With less than two months remaining before its unilateral visa-free entry policy is set to expire, China has offered an early indication that the program could be extended.
The policy currently allows travelers from dozens of countries to enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Slovakia’s Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanár, announced that Beijing was prepared to extend the visa-free arrangement for Slovak citizens by another year.
The statement could be an early sign of a broader decision affecting other nationalities covered by China’s visa-free entry program.
China signals willingness to extend visa-free entry for Slovak citizens through 2027
The announcement followed talks in Beijing between Slovakia’s Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanár, and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
In an official statement released on November 10, 2026, Slovakia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs said China was willing to extend by another year the visa-free arrangement that currently allows Slovak passport holders to stay in the country for up to 30 days.
“Today, I received positive news from my Chinese counterpart: China is ready to extend the visa-free regime with Slovakia for another year,” Blanár said.
The minister also highlighted the positive impact of the arrangement on relations between the two countries, particularly in terms of tourism and business travel.
If the extension goes ahead, Slovak citizens could continue traveling to China without a visa through December 31, 2027, rather than the current expiration date of December 31, 2026.
However, the diplomatic announcement should not be confused with a formal policy decision already in effect. Chinese authorities would still need to officially confirm the extension.
Could the extension also apply to the UK, Canada, Australia, and other countries?
The significance of Slovakia’s announcement goes well beyond relations between Beijing and Bratislava.
Slovakia does not benefit from a separate visa-free arrangement. Its citizens are covered by the same unilateral visa exemption policy that applies to travelers from several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Europe.
On November 3, 2025, Beijing announced a collective extension of visa-free entry for nationals of 45 countries through December 31, 2026. Sweden was subsequently added to the program on November 10, 2025.
Since then, China has further expanded the policy, notably by extending visa-free access to Canadian and British passport holders.
Currently, citizens of 48 countries are eligible for visa-free stays of up to 30 days through December 31, 2026.
These include the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, and South Korea, among others.
Two other countries have different arrangements. Russian citizens can enter China without a visa through December 31, 2027, while the visa-free policy for Brunei has no specified expiration date.
The United States, meanwhile, is not included in China’s 30-day unilateral visa-free program. American passport holders generally still need a visa to visit China, although separate visa-free transit provisions may apply to eligible travelers.
Against this backdrop, China’s willingness to extend the arrangement for Slovakia through 2027 could provide the first indication that a wider renewal is under consideration.
However, Beijing could also choose to announce extensions separately for individual countries or groups of countries, particularly as part of bilateral diplomatic discussions.
What are the current visa-free entry rules for eligible travelers?
Until any extension for 2027 is officially announced, the existing rules remain unchanged.
Travelers holding valid ordinary passports from eligible countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, can currently enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days for purposes such as:
- Tourism;
- Business visits;
- Visiting family or friends;
- Exchanges and non-remunerated visits;
- Transit.
The exemption is currently scheduled to remain in effect through December 31, 2026.
Travelers who do not meet the program’s requirements, including those planning to stay longer than 30 days or visit China for purposes not covered by the exemption, must obtain an appropriate visa before departure.
The policy has significantly simplified travel to China for many international visitors, removing the need to complete a traditional visa application for qualifying short-term stays.
A further extension would allow eligible travelers to continue benefiting from these simplified entry requirements throughout 2027.
Beijing’s decision on a broader extension is still pending
So far, Chinese authorities have not officially announced a collective extension of the 30-day visa-free entry policy through December 31, 2027, for all 48 countries currently covered by the arrangement.
Nevertheless, Slovakia’s announcement is an encouraging development, particularly given Beijing’s previous approach of extending visa-free access simultaneously for dozens of nationalities.
A broader renewal would provide greater certainty for travelers from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other eligible countries planning trips to China in 2027, without having to prepare for the possible return of standard visa requirements.
The next announcements from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will therefore be closely watched as the December 31, 2026, deadline approaches.
VisasNews Take
The Slovak foreign minister’s statement offers the first concrete indication that China may extend its 30-day visa-free entry policy beyond 2026. Since Slovakia is covered by the same unilateral program as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and dozens of other countries, a broader extension through December 31, 2027, appears plausible. However, it would be premature to assume that all eligible nationalities will automatically benefit. Only an official announcement from Beijing will confirm the scope and conditions of any extension.
