Announced last week by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thehe visa offered on arrival to travellers from 38 countries will be extended from 15 to 30 days from 30 November.. This "temporary" facility had been introduced on 1 December 2023 to six test countries (including France). The measure was then extended to a number of other countries, including Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland, in the middle of the year.
In addition to this extension of validity, China has decided to include an 'F' category for visas on arrival. The non-professional visit visa (F visa) is issued to travellers intending to visit China for official exchanges or study trips.
According to the Chinese authorities, this more liberal visa policy is bearing fruit. In the third quarter of 2024, China welcomed 8.19 million foreign visitors, an increase of 48.8 % compared to the same period the previous year. Among these travellers, 4.89 million people entered China under the visa waiver scheme. This represents a year-on-year increase of 78.6%.
