Good news for travelers! China has announced that citizens from 29 countries, including France and Germany, can now visit without a visa. This move is part of China’s efforts to boost international travel and make it easier for people to explore the country.
Starting December 1, 2023, ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia can enjoy visa-free entry for up to 15 days. Whether you’re traveling for business, tourism, visiting family, or just passing through, you no longer need to apply for a visa in advance.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tong Xuejun, shared that China has full visa exemption agreements with 25 countries and is expanding its visa-free policies in different stages. These changes are making it simpler and faster to visit China.
In addition to the visa-free policies, China has streamlined its visa application process. They’ve reduced the number of items on the visa application form by 34%, making it quicker to fill out. There’s no longer a need to book appointments before applying for a visa at Chinese embassies, they’ve expanded the exemption of fingerprint collection, and reduced visa fees by 25%!
These efforts are already showing results. In the third quarter of 2024, China saw 8.19 million inbound trips by foreigners, a 48.8% increase compared to the same period last year. Of these, 4.89 million were made through visa-free arrangements, up 78.6% year on year.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to continue improving these policies to make cross-border travel even easier, especially for those involved in business activities. So, if you’ve been dreaming of visiting China, now is a great time to plan your trip!
Reference(s):
MOFA: China implements unilateral visa-free policy for 29 countries
cgtn.com
