China Broadens Visa-Free Access to 18 European Nations | Visa-Free Access

China has further loosened its visa regulations for visitors from Europe, allowing admission without a visa to five additional European nations as of October 15, 2024. This raises the total to 18 European nations that can visit China without a visa.

China has extended its efforts to promote tourist and commercial relations by announcing new visa-free travel arrangements for people from five more European nations, for a total of eighteen. China’s increased visa exemption program is a reflection of its efforts to improve international relations and enable easier, transient travel.

Visa-Free Entry for Five European Countries

Travelers from Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, and Slovenia will be able to enter China for a maximum of 15 days without a visa starting on October 15, 2024. This new policy is effective until December 31, 2025, and it covers visits made for business, tourism, family visits, and transit.

With this most recent development, a total of 18 European countries—including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain—are now able to enter China without a visa.

Increasing Visa-Free Travel to Europe and Other Continents

Norway became one of the countries in China that did not require a visa earlier this year. In July, Poland, Australia, and New Zealand were all included in the visa-free program. China has demonstrated its continued commitment to fostering business and tourism links with Europe, Oceania, and other regions by using a phased approach to visa waivers, which was initiated in early 2024.

Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Mao Ning stressed that the program’s goal is to foster “the high-quality development of exchanges between Chinese and foreign nationals,” opening doors for more in-depth interactions on both a cultural and commercial level.

Full List of Visa-Free Countries

Currently, the following European nations are allowed access to China without a visa:

• Belgium
• Austria
• Denmark
• Cyprus
• Germany
• France
• Hungary
• Greece
• Italy
• Ireland
• Netherlands
• Luxembourg
• Poland
• Norway
• Slovenia
• Portugal
• Switzerland
• Spain

By the end of 2025, visitors from these countries will be able to enter China for up to 15 days without a visa, making it an even more accessible travel destination for quick business and leisure journeys.

Encouraging Global Tourism and Business

With 95 million foreign visitors entering the nation in the first nine months of 2024—a 55.4% increase over the previous year—China has witnessed a notable surge in foreign travel. This amount amounts to 93.4% of the tourism figures observed in 2019 before the epidemic.

The Chinese government has mandated that major tourist destinations accept a range of payment options, including cash, international bank cards, and QR codes, to improve the travel experience for foreign visitors. This action is part of a larger initiative to guarantee foreign visitors a more seamless and convenient experience.

Final Thoughts

China’s extended visa-free travel policy is expected to improve relations with other countries and draw more tourists from Europe and other regions. China continues to establish itself as a major travel destination for international business exchanges and tourism by easing entrance requirements for brief visits.