China will permit Russian citizens to enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 30 days during a one-year trial period set to begin later this month, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday.
Guo Jiakun informed reporters that “from September 15, 2025, until September 14, 2026, a pilot visa exemption policy will be implemented for Russian citizens holding standard passports,” as reported by the state-controlled TASS news agency.
According to him, Russians will have the opportunity to visit China without a visa for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, or educational exchanges.
This announcement coincided with a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, where the two leaders commended their deepening collaboration as a countermeasure against Western influence.
The Russian Association of Tour Operators indicated that these relaxed regulations could lead to a 40% increase in Russian tourists traveling to China. During the first half of 2025, over 1 million Russians visited China, representing a 30% rise compared to the previous year, making China the fifth most popular destination for Russian travelers, as per data from Russia’s border service.
Since the removal of COVID-19 restrictions and the reopening of its borders in 2023, China has broadened its visa-free entry policy to include 75 countries.
