Putin approves visa-free entry for Chinese citizens for stays of up to 30 days

International

Regulation covers business, tourism and participation in cultural, scientific and sporting events until September 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing visa-free entry into Russia for certain categories of Chinese citizens for stays of up to 30 days. The measure, published on the official government portal, applies to travellers arriving for business purposes, tourism or participation in scientific, cultural or sports events. The regulation will remain in force until 14 September 2026 and excludes categories such as work- or study-related stays.

The move follows Beijing’s announcement in September of a corresponding visa-free regime for Russian citizens, valid from 15 September 2025 to 14 September 2026. Earlier in November, during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Moscow, Putin welcomed the Chinese initiative and said that reciprocal measures from Russia would “come into effect very soon.” He expressed confidence that the visa-free travel rules would have “significant consequences in both the economic and humanitarian spheres” and provide new momentum for bilateral relations.

The announcement has already had an impact on travel interest in China. The booking platform Fliggy reported that searches for flights to Russia rose more than eightfold within a day. According to the company, destinations such as Moscow, Murmansk, Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok and Irkutsk currently attract the greatest attention. Tongcheng Travel, another major Chinese platform, also noted that search queries related to Russia more than doubled shortly after the news was published.