China to Offer Visa-Free Entry to Russians in Trial Program

The Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing has announced that a one-year trial period for visa-free entry for Russian citizens will commence on September 15th. This initiative aims to further ease travel between the two nations.

The announcement was made during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other global leaders. The visa waiver program will be extended to ordinary passport holders from Russia, allowing them to enter China for up to 30 days for various purposes, including business, tourism, personal visits, exchanges, and transit.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, this decision reflects the strong relationship between China and Russia and is intended to foster deeper people-to-people connections. Following the announcement, there was a surge in interest in travel to China. The Russian Association of Travel Aggregators reported a doubling of online searches for flights and hotel bookings. They anticipate an overall demand increase of 30% or more.

Currently, Russians require a visa to visit China, which can be obtained through visa centers and consulates. Fees vary, and processing typically takes about a week. In August 2023, Moscow and Beijing introduced a visa-free group tourist exchange program, which facilitated travel for nearly 130,000 people that year.

Tourism between the two countries has been experiencing significant growth, driven by relaxed entry regulations and the introduction of e-visa services. Numerous airlines operate routes between Russia and China, with a substantial number of weekly flights. In 2024, passenger traffic to China nearly tripled, with popular destinations including Hainan Island, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.