CHINA Introduced New Visa-Free System for Gulf Countries
China has officially introduced a visa-free policy for citizens of four Gulf nations—Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. This new rule will allow travelers from these countries to enter China without a visa for up to 30 days, starting from 9 June 2025, and lasting until June 8, 2026.
Gulf Countries Included in the Policy
With this announcement, all six member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) now have visa-free access to China:
- Saudi Arabia
- Oman
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- United Arab Emirates (UAE) (already visa-free since 2018)
- Qatar (also visa-free since 2018)
This step completes China’s plan to offer visa-free travel to the entire GCC region.
Who Can Travel and Why?
Citizens with ordinary passports from the four newly added countries can visit China without needing a visa. Each stay can last up to 30 days and is allowed for the following purposes:
- Tourism
- Business trips
- Visiting family or friends
- Cultural exchange programs
- Transit through China
This visa-free scheme is being introduced as a trial for one year and may be extended or updated in the future.
Strengthening China–Gulf Ties
This development follows key diplomatic meetings, such as the recent China-GCC Summit, where China expressed its desire to improve relations with Gulf countries. By removing visa restrictions, China hopes to:
- Boost tourism
- Increase trade and investment opportunities
- Strengthen diplomatic and cultural ties
Visa-Free Access Extended to Latin America
In addition to the Gulf countries, China is also offering visa-free travel to five Latin American nations—Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay—starting from June 1, 2025. Citizens from these countries will also be allowed to stay up to 30 days without a visa.
Summary of Key Details
- Policy Start Date: June 9, 2025
- Policy End Date: June 8, 2026
- Visa-Free Countries: Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain
- Stay Limit: Up to 30 days
- Allowed Purposes: Tourism, business, visiting family, cultural visits, and transit
- Status: One-year trial basis
