China Extends Visa-Free Policy For Russian Citizens

JAKARTA - The Chinese government has extended the visa-free policy for ordinary Russian citizens until September 14, 2026.

"To further facilitate cross-border travel, China has decided to expand its visa-free program and extend visa-free policies for regular passport holders from Russia for a trial period from September 15, 2025 to September 14, 2026," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference in Beijing, Tuesday, September 2.

Ordinary passport holders from Russia, said Guo Jiakun, can be exempt from visas to enter China and stay no more than 30 days.

"They can do business, tourism, family or friends visits, exchange or transit," added Guo Jiakun.

Guo Jiakun said China-Russia relations had developed rapidly.

China is also said to strongly support the facilitation of cross-border travel between the two countries and support our two nations in strengthening inter-citizen exchanges and making a positive contribution to advancing China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnerships in coordination for the new era.

"We welcome more friends from Russia to visit China," said Guo Jiakun.

China is known to have designated visa-free in turn with 25 countries, visa-free unilateral for 38 countries and visa-free transit for 54 countries.

In Southeast Asia, a visa-free reciprocal agreement has been applied for Thai citizens, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

China also announced visa-free policies for the six Gulf countries that are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, China also announced visa-free policies for ordinary passport holders from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay.

According to China's National Immigration Administration, foreigners who come to China by utilizing visa-free facilities by 2024 reach 20.1 million people, an increase of 112.3 percent compared to 2023.