China has announced the expansion of its visa-free policy to four member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), continuing its strategy of openness and strengthening international exchanges.
Beijing is moving forward with its diplomatic opening by easing entry requirements for travelers from key regions.
Following similar moves for Europe, Asia, Oceania, and soon Latin America, the Middle East is now the latest to benefit from a major relaxation of visa rules.
China now grants visa-free entry to all GCC countries
Following the ASEAN-China-Gulf Cooperation Council summit, China officially took another step in its diplomatic outreach by extending its unilateral visa-free policy to citizens of four Gulf countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
As explained today by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, starting June 9, 2025, and running through June 8, 2026, citizens of these countries holding ordinary passports and traveling for tourism, business, family or friendly visits, exchanges, or transit will be able to enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
“We welcome more friends from the GCC countries to embark on an impromptu trip to China,” Mao said.
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar already enjoy 30-day visa-free entry under previous bilateral agreements with Beijing, highlighting China’s intent to unify its approach toward GCC member states.
Five Latin American countries soon to gain visa-free access to China
In line with its broader strategy of diplomatic openness, China announced two weeks ago the upcoming inclusion of five Latin American countries in its visa-free policy.
Starting June 1, 2025, citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay will be able to enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
This policy, introduced on a trial basis for one year, aims to strengthen economic and cultural ties between China and these South American nations. It follows the recent China-CELAC Forum, during which President Xi Jinping expressed his commitment to facilitating exchanges with Latin America.
An increasingly global visa-free policy
These announcements are part of a broader easing of entry requirements that began in late 2023.
As of now, China unilaterally grants 30-day visa-free entry to nationals from numerous countries in Europe (including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg), Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), and Asia (Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea).
These measures are designed to support post-COVID tourism recovery, streamline business travel, and bolster China’s economic diplomacy.
