Beijing’s Foreign Ministry announced that a one-year trial period is set to commence on September 15.
Beijing revealed on Tuesday that it will allow Russian citizens visa-free access for a one-year trial period, aiming to enhance travel between China and Russia.
This declaration coincides with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s four-day visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, during which he has engaged with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and other global leaders.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated at a press briefing that the visa exemption scheme would be extended to include Russian ordinary passport holders from September 15. Visitors will be permitted to enter China for up to 30 days for activities such as business, tourism, personal visits, cultural exchanges, and transit.
Guo indicated that this decision underscores the advanced state of China-Russia relations and seeks to foster deeper public interactions.
The ministry’s announcement led to a significant increase in interest for travel to China, as reported by the Russian Association of Travel Aggregators. Aleksandr Bragin, the association’s head, informed TASS that online queries for flights and hotel reservations promptly doubled. He anticipates an overall demand increase of 30% or greater.
Currently, Russian citizens are required to obtain a visa for China, with tourist visas issued via designated centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg, in addition to Chinese consulates in locations such as Ekaterinburg, Kazan, Khabarovsk, and Vladivostok. Costs for a single-entry visa typically range from 2,500 to 3,300 rubles ($31-41), while multiple-entry visas begin at $92. Processing generally takes about a week, though it can occasionally extend beyond that.
A visa-free group tourist exchange program was initiated by Moscow and Beijing in August 2023, attracting almost 130,000 participants within that year, as per data from Russia’s Association of Tour Operators.
Travel between China and Russia has seen a significant upsurge, partly due to more lenient entry regulations and the introduction of e-visa options. Presently, eight Russian airlines manage 36 routes to China, and ten Chinese airlines service 24 routes to Russia, cumulatively offering 230 weekly flights.
Aeroflot, Russia’s national airline, reported that passenger volume to China almost trebled in 2024, reaching 830,000, with primary destinations including Hainan Island, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.