China Promotes Visa-Free Entry for 25 EU Nations at Brussels Airport

Brussels Airport Campaign Highlights Visa Exemption

The Mission of China to the European Union initiated a campaign at Brussels Airport on 27 October 2026, promoting visa-free travel to mainland China for citizens of 25 European Union member states. This initiative allows ordinary passport holders to stay for up to 30 days without requiring a visa.

The campaign, which will run for four weeks in the airport's departure areas, seeks to encourage European travellers to consider China for leisure or business. Ambassador Cai Run, Head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union, led the inauguration, emphasising that easier travel fosters greater understanding and strengthens ties between China and Europe. The current visa exemption is valid until 31 December 2026.

Exemption Covers 25 EU Member States

The visa-free policy applies to citizens holding ordinary passports from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

This list includes 25 of the 27 EU member states, with Czechia and Lithuania currently excluded from this specific scheme. Permitted activities under the exemption include tourism, business visits, family or friend visits, cultural exchanges, and transit.

However, it does not cover employment, formal study, or journalistic assignments; travellers planning these activities or stays longer than 30 days must apply for the appropriate visa before departure.

While no advance declaration is needed, admission remains subject to standard border checks, and travellers should carry supporting documents such as accommodation bookings or flight tickets.

Expanded Policy Follows Air Connectivity Growth

China’s unilateral visa-free programme began in December 2023, initially offering 15-day stays to citizens from six countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. The scheme expanded to include Belgium in March 2024, and the permitted stay duration increased to 30 days in November 2024.

This policy forms a key part of China's strategy to reopen to international travel following the global pandemic. The campaign aligns with a period of growing air connectivity between Brussels and China. Cathay Pacific resumed flights between Brussels and Hong Kong in August 2025, followed by Hainan Airlines adding Chongqing to its network later that year.

Air China further expanded options in March 2026 with direct services to Beijing and Chengdu. Eduardo Santander, CEO of the European Travel Commission, expressed hope that Europe would eventually reciprocate with similar travel facilitations for Chinese visitors.

Outlook for China-Europe Travel

The combination of simplified entry procedures and increased direct flights aims to convert traveller interest into bookings, strengthening tourism between China and Europe. For Asian destinations, particularly China, this policy offers a direct pathway to attract more European visitors, potentially boosting the inbound tourism sector.

Chinese authorities have also introduced measures to improve the visitor experience, such as more accessible payment options for international travellers. The growth in air routes from Brussels to key Chinese cities and Hong Kong provides travellers with greater access to different regions and onward connections.

This initiative serves as a model for how Asian nations can proactively engage with key markets to drive post-pandemic travel recovery and foster stronger international ties through tourism.