China's rapidly expanding visa-free scheme aims to boost tourism. After Norway was added to China's visa-free list earlier in September, five more European countries have made the cut. Citizens of Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Portugal and Slovenia have now been granted visa waivers for the Asian nation, bringing the total number of European countries up to 18.
Tourists from these countries will be able to enter China visa-free from 15 October. In July, tourists from Poland, Australia and were also granted unrestricted entry to China until the end of 2025. Since the start of 2024, the scheme has been announced in stages, with various European nations and also gaining visa-free access.
It aims to encourage more people to visit China for business and tourism, and promote exchanges between Chinese citizens and foreign nationals. The full list of European countries now includes Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, , Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. Tourists from these countries will be allowed to enter China for short stays without a visa until the end of next year.
The aim is “to facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a briefing on the initial announcement made in November. Visa-free entry will be granted for up to 15 days in the trial programme. C.