China has released an official list of 35 European countries whose citizens are now eligible to visit the country without a visa, covering some of the continent's most populous and widely travelling nations. The measure allows qualifying passport holders to enter mainland China without a visa for short-term stays, part of a broader ongoing push by Beijing to revitalise international tourism and ease global business travel.
Details of the Visa-Free Policy
The list was compiled by China's National Immigration Administration based on information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, with the details current as of February 17, 2026. Citizens from each of these countries who hold ordinary passports are permitted to enter China without a visa for purposes including tourism, business, visits to relatives and friends, exchange visits, or transit.
The 35 European Countries on China's Visa-Free List
The full list of eligible European nations includes: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Allowed Duration and Conditions
Eligible travellers may remain in China for a maximum of 30 days per visit. The permitted duration of stay is calculated from midnight on the day following the date of entry into the country. The policy covers ordinary passport holders specifically, meaning those travelling on diplomatic, official, or other categories of travel documents would need to verify their own entry requirements separately.
Broader Context
The move brings China's visa-free access in line with a broader push by the country to ease international travel and encourage inbound tourism and business activity from key partner regions. According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the policy aims to facilitate people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation.
