Russia introduces temporary visa-free regime for Chinese citizens

Chinese citizens will be able to cross Russia’s border without a visa. The decree was signed by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and the document was published on the Kremlin’s website.

The visa-free regime for residents of China will be in force from 1 December 2025 to 14 September 2026. Visitors from China will be able to use it if they plan a business or tourist trip or a visit for the purpose of participating in scientific, cultural, sporting, economic or socio-political events, as well as in cases of transit travel. At the same time, the period of stay in the country must not exceed 30 days.

The decree of the Russian president does not apply to foreign nationals entering for the purpose of employment, including journalistic activity, as well as for the purpose of receiving education, residence or carrying out transportation.

This measure is a reciprocal step on the part of Russia. Earlier, China introduced an experimental visa-free regime for Russian citizens from 15 September 2025 to 14 September 2026.

According to Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS, Chinese citizens made use of the visa-free regime with Russia as early as Tuesday. On 2 December, a queue of tourists formed in the Heihe urban district on the Russian-Chinese border. It is noted that many of them learnt about the lifting of visa requirements from the news.

As the Russian Union of the Travel Industry reported in September, after Beijing introduced the trial visa-free regime for Russians, demand from travellers from Russia for tours to China increased by 50–100 per cent.

Photo: Oleg Elkov / iStock