China has taken another big step toward opening up to the world by expanding its visa-free entry policy to 74 countries, permitting citizens from these nations to visit for up to 30 days without a visa.
This move is already paying off in tourism numbers. In 2024 alone, over 20 million foreign visitors entered China visa-free, more than double the number from the previous year. The policy is now considered to be centerpiece of Beijing’s push to boost tourism, promote business ties, and make travel easier for friends and partners worldwide.
New list of countries
The new list includes much of Europe—with countries like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain all getting the green light. Several nations from the Latin America, such as
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Chile
are also included.
Asia-Pacific countries like
- Japan
- South Korea
- Malaysia
- Australia.
Even parts of the Middle East are covered, with Gulf states for example Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar are feeling pleasure and taking advantage from 30-day visa-free entry.
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Coming July 16, 2025, the list will grow to 75 countries with the addition of Azerbaijan.
But what about Pakistan?
Despite the close diplomatic and economic ties between Islamabad and Beijing—including multi-billion-dollar investments via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)—Pakistan is still not on the visa-free list.
Most of the travellers from South Asia and most African countries also don’t qualify. Pakistani citizens will still be required to go through the traditional visa process to visit China.
For those hoping for at least a transit option, there’s some disappointment there too. China does offer a 10-day visa-free transit entry at certain ports, but this is only available to citizens from a select list, including
- The United States
- Canada
- the United Kingdom
- Sweden
- Russia
- a handful of others—not Pakistan.
For many Pakistanis, this news is considered to be a bit of a letdown. While China’s growing openness is considered to be a good news for global travelers, it also reflects the complexities of visa diplomacy and the security
- Migration
- Policy considerations that shape such decisions.
That said, as China is busy in broadening its visa-free program, there’s hope that future phases might include Pakistan to making it highly easier for families, businesspeople, and tourists to visit one of the world’s oldest civilizations without the hassle of lengthy paperwork.