China has decided to drop the visa requirements for citizens of Norway entering its territory for short stays.
Announcing the news during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, the President of China Xi Jinping said that Norwegian passport holders will be permitted visa-free entry to the country for stays of up to 15 days, VisaGuide.World reports.
In line with the visa-free policy, visa-free entry will apply for tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, and transit purposes, provided that the 15-day period is not exceeded.
As for Norwegians who want to stay in the territory of China for a longer period, they will be required to undergo the visa procedures.
The decision of China to drop the visa requirement for citizens of Norway was welcomed by the latter’s Prime Minister.
He said that visa-free entry would facilitate travel from Norway to China for tourism, study, and business purposes. At the same time, he noted that the move would also help strengthen the cooperation between Norway and China.
This [visa-free travel for short stays] will make it much easier for Norwegian businesses, students and others to travel to China. It facilitates more cooperation.
China has removed the visa requirement for several EU countries. However, citizens of China still need to obtain a visa to enter the Schengen Area.
Commenting on this matter and on whether Norway will take a reciprocal measure, Prime Minister Støre said that this decision is taken by the EU bodies and not individual countries.
China Allows Visa-Free Entry for Another 11 European Union Countries
To become a more attractive destination for EU nationals, China has eased some of its rules for several countries.
At the end of last year, China dropped visa requirements for five countries – France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. Moreover, in March 2024, the country also decided to permit visa-free entry for nationals of six EU countries – Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Luxembourg, and Ireland.
This means that in addition to Norwegians, nationals of the above-mentioned 11 EU countries also enjoy visa-free entry to China for short stays of up to 15 days.
The Chinese authorities did not disclose until when the visa-free entry policy will apply to Norwegians. As for passport holders of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Ireland, the Chinese authorities have decided to permit unrestricted entry until December 31, 2025.