China extends its visa exemptions to 38 countries including France

A duration extended to 30 days for the French

Since December 2023, China has introduced a visa exemption for citizens of six countries, including France, allowing 15-day visa-free stays for tourism, business or family visits. In November 2024, this duration was increased to 30 days until December 31, 2025. This change aims to revive tourism, a sector in difficulty since the Covid 19 period. At the same time, China has streamlined the visa application process , in particular by a 34% reduction in the elements of the administrative form. Mandatory appointments for visa applications have also been removed and visa fees will drop by 25%, which should make visa application procedures easier.

9 new beneficiary countries

On November 30, 2024, China expanded its visa waiver program to 9 new countries, bringing the total to 38 eligible nations. These new beneficiaries include several Balkan countries, such as Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia, as well as Baltic countries such as Estonia and Latvia. Malta and Japan, already linked to China through economic and cultural exchanges, have also joined the list.

The results of these measures are already visible: between July and September 2024, China recorded 8.19 million foreign visitors, including 4.9 million thanks to the visa waiver program, an increase of 78.6% per year. compared to the previous year.