China Pakistan Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: As Pakistanis are criticizing China’s visa free regime for some countries and not for Pakistan, here this report is being published only for the information of them. China Pakistan relations are already facing multiple challenges. Therefore clarity is necessary to avoid further misunderstandings between two friends.
Pakistanis are sharing the number of visa free countries as more than 80. Actually the number is 38.
Some Pakistanis mentioned that India is also in the visa free list. That is not true. India is not in the list.
Yes! Pakistan is not in the list and that is the real disturbing thing for Pakistanis who are raising questions on social media mainly Face Book. They say what type of Higher than Himalaya, Deeper than the Oceans, Sweeter than Honey friendship where so many countries enjoy visa free entry to China but not Pakistan.
Here, Pakistanis should know that China partially has allowed visa free entry for Pakistanis that is for the people of Gilgit Baltistan region. The residents of GB can travel to China with an NOC certificate of their respective district administration.
Main point for the understanding of Pakistanis is , Visa regime is prerogative of a country, who to issue who to not and who to welcome visa free. As far as, Pakistanis are concerned, China is welcoming for them as well and visa is not difficult.
Here is the official policy of China for visa free countries ; Courtesy (www.china-briefing.com)
On December 17, 2024, The National Immigration Administration (NIA) of China has announced a major expansion and optimization of its visa-free transit policy, effective December 17, 2024. Under the upgraded policy, eligible foreign travelers transiting through China can now stay for up to 240 hours (10 days), a significant extension from the previous 72-hour and 144-hour visa-free transit policy. In addition, 21 new ports have been added, increasing the total number of visa-free entry/exit points to 60 across 24 provinces.
On November 22, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China announced that the country’s unilateral visa-free entry policy will be expanded to include nine more countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan. Effective November 30, 2024, citizens holding ordinary passports from these nine countries will qualify for China’s unilateral visa-free entry program.
Pakistan in the World – December 2024
In addition, China will enhance its unilateral visa-free policies by including exchange visits as a valid reason for entry and extending the visa-free stay duration from the current 15 days to 30 days. These updated policies will apply to all countries eligible for China’s unilateral visa-free entry and will generally remain in effect until December 31, 2025.
Starting from November 30, 2024, there will be a total of 38 countries enjoying unilateral visa-free entry policy to China.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, China used to offer a 15-day visa-free entry policy to Japan, Brunei, and Singapore. Citizens with a valid ordinary passport from these three countries were permitted to travel to China for a period of up to 15 days without a visa for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting to a third country. However, this policy was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On July 26, 2023, the 15-day visa-free travel to China policy was resumed for citizens of Brunei and Singapore, the latter of which has been upgraded to a 30-day mutual visa exemption policy since February 2024. The resumption for Japanese citizens, however, was delayed until the recent announcement.
To boost consumption and facilitate inbound tourism after reopening its borders, China began piloting and expanding its unilateral visa-free entry policy to include more countries:
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On November 24, 2023, China decided to pilot a 15-day unilateral visa-free entry in the first batch of 6 countries including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, effective from December 1,2023 to November 30, 2024.
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On March 7, 2024, China decided to expand its 15-day unilateral visa-free entry policy to cover a second batch of 6 countries including Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg, effective from March 14, 2024 to November 30, 2024.
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On May 8, 2024, China decided to extend the deadline for the 15-day unilateral visa-free entry policy for the first batch and second batch 12 countries to December 31, 2025.
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On June 25, 2024, China decided to expand its 15-day unilateral visa-free entry policy to cover a third batch of 3 countries including New Zealand, Australia, and Poland, effective from July 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025.
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On September 30, 2024, China decided to expand its 15-day unilateral visa-free entry policy to cover a fourth batch of 4 countries including Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, and Slovenia, effective from October 15 2024 to December 31, 2025.
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On November 1, 2024, China decided to expand its 15-day unilateral visa-free entry policy to cover a fifth batch of 9 countries including Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and South Korea, effective from November 8, 2024 to December 31, 2025.
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On November 22, 2024, China decided to expand its unilateral visa-free entry policy to cover a sixth batch of 9 countries including Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan, effective from November 30, 2024 to December 31, 2025. Meanwhile, the 15-day stay under Chin’s unilateral visa-free entry policy shall be extended to 30 days. The permittable purpose of entry shall be expanded to business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchange visits, and transit.
Taking Brunei and these 37 newly added countries into account, there will be in total 38 countries eligible for China’s unilateral visa-free entry policy.
Pakistan in the World – October 2024
Starting November 30, 2024, citizens holding ordinary passports from these 38 listed countries can enjoy a 30-day unilateral visa-free stay in China for purposes such as business, tourism, family and friend visits, exchanges, and transit.
This policy will remain in effect for most countries until December 31, 2025, with the possibility of further extensions subject to official announcements.
To note, citizens from these countries would also have had to apply for a visa in advance if they:
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Expect to stay in China for more than 30 days; or
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Intend to study, work, settle down, or attend an interview in China.
The 38 countries eligible for China’s unilateral visa-free entry policy can be roughly categorized as below:
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Asia (4 countries): Brunei, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan
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Western Europe (10 countries): France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Austria
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Eastern Europe and Baltics(10 countries): Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Estonia, and Latvia
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Southern Europe (5 countries): Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Malta
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Northern Europe (4 countries): Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland
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Microstates in Europe (3 countries): Andorra, Monaco, and Liechtenstein
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Oceania (2 countries): New Zealand and Australia
