China is once again changing its visa rules, this time for Norway. This move will make it easier for Norwegian citizens to plan and make trips to the East Asian powerhouse by eliminating red tape for short stays.
More cooperation
The announcement, made at Beijing meeting by Chinese President Xi Jinping, means that Norwegians are no longer required to apply for a visa for trips to China of up to 15 days in duration, as long as the visits are for tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, and/or transit purposes.
Hailing the new arrangement alongside Jinping, Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, said it “will make it much easier for Norwegian businesses, students and others to travel to China” and, he noted, “It facilitates more cooperation.”
President Xi Jinping met with Norway’s Prime Minister@jonasgahrstore. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Norway.
— Lucia Li (@Lucia_Li_BJ) September 9, 2024
🇨🇳🤝🇳🇴 China is ready to work with Norway to promote sustained growth in bilateral friendship and cooperation. pic.twitter.com/sdrNysH7Rh
Growing list of visa-free countries
Norway now joins a growing list of European countries whose citizens benefit from visa-free entry to China under the same conditions. At the end of 2023, China dropped short-stay visa requirements for five members of the European Union: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. Then in spring 2024, that list was extended to include Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Luxembourg, and Ireland. Switzerland too is part of the group of nations whose citizens can now make short stay trips to China without requiring a visa.
Though Norway is a member of the European Economic Area and shares borders with EU members Sweden and Finland, it is not a member state of the European Union itself. It has however allowed free border movement as part of the Schengen Zone and therefore cannot reciprocate the visa-free arrangement for Chinese passport holders without negotiating with other members of the bloc.
New rules are not permanent
China has made a number of visa concessions as part of its “Major Country Diplomacy” drive to assert itself on the world stage and benefit economically from improved international relations, with tourism a key growth sector. Australian and New Zealand passport holders can go for visa-free short stays, and even US citizens have seen some easing of requirements, while Singaporeans and Thai travellers can now go to China for up to a month without burdensome paperwork or long waits for approval.
Nonetheless, the general easing of rules remains under review, with the People’s Republic emphasising the new arrangements are not permanent but only effective until 31 December 2025, when visa-free access may be dropped or extended.
