30-day visa-free entry extended to 31 December 2026
Checked Changed
What changed, who it affects, what to do
What changed: A November 2025 notice extended China's unilateral 30-day visa-free entry to 24:00 on 31 December 2026, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Who it affects: Ordinary-passport holders from the listed countries, including the four Gulf states.
What to do: Plan to enter by 31 December 2026, or check this page and the embassy before booking travel for 2027.
| Rule | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Gulf four (SA, OM, KW, BH) end date | 8 Jun 2026 (original trial) | 31 Dec 2026, 24:00 |
| Countries in the notice | 45 | 46 (Sweden added from 10 Nov 2025) |
What we know
- The NIA list dated 17 February 2026 covers 50 countries.
- Maximum stay is 30 days per entry.
What we don't know yet
- Whether the policy will be extended past 31 December 2026. Nothing had been announced as of 9 November 2026.
Update log
Back-filled into the change log from the embassy notice dated 8 November 2025.
Pages updated by this change
- China visa-free entry: who qualifies and for how long
- China visa-free after 31 December 2026: should I book now or wait?
- الإعفاء من التأشيرة الصينية للسعودية وعُمان والكويت والبحرين ينتهي في 31 ديسمبر 2026: كيف تسافر في 2027؟
Sources
- Notice on the Extension of the Unilateral Visa-Free Policy, Chinese Embassy in the UAE, retrieved