The Chinese government has been on the charm offensive lately, introducing visa-free travel to the country to an ever-increasing list of nationals through December 31, 2025.
Japanese were previously allowed to travel to China visa-free on trips of 15 days or less, but this was discontinued during the pandemic and has not been reinstated until now, unlike some other Asian countries.
China’s Foreign Ministry announced late Friday that it would reinstate visa-free travel for Japanese nationals on November 30 for trips up to 30 days through December 31, 2025.
China is trying to jumpstart its hospitality sector, as foreign arrivals are still way down compared to before the pandemic.
List of nationals that can travel to China visa-free:
There are now 24 (from November 8) European countries from which citizens can travel to China visa-free for up to 15 days:
- Andorra (added November 8, 2024)
- Austria
- Belgium
- Cyprus
- Denmark (added November 8, 2024)
- Finland (added November 8, 2024)
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland (added November 8, 2024)
- Ireland
- Italy
- Liechtenstein (added November 8, 2024)
- Luxembourg
- Monaco (added November 8, 2024)
- Netherlands
- Norway (added November 8, 2024)
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia (added November 8, 2024)
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
Travelers with passports from Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand can also visit China using this same facility. South Korea was added on November 8, and Japan will be added on November 30.
Conclusion
China uses this visa-free facility as part of its foreign policy, and for it to be reinstated and extended from 15 to 30 days, there must have been a thaw in China-Japan relations.
I haven’t been back to Mainland China since early 2019, but I will try to revisit at least Beijing and Shanghai next year as part of my greater Asia itinerary.
