The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that China has granted a one-year visa exemption for Russian passport holders to enhance cross-border travel. This trial visa waiver program will be in effect from September 15, 2025, to September 14, 2026. Individuals can stay in China for a maximum of 30 days. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, mentioned that Russian ordinary passport holders are permitted to enter China for various reasons including business, tourism, visiting friends and family, exchanges, and transit. He remarked that under the strategic direction of Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, relations between China and Russia at both intergovernmental and public levels have been progressing positively. Jiakun indicated that facilitating cross-border movement aims to enhance exchanges and contribute positively to the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era. At present, China provides visa-free entry for individuals with regular passports from 47 different countries. Beneficiaries can take advantage of a 30-day stay, a guideline applicable to most countries until December 31, 2025, with additional regulations for 2026. The nations included are Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Greece, and Norway. Other countries on the list are Japan, Peru, Uruguay, Monaco, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Oman, Kuwait, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Slovenia, Switzerland, Slovakia, and the Netherlands.
