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China Extends Fingerprint Exemption for Short-Term Visa Applicants Through 2026

December 28, 2025 7:08 am

China Extends Fingerprint Exemption for Short-Term Visa Applicants Through 2026

China has announced a significant update for short-term visa applicants. The country will waive fingerprint requirements for many applicants until December 31, 2026. This change benefits tourists, business visitors, and family members, allowing them to skip biometric appointments during the application process.

With this update, short-term travellers can enjoy fewer steps and shorter wait times. If you’re planning a business trip, a family visit, or a vacation, this relaxation of the rules is vital.

Extended Fingerprint Exemption Details

According to the Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, from December 17, 2025, eligible applicants do not need to submit fingerprints when applying for a short-term visa. Applicants may stay in China for up to 180 days. This update applies to several visa types:

Tourist visas
Business visas
Family visit visas
Transit visas
Multiple-entry visas (newly included)

Previous policies only covered single and double-entry visas.

Who Still Needs to Provide Fingerprints?

While many applicants benefit from the exemption, certain categories still require fingerprint collection. If you’re applying for a long-term visa, you must still provide biometric data. The following visas require fingerprints:

D Visa
J1 Visa
Q1 Visa
S1 Visa
X1 Visa
Z Visa

These visas are linked to long stays or residence, thus necessitating biometric checks.

Implementation by Chinese Embassies

Chinese embassies and visa centers worldwide have begun notifying the public of this update. Offices across Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania now confirm that eligible applicants may submit their applications directly. This removes a significant step in the application process, saving time for many.

Reasons Behind the Fingerprint Waiver

Fingerprint collection became a standard procedure in 2019 for most applicants aged 14 to 70, introduced as part of stricter biometric regulations. After the pandemic, China began easing restrictions to promote travel. A temporary fingerprint waiver started in August 2023 and has been extended multiple times, now culminating in this latest update.

Additional Relaxations for Travelers

In addition to the fingerprint exemption, China has also extended visa-free travel for citizens of 46 select countries, including France, Germany, and Japan, until December 31, 2026. To further streamline the process, travellers can now use a Digital Arrival Card, replacing traditional paper forms and speeding up immigration checkpoints at major airports.

Conclusion

If you’re planning a short visit to China over the next two years, the updated visa process should be more manageable. Expect less paperwork, quicker submissions, and fewer appointments, making your travel plans smoother. Although long-term travellers still need to comply with biometric checks, this initiative clearly shows China’s desire to welcome tourists while simplifying the application process.