China Visa Free Policy: 55 Countries to Benefit from China’s Visa-Free Policy; India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh Excluded

China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy: China has extended its visa-free transit policy to 55 countries. However, India is not included in this list.

China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy:
China has extended its 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy to citizens from 55 countries, including Indonesia, Russia, and the United Kingdom, allowing them to engage in tourism and business activities. According to the state news agency Xinhua, under this policy, travelers from these countries can stay in China for up to 10 days without a visa, provided they are transiting to a third country. The policy came into effect on June 12, 2025, and aims to boost tourism and trade.

China’s Visa-Free Policy: Countries Included (Visa-free Countries China)
China’s new visa-free transit policy includes countries like Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Australia, South Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Malta, Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Maldives, Cuba, Panama, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and others.

A Decision Tied to Foreign Policy (China Transit Rules for Foreigners)
Surprisingly, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are not part of this list. Experts believe this decision is not merely about tourism policy but is also tied to foreign policy. India’s exclusion indicates that Beijing remains cautious on political and security fronts.

What Does This Mean for India? (India Not Included in China Visa Policy)
India’s exclusion means Indian citizens must follow the traditional visa process to enter China. This likely reflects ongoing bilateral tensions and security concerns between the two nations. For Indian travelers, this translates into extra time, paperwork, and cost.

“Economically Beneficial, But Strategically Limited”
Travel and tourism analysts have described the policy as "economically beneficial but strategically limited." The exclusion of India has triggered strong reactions on social media and among strategic circles, with some calling it part of China’s "diplomatic distancing strategy."

No Official Indian Response Yet
So far, there has been no official response from the Indian government. It remains to be seen whether China will include India in this list in the future. Airlines and the tourism industry may begin to feel the effects of this decision in the coming weeks.

Will India Respond?
Experts suggest that India might re-evaluate its own transit visa policies in response to China’s move. Recently, India expanded e-visa and visa-on-arrival facilities for several European and Asian countries, but no special policy for China exists as of now.