Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an executive order granting temporary visa-free entry to Chinese citizens, mirroring Beijing’s earlier move to lift visa requirements for Russian passport holders.
The order, which takes effect immediately and remains valid until September 14, 2026, permits Chinese nationals to stay in Russia for up to 30 days for tourism or work.
Putin had hinted at the decision last week during talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Moscow, calling the upcoming visa-free regime a “good and positive explosion” in strengthening bilateral ties.
The reciprocal arrangement is part of a one-year pilot program. Russia and China already allow visa-free travel for organized tour groups, and China last year began permitting Russian transit travelers to stay visa-free for up to 10 days.
Tourism analysts say the announcement — combined with rising diplomatic strains between China and Japan — has led to a surge in travel searches and bookings from Chinese tourists eager to visit Russia.
In a related development, Saudi Arabia confirmed it will sign a mutual visa-waiver agreement with Russia, enabling citizens of both countries to visit visa-free for up to 90 days.
