China has announced an extension of its visa-free entry policy for Japanese visitors until the end of 2026, in a move aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and promoting greater people-to-people exchanges.
The visa exemption allows Japanese nationals to stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa and was initially scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.
Beijing confirmed the extension on Monday, emphasizing its commitment to fostering closer ties following a recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The announcement comes as part of China’s broader effort to enhance diplomatic engagement and travel convenience, with similar extensions granted to citizens from around 40 other nations, including France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Brazil.
During their first meeting held in South Korea last week, President Xi urged both nations to deepen cooperation under the framework of “strategic and mutually beneficial” relations and to improve public sentiment through expanded cultural and educational exchanges.
China had previously reinstated its visa-free policy for short-term Japanese travelers in November 2023, following a three-year suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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