Travellers from Australia and New Zealand can now visit China for business, tourism, and transit without a visa for up to 15 days, thanks to China’s new unilateral visa-free policy.
China and Australia have also agreed to issue multiple-entry visas with a validity period of three to five years.
According to China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA), the number of Australian visitors to China has been steadily rising.
In October 2023, the NIA announced a list of 53 countries eligible for 72/144-hour visa-free transit, which included the UK, France, and Australia. On May 15 of this year, the NIA further allowed foreign tourists to enter China by cruise ship without a visa, easing entry for Australian residents.
Given Australia’s sizable Chinese community, the new visa-free policy not only facilitates visits to family and friends but also provides an opportunity to witness China’s ongoing transformations.
New Zealand will also join the list of countries enjoying visa-free entry, as flights between China and New Zealand have swiftly resumed. Since December last year, direct flights between the two countries have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Airlines such as Air New Zealand, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Hainan Airlines, and Cathay Pacific now offer direct flights from eight Chinese cities to New Zealand.
Since 2023, China has expanded its unilateral visa-free policy to several countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, and others. Additionally, countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Georgia enjoy reciprocal visa-free arrangements with China.