China has not yet formally extended its 30-day unilateral visa-free policy for all eligible countries, but Slovakia says Beijing is ready to continue the arrangement for Slovak citizens through 2027.

Slovakia says China is ready to extend visa-free entry

China has given an early signal that its current 30-day visa-free entry program could continue beyond its scheduled expiry at the end of 2026. The policy, which covers travellers from dozens of countries, allows eligible ordinary passport holders to enter China without a visa for short stays of up to 30 days.

The latest indication came on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, after talks in Beijing between Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Slovakia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs said China was prepared to extend the visa-free arrangement for Slovak passport holders by one additional year.

Juraj Blanár, Slovakia’s Foreign Minister, said:

“Today, I received positive news from my Chinese counterpart: China is ready to extend the visa-free regime with Slovakia for another year,”

Blanár also said the visa-free arrangement had supported bilateral ties, especially by making tourism and business travel easier between Slovakia and China.

If confirmed by Chinese authorities, Slovak citizens would be able to keep using the 30-day visa-free route until December 31, 2027. At present, the program is due to end on December 31, 2026. The Slovak announcement, however, is not yet the same as a formal Chinese policy notice putting the extension into effect.

A broader renewal may be under consideration

The development is being watched closely because Slovakia is not covered by a separate standalone visa waiver. Slovak citizens are part of the same unilateral visa-free framework that applies to many other nationalities, including travellers from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and a large part of Europe.

On November 3, 2025, Beijing announced a group extension of visa-free access for nationals of 45 countries until December 31, 2026. Sweden was added to the program on November 10, 2025. China has since expanded the scheme further, including by granting visa-free access to Canadian and British passport holders.

Close-up of red lanterns hanging under carved eaves in a quiet Beijing temple courtyard on a cloudy afternoon
China’s short-stay visa-free policy has made qualifying leisure and business trips simpler for many visitors.

In total, citizens of 48 countries are currently eligible for visa-free stays of up to 30 days in China through the end of 2026. The list includes the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan and South Korea, among others.

Some countries are subject to different timelines. Russian citizens may enter China without a visa until December 31, 2027, while Brunei’s visa-free arrangement does not have a stated expiry date. The United States is not part of China’s unilateral 30-day visa-free program; US passport holders generally need a visa for visits to China, although separate visa-free transit rules may apply to some eligible travellers.

Current rules remain in place until Beijing confirms changes

For now, the existing rules continue to apply. Eligible travellers holding valid ordinary passports may enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days when their trip falls within permitted purposes.

  • Tourism
  • Business visits
  • Visiting family or friends
  • Exchanges and non-remunerated visits
  • Transit

Travellers who plan to remain in China for more than 30 days, or whose purpose of travel is not covered by the exemption, must still obtain the appropriate visa before departure. Until China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues an official renewal notice, eligible nationalities should treat December 31, 2026, as the current end date for the program.

A wider extension would give airlines, travel companies and visitors more certainty for 2027 planning, particularly for markets that have benefited from simplified short-stay access to China. For now, Slovakia’s announcement is a positive signal, but travellers should wait for confirmation from Beijing before relying on visa-free entry beyond 2026.