Visa-Free "Circle of Friends" Keeps Expanding: Unilateral Visa-Free Stay Extended to 30 Days
From Europe to Latin America and on to the Middle East, the list of countries eligible for China's unilateral visa-free policy keeps expanding; the visa-free stay has been extended from 15 to 30 days, and "exchange visits" has been added as a permitted purpose of entry, making trips to China simpler.
If visa-free transit addresses the need for a "stopover along the way," then the unilateral visa-free policy addresses the convenience of "traveling to China specifically." Over the past three years, this visa-free "circle of friends" has continued to expand, and the entry threshold has been lowered again and again.
Three Major Expansions
- From November 30, 2024: visa-free trial for Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan and other countries;
- From June 1, 2025: the visa-free policy was extended to Latin America for the first time, with a visa-free trial for Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay;
- From June 9, 2025: further expanded to the Middle East, with a visa-free trial for Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and other countries.
Both the duration of stay and the purpose of entry have been relaxed
Alongside the expansion of the list, the policy itself is also being "loosened":
- Duration of stay: extended from the original 15 days to30 days;
- Purpose of entry: In addition to business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit, a new category of "exchange visits" has been added.
This means that citizens of visa-free countries holding ordinary passports can enjoy the convenience of visa-free entry for tourism, business, visiting relatives, and even short-term exchange visits to China, with a stay of nearly one month per entry.
Mutual and unilateral visa-free arrangements run in parallel
In addition to unilateral visa-free entry, China has also reached comprehensive mutual visa exemption arrangements with many countries. As of 2025, China's unilateral visa-free list for many countries continues to grow, while the number of countries with comprehensive mutual visa exemptions is also increasing. Mutual exemption arrangements with countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia make regional exchanges more convenient.
Advice for Travelers
Application of the Visa-Free PolicyCountry List, Duration of Stay, and Validity PeriodIt will be dynamically adjusted. Before traveling, be sure to refer to the latest published information and confirm your passport validity, connecting transportation, and itinerary arrangements. For travelers planning an in-depth tour of China, a 30-day stay is enough to support a journey spanning multiple cities.