three-day New Year holiday. Major OTAs, including Trip.com and Fliggy, reported an immediate 400 % spike in Türkiye-bound flight searches within two hours of the announcement. Istanbul hotels say Chinese New Year bookings are already up by double digits compared with 2025.
Overall, the decision strengthens Türkiye’s positioning as a Eurasian hub and underscores a broader global trend toward selective visa liberalisation aimed at capturing high-spending Chinese tourists.
Background and context: Türkiye had previously offered streamlined e-visa procedures for Chinese visitors, but still required advance authorisation. The new waiver comes after a year in which arrivals from China rebounded sharply—rising more than 60 % year-on-year in 2025—and follows similar unilateral moves by China to extend visa-free stays to multiple Gulf and Latin-American nations. Bilateral trade surpassed US$38 billion in 2025, and Turkish tourism authorities have long argued that cumbersome paperwork was limiting growth from one of the world’s largest outbound markets.
Practical implications: • Airlines operating the busy Istanbul–Beijing and Istanbul–Shanghai routes expect higher load factors through China’s Spring Festival travel rush in February. • Chinese corporates with operations in Istanbul’s free-trade zones can now rotate staff on short notice without consular stops. • Travel-insurance providers should update policy wordings to reflect that Chinese passport holders will enter visa-exempt but still need proof of onward travel and accommodation.
For travellers who still need documentation beyond the new 90-day visa-free window—be it work permits, study visas or extensions—VisaHQ can take care of the leg-work. Through its dedicated China page (https://www.visahq.com/china/) the service offers real-time requirement checks, digital application tools and courier assistance, helping Chinese applicants and Turkish partners navigate the remaining red tape with minimal hassle.
Businesses should note that work, study and media assignments still require the appropriate Turkish residence permits, and Chinese citizens intending to exceed the 90-day allowance must apply for long-stay visas in advance. Turkish embassies in Beijing and Shanghai have issued guidance reminding visitors to register their addresses within 30 days if they remain in the country for more than one month, in line with local law.
The move is also timed to capture pent-up demand for long-haul leisure trips among young Chinese consumers taking advantage of China’s extended three-day New Year holiday. Major OTAs, including Trip.com and Fliggy, reported an immediate 400 % spike in Türkiye-bound flight searches within two hours of the announcement. Istanbul hotels say Chinese New Year bookings are already up by double digits compared with 2025.
Overall, the decision strengthens Türkiye’s positioning as a Eurasian hub and underscores a broader global trend toward selective visa liberalisation aimed at capturing high-spending Chinese tourists.
