China has introduced a new visa for citizens of the ten ASEAN countries and the observer nation, Timor-Leste.
The decision has been announced by China’s Foreign Ministry, VisaGuide.World reports.
The new scheme offers five-year multiple-entry visas to applicants visiting China for business purposes and their spouses and children, offering them a stay of 180 days.
Confirming the new changes, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that it will offer greater visa facilitation to ASEAN countries.
China’s new decision will benefit nationals of the following countries: Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Over 9 Million Visitors Entered China in 2024
Lin said that China received more than nine million visitors in 2024, up by more than 40 per cent year-on-year. He said that in the first four months of this year, over 18 thousand international companies were established in China, up by 12.1 percent year-on-year.
China will continue to improve entry policies and add more countries to the visa-free list. We welcome more foreign friends to visit China for excellent purchase experience, diverse consumption scenarios and more convenient services. China is committed to greater openness and deeper cooperation for shared prosperity with the rest of the world.
Visa-Free Entry for Several Countries From June 9
Chinese authorities announced the decision to permit visa-free entry for nationals of several countries from June 9, 2025.
Authorities in China announced plans to test a new policy allowing visa-free entry for nationals of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
The decision is to be kept in place until June 8, 2026. The new changes were confirmed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning.
With the United Arab Emirates and Qatar that have implemented reciprocal visa-free policies with China since 2018, China now grants visa-free treatment to all GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. We welcome more friends from the GCC countries to embark on an impromptu trip to China.
In order to further facilitate the travel process, last year, China expanded its visa-free policy to various countries.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, previously announced that from June 1, 2025, nationals of Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile would be eligible to travel visa-free to China for short-term stays.