Russia Extends Visa-Free Travel for Chinese Tourists

July 20, 2026 Chinese tourists at an airport in Moscow. Sergei Kiselev / Moskva News Agency President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed an executive order extending a Russian visa waiver program for Chinese citizens until the end of next year. The program, which reciprocates China’s visa-free regime for Russians, was set to expire on Sept. 14 under a one-year trial. Putin’s decree sets Dec. 31, 2027, as the new expiration date for the visa-free regime. The move mirrors Beijing’s extension of its visa-free regime for Russian passport holders in May. Under the measure, Chinese passport holders are allowed to enter Russia without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism or work. Putin has touted the mutual visa waiver as a major milestone in Russian-Chinese relations. Besides the extended program, Russian and Chinese group tours are already allowed to travel without visas, while Beijing allows Russian travelers in transit to stay up to 10 days without a visa. Relations between Russia and China have deepened since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since 2022, Putin has visited China each year as his country faces diplomatic isolation from Western powers. Read more about: China , Tourism , Visas Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia to Soften Visa Policy for Tourists, Relatives of Russians Foreign tourists will be able to visit Russia for up to six months, up from the current one-month maximum, if the bills are passed. Russia Seeks to Revive Coronavirus-Hit Tourism Industry By Cutting Visa Red Tape Tourists would be able to get multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years if the changes take effect. Russia Offers Simplified E-Visas to Visitors of St. Petersburg The move is expected to attract 12 million tourists to Russia's cultural capital each year. opinion Ivan Zuenko The Vladivostok Phenomenon: Should Russia Eliminate Visa Requirements for Chinese Tourists? In the long run, Russia may lift the visa regime with China. But several issues stand in the way.