To further promote people-to-people exchanges between China and the world, China continues to expand its list of visa-exempt countries.
On June 10, Shanghai Airport Immigration Inspection Station revealed that over 100 ordinary passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain entered China visa-free via Pudong International Airport on June 9 and 10.
Immigration officers processing entry for visa-free foreign travelers
From June 9, 2025 to June 8, 2026, China is implementing a trial visa exemption policy for ordinary passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Eligible travelers can visit China for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, or transit for up to 30 days without a visa. Just after midnight on June 9, Pudong International Airport welcomed the first batch of inbound travelers under the new policy.
“The visa-free policy is very convenient and the entry process was smooth,” said Kuwaiti traveler Mr. Arya, who arrived on flight 9C8892 from Bangkok to Pudong. He and his brother were among the first to benefit from the new policy. “We learned about the policy online and decided to travel to Shanghai as a family. Our father will join us in a few days—we’re looking forward to this trip to China,” he said after clearing immigration.
Another beneficiary of the policy was Mr. Adaris from Saudi Arabia, who is visiting China for the first time. He plans to visit an automation equipment company in Shanghai. “The visa-free policy saved me time. It will make future business visits much more convenient,” he said.
“Currently, citizens from 47 countries are eligible for China’s unilateral visa-free policy. As this network expands, inbound travel enthusiasm remains high. Since the beginning of this year, over 1.1 million foreign travelers have entered China via Pudong Airport using the visa-free policy—accounting for half of all foreign entries,” said Jiang Yichen, Deputy Director of Border Inspection at the Shanghai Airport Immigration Station.
As the benefits of the visa-free policy continue to unfold, the number of inbound foreign travelers is expected to rise. The Shanghai Airport Immigration Station will closely monitor flight patterns, enhance coordination with airlines and port authorities, and further optimize the border clearance process to ensure a warm and efficient experience—positioning Shanghai as the “No.1 Gateway for Inbound Tourism in China.”
