China To Implement Visa Free For Citizens 5 European Countries And Malaysia

UNSPLASH/Beijing ILLUSTRATION, China/Henry Chen

JAKARTA - The Chinese government will apply visa-free for 15 days for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning.

"China has decided to implement a unilateral visa-free trial policy to more countries, which includes expanding visa-free treatment for tourists holding regular passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia," he said while delivering regular information to the media in Beijing, China, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, November 24.

The visa-free policy to enter China for the six countries is valid from December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024.

"Citizens of these countries with regular passports can be exempted from visas to enter China and stay no more than 15 days for business, tourism, family visits or transit purposes," said Mao Ning.

Mao Ning said the Chinese government's goal in implementing the policy was for more tourists and international travel through China.

"This is to further facilitate cross-border travel and development and openness in China with high standards," added Mao Ning.

China is known to have lifted movement restrictions since the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2022 but only issued tourist visas in March 2023.

Previously China had also implemented visa-free for 15 days for Singaporeans, Brunei and Japan.

The visa-free rule in China applies with a number of provisions. One of them is transit in less than 24 hours and already has a valid follow-up ticket with a seat confirmed on international flights.

Visa-free also applies to foreigners transiting Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Chengdu within 72 hours as well as APEC business cardholders and permanent residence permit card holders in China.