China visa applicants worldwide will continue to benefit from reduced fees until December 31, 2025.
China continues to assert its ambition of reclaiming its position as a top destination for travelers from all over the world bysignificantly simplifying its entry procedures since the reopening of its borders.
After a year marked by a steady recovery of international travel to the country, China has announced the extension of one of its recent measures: the temporary reduction of visa fees.
Whether in the UK, India, France, South Africa or Saudi Arabia, many Chinese diplomatic missions confirm that the temporary reduction in visa fees, introduced in December 2023, is extended for a further year, until December 31, 2025.
This measure, initially planned for one year, is part of a broader strategy to boost tourism and commercial exchanges with the rest of the world.
An initiative launched in 2023
The visa fee reduction was first introduced in December 2023 to facilitate access for foreign visitors to China following disruptions caused by the pandemic.
Visa prices were reduced by 25% across many categories, including the tourist visa (L), business visa (M/F), and family visa (Q). This significant reduction contributed to a notable increase in visa applications throughout 2024, according to diplomatic sources.
It is important to note that the fee reduction applies only to consular fees charged by embassies. For embassies utilizing external Visa Application Centers, additional service fees may apply.
An additional measure to boost tourism
In addition to reducing visa fees, China has implemented several ambitious measures in recent months to revitalize its tourism sector.
Among these, the introduction of new visa exemption policies for certain countries in Europe, Asia, and Oceania stands out, allowing short-term stays without complex administrative procedures.
At the end of last year, this visa-free stay period was extended from 15 to 30 days for travelers from 38 countries, offering greater flexibility to tourists and business travelers.
Citizens of the following countries and territories can now travel to China visa-free and stay for up to 30 days:
- Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain and Switzerland.
