From December to 30 November, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from these countries can conduct business or travel within China without a visa for up to 15 days. This should help “promote China's high-quality development and opening up,” spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
Currently, most travelers require a visa to enter China. Rare examples of those exempt include citizens of Singapore and Brunei who enter China for business, tourism, family visits, and transit for no more than 15 days.In March 2020, the country imposed strict travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
For three years, China has had some of the world's strictest Covid restrictions, with travel restrictions, multiple lockdowns, and frequent testing requirements. Its zero Covid policy, which had hit the economy hard, was only reversed in December last year. Before the pandemic, tens of millions of foreign tourists visited China yearly.
China Launches Visa-Free Trial for Citizens to Boost High-Quality Development
News in Asia
China is testing a visa-free regime for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia for a year, the country's foreign ministry said.