In a significant move to deepen people-to-people ties, China will allow Russian citizens holding ordinary passports to enter visa-free for up to 30 days, effective from September 15, 2025, and running through September 14, 2026. This trial includes tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit.
What Travelers Need to Know
The visa allows a stay of up to 30 days and will be valid from September 15, 2025, through September 14, 2026. It applies to purposes such as tourism, business, visiting relatives or friends, cultural or academic exchanges, and transit (Beijing International Portal, China Briefing). The announcement, which followed top-level China–Russia meetings, is positioned within a broader strategic context of boosting tourism and strengthening bilateral trust.
What This Means for Travelers
- Cost-Effective Access: Russian travelers can sidestep cumbersome visa procedures—no embassy visits or consulate fees.
- Flexible Trips: Planning a cultural tour across Beijing, Shanghai, or the Silk Road? This waiver lets you stay longer and explore more.
- Tourism Boost: With over a million Russians visiting China in early 2025, this policy could spike that number significantly.
How to Get It Right
- Entry Timing Is Key: Only travelers entering between Sept 15, 2025, and Sept 14, 2026 qualify.
- Purpose Match: Ensure your travel falls within the approved categories—business, tourism, or academic exchanges.
- Document Checklist: A valid passport is essential. Still, carrying travel confirmations and proof of return can smooth entry.
Even when visas are waived, platforms like VOYA help travelers with support for clarity and on-ground logistics to make mobility seamless.
