China Signals Possible Extension of 30-Day Visa-Free Policy to End of 2027, But Official Confirmation Still Pending for French and 47 Other Nationalities
Updated: 3 hours ago
BEIJING, 14 November 2026 – China may extend its unilateral 30-day visa exemption for a further year beyond its current 31 December 2026 expiry, according to a 10 November 2026 announcement by Slovakia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stated that China is “ready to extend the visa-free regime with Slovakia for another year” . The statement, made by Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár after talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, is the first official signal that the programme could be renewed for 2027 . However, no formal Chinese government announcement has yet confirmed a collective extension for the 48 countries currently covered by the policy, including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea. The authoritative Chinese government position, as published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), remains that the 48-country exemption is in effect until 31 December 2026 .
What Slovakia Announced—and What It Does Not Yet Mean
The Slovak ministry’s statement is explicit that the extension is a diplomatic intention, not an administrative decision already in force. Minister Blanár said he “received positive news today from my Chinese counterpart that China is ready to extend the visa-free arrangement with Slovakia for another year” . If formalised, Slovak citizens would continue to travel to China visa-free until 31 December 2027, rather than the current 31 December 2026 .
The significance for other nationalities lies in the structure of China’s policy. Slovakia does not have a separate visa waiver from France or the other 47 countries covered by the programme. All are included in the same unilateral visa-free list maintained by China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA), which currently covers 35 European countries, 2 Oceanian countries, 7 Asian countries, and 6 Americas countries . The MFA’s official FAQ confirms that nationals of these 50 countries—the 48-country list plus Russia and Brunei—may enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family visits, exchange, and transit for stays not exceeding 30 days . The expiry structure is set out clearly by the MFA: Brunei has no expiry date, Russia remains in effect until 31 December 2027, and the other 48 countries remain in effect until 31 December 2026 .
If China extends the waiver for Slovakia, the logical policy question is whether the same extension will apply to the other 47 countries on the 48-country list. Beijing has previously favoured joint extensions involving multiple countries, as seen in the November 2025 MFA notice that extended the policy for France and other listed countries to 31 December 2026 . The Slovak announcement is therefore an encouraging signal, but it is not a confirmation of a general renewal, and China could still choose to make differentiated announcements country by country depending on bilateral relations.
Current Rules for French and Other Eligible Travellers Remain Unchanged
Until China publishes an official extension, the existing rules apply without change. French citizens holding a valid ordinary passport may enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business trips, family or friendly visits, unpaid exchanges and visits, and transit. The exemption is currently valid until 31 December 2026. The German Federal Foreign Office’s official travel advice similarly states that German nationals may travel to China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days for business, tourism, visits, academic and cultural exchange, and transit, valid until 31 December 2026 . The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ China travel advice is the authoritative French-language reference for entry conditions, and travellers should consult it alongside the MFA FAQ before booking.
Travellers who do not meet the programme requirements—for example, those planning a stay of more than 30 days, or travelling for a purpose not covered by the exemption (such as work, study, or news coverage)—must still obtain an appropriate visa before departure . The 30-day period is calculated from the day after entry .
What to Watch Before 31 December 2026
The next milestone is a formal Chinese government announcement on the 2027 status of the 48-country list. The MFA’s visa-free FAQ and the NIA’s unilateral visa-free country list are the official sources that would reflect any change. The Slovak ministry’s statement is a signal of intent, but it does not itself alter the legal position for French, German, or other eligible nationals until China publishes a corresponding decision.
For travellers planning 2027 trips to China, the practical position is to plan on the basis of the current 31 December 2026 expiry while monitoring official channels for a renewal announcement. If a general extension is confirmed, it would remove the need to anticipate a return of consular visa formalities for short-stay business, tourism, and family visits in 2027. If no extension is announced, travellers with 2027 plans will need to obtain a visa before departure.
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Key Points at a Glance
Aspect | Current Position |
Policy | Unilateral visa-free entry for ordinary passport holders of 50 countries |
Stay limit | Up to 30 days, calculated from the day after entry |
Eligible purposes | Business, tourism, family/friends visits, exchange, transit |
Expiry for 48 countries (incl. France, Germany, Slovakia) | 31 December 2026 |
Expiry for Russia | 31 December 2027 |
Expiry for Brunei | No expiry date |
Slovak announcement (10 Nov 2026) | China “ready to extend” Slovakia’s waiver for another year, to 31 December 2027—formal Chinese confirmation pending |
Official Chinese sources | |
Official Slovak source |
Conclusion
The Slovak announcement is the first official indication that China may extend its 30-day visa-free policy beyond 31 December 2026, and because Slovakia shares the same waiver list as France and the other 47 countries, the signal is directly relevant to a much larger group of travellers. But the distinction between a diplomatic intention and an administrative decision matters: the MFA’s own FAQ still records the 48-country expiry as 31 December 2026, and no Chinese government notice has yet been published to change that . Travellers should treat the Slovak statement as a positive indicator, not a guarantee, and should verify the position through the MFA FAQ and the NIA list before making 2027 travel commitments that depend on visa-free entry.
For more news and daily updates on China visas and immigration policy, visit visasupdate.com.
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