China extends visa-free entry for Italy, France, Germany and other European countries
As of November 30, 2024, citizens from Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan are now eligible for visa-free entry into China, with this policy set to last until December 31, 2025. In addition, passport holders from Andorra, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovakia, and Norway have recently been added to the list, allowing them to stay in China for up to 30 days without the need for a visa. This expanded visa waiver program offers more flexibility for travelers and can be a key consideration for travel managers planning trips to China.
This expansion brings the total number of European countries granted visa-free access up to 38. It aims to encourage more people to visit China for business and tourism, and promote exchanges between Chinese citizens and foreign nationals.
Travel managers should stay updated to keep track of visa policies and the shifting dynamics of international travel. This evolving landscape means a careful approach is required to manage business travel to China.
Which European countries can travel to China visa-free?
The full list of European countries now includes Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. Tourists from these countries will be allowed to enter China for short stays without a visa until the end of next year.
The aim is “to facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a briefing on the initial announcement made in November.
Business Travel to China: Key Figures and High-Profile Visitors
China’s strict pandemic measures, including mandatory quarantines for all arrivals, significantly impacted international business travel for nearly three years. Although these restrictions were lifted early last year, travel has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. China had previously allowed citizens of Brunei, Japan, and Singapore to enter without a visa but suspended that after the COVID-19 outbreak. While visa-free entry resumed for Brunei and Singapore in July, Japan has not yet been included in this waiver.
In 2023, China recorded 35.5 million foreign entries and exits, a sharp decline compared to 97.7 million in 2019. From July to September of this year, China saw 8.2 million foreign entries, with 4.9 million being visa-free. The Chinese government is seeking foreign investment to stimulate its economy, and some high-profile business leaders, such as Tesla’s Elon Musk and Apple’s Tim Cook, have visited for trade fairs and meetings. However, foreign tourists remain relatively scarce compared to pre-pandemic levels.
For travel managers, this evolving landscape means a careful approach is required to manage business travel to China, keeping track of visa policies and the shifting dynamics of international travel.
Source: Euro News
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