Following an announcement by the State Council, China will extend its unilateral visa-free policy for nationals of 45 countries until December 31, 2026. Additionally, it will grant visa-free entry to Swedish nationals from November 10th, 2025, to December 31st, 2026.
Visa-free policy
The initiative aims to further facilitate travel between China and other nations. The list of visa-free countries include:
France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden (effective from November 10, 2025), Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Andorra, South Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain.
Eligible travelers can enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, to undertake allowed activities such as:
- Business
- Tourism
- Family visits
- Cultural exchange
- Transit
Those who do not meet the visa-free requirements must obtain a visa prior to entry.
Chinese work visa
Through this new policy, China aims to welcome foreign business visitors easily. However, it should be noted that the new measures do not impact on the existing rules on Chinese work visas. In fact, foreigners who wish to travel to China for work reasons must still obtain the relevant work permit and work visa.
Before being able to apply for a work visa at a Chinese embassy abroad, applicants shall first get the Notification Letter for Foreigner’s Work Permit. This is an official letter from Chinese authorities, confirming that an applicant has been approved to work in China.
In conclusion, before relocating for work reasons, we recommend to check the main types of Chinese visas available
