Caption: A couple rest on a bench on the slope of Goryachaya Mountain in the spa resort city of Pyatigorsk, southeast of Stavropol, Russia on November 11, 2025. Photo: VCG

Per an order signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese citizens can travel to Russia visa-free for tourism and business purposes from now until September 14, 2026. The visa-free period is 30 days, Russian and Chinese media outlets reported on Monday. 

Until September 14, 2026 and in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, Chinese citizens may enter Russia and stay for no more than 30 days for guest or business visits, as tourists, or to take part in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic or sports events, and may also transit through Russian territory and exit Russia without obtaining a visa, on the basis of an ordinary Chinese passport, Russian news agency TASS reported on Monday, citing a Kremlin document on the same day.

The news is also reported by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV News on Monday.

China has decided to trial a visa-free policy for Russian citizens holding ordinary passports starting from September 15, 2025 to September 14, 2026, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on September 2.

Russian citizens holding ordinary passports who come to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends or exchange visits and transit for no more than 30 days can enter China visa-free, spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference.

Global Times