Good news for Belgian business travellers: on 4 November 2025 China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Belgium remains on its expanded unilateral visa-waiver list, now prolonged until 31 December 2026 . Under the scheme, Belgians may enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days for tourism, family visits, short-term business engagements and transit.
The extension aligns with Beijing’s broader push to revitalise inbound travel and investment after years of pandemic-related restrictions. Belgian corporates with supply-chain or R&D footprints in the Yangtze and Pearl River deltas welcomed the announcement, noting that visa-processing times had stretched to six weeks in some cases. Immediate entry simplifies urgent troubleshooting trips and facilitates rotational assignments for technical staff.
![China extends visa-free entry for Belgian passport holders until end-2026]()
Travel managers should, however, remind employees that the waiver does not cover remunerated work, journalism or study; those activities still require the appropriate Z, J or X visas. In addition, travellers must hold passports valid for at least six months and proof of onward travel. China continues to mandate biometric fingerprinting on arrival for first-time entrants, and local health-declaration QR codes remain in place at certain ports.
Airlines are already capitalising on the news: Cathay Pacific and Hainan Airlines plan to increase Brussels-Beijing and Brussels-Shenzhen frequencies for the 2026 summer season, while tour operators expect a 20 % rise in outbound leisure bookings. For expatriate program managers, the longer waiver window offers greater flexibility when scheduling look-and-see trips for assignees considering postings in China.
The extension aligns with Beijing’s broader push to revitalise inbound travel and investment after years of pandemic-related restrictions. Belgian corporates with supply-chain or R&D footprints in the Yangtze and Pearl River deltas welcomed the announcement, noting that visa-processing times had stretched to six weeks in some cases. Immediate entry simplifies urgent troubleshooting trips and facilitates rotational assignments for technical staff.
Travel managers should, however, remind employees that the waiver does not cover remunerated work, journalism or study; those activities still require the appropriate Z, J or X visas. In addition, travellers must hold passports valid for at least six months and proof of onward travel. China continues to mandate biometric fingerprinting on arrival for first-time entrants, and local health-declaration QR codes remain in place at certain ports.
Airlines are already capitalising on the news: Cathay Pacific and Hainan Airlines plan to increase Brussels-Beijing and Brussels-Shenzhen frequencies for the 2026 summer season, while tour operators expect a 20 % rise in outbound leisure bookings. For expatriate program managers, the longer waiver window offers greater flexibility when scheduling look-and-see trips for assignees considering postings in China.
