Nationals of Portugal will finally be able to travel to China without the need to obtain a visa, as the latter’s authorities have decided to drop such a requirement.
Announcing the news, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson of China, Lin Jian, said today that Portugal will be added to the list of countries whose citizens will be eligible for visa-free entry for short stays from October 15, VisaGuide.News reports.
As Jian explained, Portuguese passport holders will be allowed entry to China without holding a visa for business, tourism, visiting relatives, and transit purposes for as long as their stay does not exceed 15 days.
Jian further emphasised that nationals of Portugal, along with nationals of Greece, Cyprus, and Slovenia, will be able to travel to China under the visa-free policy until the end of this year, more specifically until December 31, 2025.
By extending visa-free travel to Portugal, Jian noted that the country wants to enhance cooperation with the European Union. At the same time, he urged the EU authorities to consider a similar approach for Chinese nationals, as they currently need to obtain a Schengen visa in order to be permitted entry into the Schengen Area.
The decision of China to extend visa-free travel to Portugal comes after the Portuguese authorities expressed their discontent with the country not being included in the policy.
Earlier this year, when China decided to start permitting unrestricted entry for citizens of several EU countries, Portugal told China that it would like to be included in the scheme, too. However, China did not take a decision until now.
China Has Dropped Visa Requirements for Citizens of Several EU Countries
This year alone, China has removed the visa requirements for citizens of several EU countries in an attempt to attract more foreign visitors and strengthen ties.
Last week, the Chinese authorities announced that the country would start permitting Cyprus nationals to enter without a visa for stays of up to 15 days.
A similar decision was made for the nationals of Slovenia and Greece. During a meeting between these countries’ authorities on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, the Chinese Foreign Minister said that nationals Slovenians and Greeks would be eligible for visa-free entry.
At the beginning of this month, China also dropped the visa requirements for Norway’s nationals. The move means that Norwegians will also not need to apply for a visa or undergo any other similar procedures for short stays in China.