China and the Solomon Islands have agreed to exempt nationals of one another from the visa requirements.
The news on this mutual visa-free travel agreement was shared by the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Consular Affairs Department earlier today, November 7, VisaGuide.World reports.
Commenting on the reached agreement, the Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands, Cai Weiming said that the two countries are entering into the era of full visa-free access. The same noted that this deal will have a positive impact on nationals of both countries as it will strengthen people-to-people connections.
Under the new agreement, Chinese passport holders will be able to enter the territory of the Solomon Islands for short stays without needing to obtain a visa. The same applies to Solomon Islands passport holders who will now enjoy visa-free entry to China.
However, citizens of both countries must keep in mind that this agreement applies only to those who will be remaining in each other’s territories for a short period of time.
This means that if Chinese or Solomon Islands citizens want to stay for a longer period in each other’s territory, they will need to undergo the visa process.
Trips from China to the Solomon Islands have become increasingly popular in the last year. The visa-free deal is expected further to increase travel interest to the island among Chinese visitors.
Moreover, it is expected that the Solomon Islands will also now show increased interest in China as they no longer have to undergo the procedures to obtain a visa.
China Has Dropped Visa Requirements for Several Countries So Far This Year
In an attempt to open up to more foreign visitors and help its travel and tourism industry recover from the losses recorded during the Coronavirus pandemic, China has simplified entry rules for numerous countries around the world this year.
Just recently, the Chinese authorities announced that since November 8, 2024, nationals of nine countries are eligible for visa-free entry. The nine countries for which visas have been removed are South Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Slovakia, Andorra, Monaco, and Liechtenstein.
Passport holders of these countries are not able to enter China without obtaining a visa for stays of up to 15 days for tourism, business, family visits, and transit purposes.
In addition, China has dropped visas for travelers from Slovenia and Greece. Moreover, earlier in March of this year, China also removed visas for travelers from Belgium, Ireland, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, and later in June, it did the same for Poland.
The visa-free regime for these countries and some others will apply until December 31, 2025. However, the measure might get extended.