China lifts visa requirements for Australians and New Zealanders
China expands its visa-free entry program to include Australia and New Zealand, now allowing visitors from 14 countries to stay for 15 days without a visa.
China is continuing its strategy to relax entry requirements in a bid to revive its tourism sector, which remains well below pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, the country welcomed just 35.5 million foreign visitors—a fraction of the 97.7 million recorded in 2019. Expanding its visa-exemption program is designed to simplify travel to China and help restore inbound tourism.
Countries now benefiting from visa exemptions
Over the past year, China has gradually broadened its visa-exemption initiative to include additional countries. In November 2023, a one-year trial was launched for France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. In March 2024, Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg joined the program.
Most recently, Australia and New Zealand have been added to the list. Citizens of these 14 countries—France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia and New Zealand—may now enter China without a visa for stays of up to 15 days, whether for tourism, business, family visits or transit.
China has also signed reciprocal visa-exemption agreements with Singapore and Thailand, allowing visa-free stays of up to 30 days per entry.
Country | Maximum visa-free stay |
|---|---|
France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia, New Zealand | 15 days |
Singapore, Thailand | 30 days per entry |
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China
Additional easing measures
Beyond visa exemptions, China has introduced further steps to ease entry for foreign travelers. U.S. visitors on tourist visas no longer need to provide round-trip flight or hotel reservations, detailed itineraries, or invitation letters. Regulations have also been relaxed for cruise passengers, who may now stay in China visa-free for up to 15 days beginning 15 May 2024.
Deeper integration with global payment systems
To enhance the experience of foreign visitors, China has expanded partnerships with major payment organizations such as Ant Group and Mastercard. The “International Consumer-Friendly Zones” initiative launched in Shanghai—partnering with 12 Alipay+ payment affiliates and other major card networks—aims to streamline transactions for travelers worldwide.
In the first quarter of 2024, China issued 466,000 visas and related documents to foreigners, an increase of 119% compared with Q1 2023. During the same period, nearly 1.99 million foreigners entered China visa-free—an annual rise of 266%.
Spécialiste de la veille réglementaire et experte en contenus destinations, elle analyse quotidiennement l’évolution des formalités d’entrée pour traduire la complexité administrative en guides pratiques. Son rôle combine expertise terrain et précision technique afin de garantir la fiabilité des informations délivrées aux voyageurs.
