China Introduces Visa-Free Travel for Russian Citizens

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Starting September 15, 2025, Russian citizens will be able to visit China without a visa. The new rules cover tourism, business trips, family visits, transit, and cultural exchanges. The maximum visa-free stay is 30 days, the Chinese Embassy in Moscow confirms.

According to RBC, this is a trial regime valid until September 14, 2026. Entry is allowed with a Russian biometric passport or the older 5-year international passport. For longer stays or other purposes, a visa is still required.

Previously, Russian travelers needed to apply for an “L” tourist visa with a full package of documents — forms, photos, Russian passport copies, travel insurance, confirmed hotel and flight bookings. Processing usually took a week and often longer. Tourist visas cost around ₽6,300 ($78) for standard processing, ₽10,300 ($128) for expedited, and up to ₽15,200 ($188) for multiple entry. Service fees added another ₽2,500–7,000. These requirements are now waived for short-term visits.

Earlier visa-free access was available only in limited cases — for example, to Hainan Island (30 days, via travel agencies and direct flights) or Hong Kong (14 days with return ticket proof). A 240-hour visa-free transit option also existed, as well as a restored group visa-free program (5–50 people, up to 15 days, fixed itinerary).

Currently, eight Russian airlines fly 36 routes to China, while ten Chinese carriers operate 24 routes to Russia, totaling around 230 flights per week. Direct flights remain expensive: one-way Aeroflot tickets from St. Petersburg to Beijing start at ₽31,000 ($384) in September, while Sichuan Airlines charges $470–606. Travel packages, however, are more affordable: Tez Tour offers Sanya from ₽75,000 ($928) for six nights and Beijing from ₽80,000 ($990) per person.

Industry experts expect a surge in demand. Artur Muradyan, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of Space Travel, predicts tourist flow could grow by 30–40%, making China as accessible for Russians as Turkey or the Middle East.

China’s move follows its broader visa relaxation strategy. Previously, 43 countries, including Malaysia, Japan, Chile, Peru, Saudi Arabia, and several EU states, gained visa-free access. Tourism remains one of the key tools for China’s economic recovery.