China has extended its visa-free travel policy, now allowing people from 74 countries to visit the country without a visa for up to 30 days.
This new rule has already brought a sharp rise in international arrivals, with more than 20 million travelers entering China without a visa in 2024, more than twice the number recorded the year before.
The updated list includes a large number of European nations, several countries from Latin America, selected Asian and Oceanian countries, and some from the Middle East.
Among the most recent additions are France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, and several Gulf nations. On July 16, 2025, Azerbaijan will also be added, bringing the total number of eligible countries to 75.
Is Pakistan included in this policy?
Despite having strong trade and diplomatic ties with China, Pakistan does not appear on the list of countries whose citizens can travel visa-free. Many other African and South Asian countries are also not included.
| Region | 30-Day Visa-Free Entry Countries | 10-Day Visa-Free Transit Only Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland | United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Sweden, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia |
| Asia & Oceania | Australia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Georgia | Indonesia |
| Middle East | Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates | |
| Latin America | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay | Mexico |
| Other | Brunei, Israel, Mongolia, Philippines, Serbia, Seychelles, Suriname, Turkey, Vatican City, Vietnam | United States, Canada |
For citizens of countries not covered by the 30-day policy, China has introduced a 10-day visa-free transit option available at selected entry points, but this facility is also not available for Pakistani nationals.
This short-term transit policy currently applies to a limited list of countries, such as the US, UK, Canada, Sweden, and Russia.