*China extends the visa-free policy for 12 European and Asian countries to the end of 2025;
*China exempts foreign tourist groups arriving by cruise ship from entry visas, effective from May 15, 2024.
Guangzhou (JLC), May 15, 2024 – China has recently extended a visa-free policy for 12 countries and implemented visa exemptions for foreign tourist groups arriving by cruise ship, as part of the country’s efforts to cultivate business opportunities, facilitate people-to-people exchange and boost domestic tourism.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on May 7 that China extended the visa-free policy on short-term visits for 12 countries – namely France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg – to the end of 2025.
Citizens of these countries with ordinary passports can enjoy visa-free travel to China for purposes such as business, tourism, visiting family or friends, or transit, for up to 15 days.
This decision was made during the Chinese President’s state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary during May 5-10.
Visa-free policy on foreign tourist groups by cruise ship
In its latest efforts to expand the visa-free policies, China announced on May 15 that it started implementing a visa-free entry policy for foreign tourist groups arriving by cruise ship in coastal provinces or municipalities of China.
Effective immediately (from May 15, 2024), foreign tourist groups (comprising two or more individuals) arriving by cruise ship and received by China's domestic travel agencies can enter China visa-free through 13 designated coastal cruise ports, according to a notice from the National Immigration Administration.
These ports are Tianjin, Dalian, Shanghai, Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Xiamen, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beihai, Haikou and Sanya.
The tourists are allowed to stay in the coastal provinces, municipalities and Beijing for up to 15 days. The tourist groups must travel together on the same cruise ship to the next destination port when the ship leaves China, according to the notice.
Meanwhile, to support the development of cruise tourism, 7 cruise ports in Dalian, Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Beihai were added to the list of China’s visa-free transit ports.
