CHINA. Individual travellers from 77 countries can now enter Hainan province directly from overseas without the need for a visa.
The updated entry scheme follows the expanded visa-free policy announced by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week.
China’s visa-free policy, effective 30 November until 31 December 2025, now includes tourists from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia and Japan.
This brings the total number of countries under China’s unilateral visa-free entry scheme to 38.
This visa programme not only strengthens international connectivity but also accelerates the development of Hainan, particularly within the exhibitions, tourism and cultural sectors.
Combined with the 59-country visa-free policy, comprehensive exemptions and unilateral waivers, visitors from 77 countries now have visa-free access to Hainan.
The visa-free scheme, which took effect on 9 February, currently allows citizens from 59 countries entry to the island province via all open ports (Haikou Meilan International Airport, Sanya Phoenix International Airport and seaports) for purposes such as tourism, business, family visits, medical treatment and exhibitions.
The stay is limited to 30 days, beginning at 12am the day after entry. For extensions or travel to other Chinese regions, a visa application must be submitted at least seven working days before the 30-day period ends.
To date, China has signed mutual visa exemption agreements with 25 countries, including Thailand, Singapore and the Maldives. Of these, 16 countries (including the Maldives, Barbados, Fiji and others) are not included in the 59-country list for Hainan’s visa-free entry policy, and their citizens are allowed to stay in China based on the terms of their respective agreements.
Two additional countries, Andorra and Liechtenstein, have been added to the unilateral visa-free list, and they do not overlap with the 59-country list.
Under the unilateral visa exemption rule, travellers from 38 countries, including France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, can enter China for tourism, business, family visits or transits of up to 30 days, between 30 November and 31 December 2025.
As of 30 July, tour groups from countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, who have visited Hong Kong or Macau with ordinary passports via legally registered travel agencies in these regions, are eligible for visa-free entry to Hainan for up to 144 hours. The stay is limited to Hainan and travellers must enter and exit in a group.
The visa-free entry to Hainan also applies to foreign tourists travelling in groups via cruise ships organised by domestic travel agencies.
Since 15 May, foreign tourists travelling in groups of two or more, organised by domestic travel agencies, can enter Hainan and other designated cities without a visa for up to 15 days. The policy covers 13 coastal cities, including Haikou and Sanya. 🏝️
