Visa-free regime between China and Russia: its features and impact on business environment

From September 15, 2025, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will introduce a visa-free regime for citizens of the Russian Federation:

• In accordance with the new rules, Russian citizens will be able to stay in China without a visa for up to 30 calendar days.
• This regime will be in effect for a year – until September 14, 2026 inclusive
• The regime applies to trips for tourism, business, private purposes, as well as transit.

As for citizens of the PRC, a response memorandum on the introduction of a visa-free regime by Russia is under development and, according to the authorities, will also soon come into force.

Since 2023, citizens of China have already had the opportunity to apply for Russian electronic visas, which facilitated the process of entering the country, and now visas will not be needed at all.

Visa-free entry conditions

To enter China under the visa-free regime, citizens of Russia need a valid foreign passport. Its validity at the time of departure from the PRC must be at least six months.

This procedure applies to trips for the following purposes:

• tourism;

• business visits;

• visiting relatives;

• cultural and educational exchange;

• transit.

Important restriction: the visa-free regime does not cover purposes related to employment, education or professional journalistic activity. For such trips, a visa must be obtained in a standard manner.

Despite the lack of formal requirements, when passing through border control, it is recommended to have documents confirming the purpose of the trip: a hotel reservation, an invitation from partners or relatives, as well as return tickets. This will help to avoid delays and questions at the border.

Impact on business trips and transit

The introduction of a visa-free regime creates favorable conditions for expanding business cooperation between Russia and China. Russian entrepreneurs and company employees will be able to promptly visit the territory of the PRC to participate in negotiations, conclude deals and exchange experience. In addition, the new procedure applies to transit trips, which significantly simplifies the logistics of travel to third countries. This measure not only facilitates the practical implementation of joint projects, but also reflects the deepening of bilateral cooperation.