China makes major changes to visa-free entry program

China is witnessing a revival of international tourism as the country significantly expands its visa-free entry program to attract foreign travelers and boost its economy. Citizens from 74 countries can now enter China without a visa for up to 30 days — a dramatic shift from previous restrictions — and officials expect the number to grow to 75 nations with the inclusion of Azerbaijan.

China tourism

The National Immigration Administration reports that more than 20 million foreign visitors entered China without a visa in 2024, accounting for nearly one-third of all arrivals and more than doubling last year’s total. The policy, part of Beijing’s effort to recover from the pandemic-era tourism slump, has already transformed the travel experience for many international tourists. “This really helps people to travel because it is such a hassle to apply for a visa and go through the process,” said Giorgi Shavadze, a Georgian tourist visiting Beijing’s Temple of Heaven.

Surge of foreign visitors

Travel companies and guides are also seeing the effects. While most major attractions remain dominated by domestic travelers, industry professionals are preparing for an anticipated surge of foreign visitors during peak holiday seasons. Veteran English-speaking tour guide Gao Jun said he is “practically overwhelmed with tours and struggling to keep up.” To meet growing demand, Gao recently started a business to train new English-speaking guides. China fully reopened to international tourism in early 2023 after years of stringent COVID-19 restrictions, but recovery was slow. Only 13.8 million international tourists visited that year — less than half the 31.9 million arrivals in 2019, the last year before the pandemic. The government has since moved aggressively to remove barriers, rolling out visa-free entry for much of Europe, parts of Latin America, the Middle East and Malaysia. The policy is a welcome relief for travelers like Norwegian tourist Øystein Sporsheim, who said his family previously faced the costly and time-consuming process of applying for visas at the Chinese embassy in Oslo. “They don’t very often open, so it was much harder,” he explained.

Travel companies

Tour operators are optimistic. Jenny Zhao, managing director of boutique travel company WildChina, said her firm’s business has grown 50% compared with pre-pandemic levels. “The new visa policies are 100% beneficial to us,” Zhao said. U.S. travelers remain the company’s largest client base, representing about 30% of business, but European travelers now make up 15–20% of customers — up from less than 5% before 2019. Online travel agency Trip.com Group also reported surging interest. Bookings for flights, hotels and other travel services to China doubled in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period last year, with 75% of bookings from travelers in visa-free regions.

China visas

No major African country currently qualifies for the 30-day visa-free entry, despite China’s strong diplomatic and economic ties within the continent. For travelers from 10 countries — including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Russia — visa-free options remain limited to a 10-day transit stay if they depart for a third country, restricted to 60 designated ports of entry. China’s more open border policies signal a determined push to revive international tourism and enhance its soft power abroad. With travel demand climbing and visa hurdles easing, the country is positioning itself to reclaim its place as one of the world’s most visited destinations.

The post China makes major changes to visa-free entry program appeared first on Knewz.