China announced today that it will extend its visa-free entry policy for travelers from France and several other countries until December 31, 2026, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
Speaking at a regular press briefing on Monday, Mao confirmed that Beijing will maintain its unilateral visa exemption policy, which had been set to expire at the end of this year, for multiple nations.
To implement the guiding principles of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, expand high-standard opening up, and continue to facilitate cross-border travel, China has decided to extend visa-free policy to France and other countries to December 31, 2026
Mao Ning, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, November 3, 2025
According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ consular services portal, the following 45 countries and territories are affected by this one-year extension of the visa exemption:
- Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Uruguay.
Citizens of these countries can currently stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa, for purposes including tourism, family visits, or business activities.
Sweden added to China’s visa-free entry list
During the same briefing, Mao Ning also announced that Swedish citizens will be eligible for 30-day visa-free stays in China from November 10, 2025, through December 31, 2026.
With this move, Sweden joins a growing list of countries whose citizens can enter China without prior formalities, part of Beijing’s broader effort to revitalize tourism and expand international cooperation.
According to recent data from China’s National Immigration Administration, 7.25 million foreign nationals entered the country under visa-free policies during the third quarter of 2025, a 48.3% increase compared with the same period last year.
Visa-free entries accounted for 72.2% of all foreign arrivals, underscoring the growing role of these measures in boosting both tourism and business exchanges.
For Chinese authorities, these figures highlight the success of a policy seen as beneficial not only to the national economy but also to the country’s global influence and openness.
