China has extended the visa-free stay for citizens of certain countries – including Belgium – from 15 to 30 days. The unilateral visa-free policy has also been extended to nine more countries – Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia and Japan – bringing the total to 38 countries. The policy will be in effect on a trial basis from November 30, 2024 to December 31, 2025, Lin Jian, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said during a regular press conference. The visa-free stay is valid for certain activities only, including tourism, transit, business, and family visits. One activity has been added: exchange visits. In addition to the visa-free policy, foreign nationals from more than 50 countries are also granted visa-free entry under the 72/144-hour transit policy.
In the past year, China has signed mutual full visa-free access agreements with six countries: Singapore, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Antigua and Barbuda, Georgia and the Solomon Islands, bringing the total of such countries to 25. Arrangements have also been reached with countries including with Brazil and Australia for the mutual issuance of five-year and 10-year multiple-entry visas. China is also issuing five-year multiple-entry visas to people from Central and Eastern Europe and other countries, and five-year multiple-entry visas to business people from the Mekong River countries.
A new version of the Chinese visa application form is also available, with 34% of items optimized and simplified. Chinese embassies and consulates abroad have completely abolished the visa appointment system and further expanded the scope of fingerprint-free access. In addition, it also reduced visa fees by 25% of the current rates.
Visa-free travel has increased the number of tourists visiting China. In the third quarter of 2024, foreigners made 8.186 million inbound trips to China, up 48.8% year-on-year. Of that number, 4.885 million trips were facilitated by the visa-free policy, up 78.6% year-on-year, according to data from the National Immigration Administration (NIA) released in mid-October. In the first half of 2024, inbound trips totaled 14.635 million, up 152.7% year-on-year. Of that figure, 8.542 million foreign entries were under the visa-free policy, up by 190.1%. This means that foreigners made 22.821 million inbound trips to China in the first three quarters, of which 58.8%, or 13.427 million trips were facilitated under the visa-free policy.
