Russia's reciprocal visa-free policy expected to promote tourism

Russia has adopted a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens visiting the country for tourism or business purposes, a reciprocal move that is expected to promote the development of tourism, trade and exchanges between the two countries and contribute to their economic growth.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order on Monday allowing Chinese nationals to enter Russia visa-free and stay for up to 30 days for purposes including family visits, business trips, tourism, participation in scientific, cultural, sociopolitical, economic or sports events, as well as for transit.

The order, which took effect immediately, will expire on Sept 14, 2026.

The news quickly went viral in China and several domestic travel portals reported a surge in search traffic for tour products to Russia.

Travel agency Qunar said that searches on the online platform for flights from Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang province to the Russian port city of St. Petersburg increased more than threefold within the first hour of the news, while searches for Beijing-Moscow flights surged 44 percent during the same period.

Li Yanqiu, 35, who lives in Beijing, said she and her husband have always wanted to visit Lake Baikal in Siberia, as well as Moscow. In 2018, Li made a short business trip to Kazan in western Russia and was very impressed by the country's culture and natural landscapes.

"Now is a good time to visit Russia again, this time with my family," she said, giving a thumbs up to the country's reciprocal visa-free policy.

Wei Changren, founder of btiii.com, a tourism-related financial news website, said that two routes are traditionally popular among Chinese travelers to Russia. "One is to Moscow and St. Petersburg, and the other is to Russia's Far East region. Russia's visa waiver for Chinese citizens will definitely promote cross-border tourism," he added.

Putin's executive order is based on the principle of reciprocity.

On Sept 15, China launched a one-year trial of a 30-day visa-free policy for Russian nationals holding ordinary passports. The policy covers Russian citizens who wish to come to China for business, tourism, visits to relatives or friends, and participation in various exchange events, as well as for transit. This policy also expires on Sept 14, 2026.

Inna Klochko, 53, from Russia's Vladivostok, recently enjoyed a night at the Maple Leaf Village Hot Spring Resort Hotel in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province. She has visited Harbin twice, indulging in the city's scenery, food and hot springs, since China's visa-free policy for Russian nationals took effect in mid-September.

"I felt a sense of familiarity with the European-style architecture when strolling through Harbin's Central Avenue. I also tasted the classic mouthwatering guobaorou (a sweet-and-sour pork or beef dish)," she said. "The highlight of my trip, however, was a relaxing soak at the hotel, where the intelligent temperature-controlled pools and the unique 'double-flavor hot pot pool' had me wanting to keep coming back for more."

Previously, applying for a Chinese visa took more time and effort, Klochko said. "Now, I only need to submit an electronic declaration via a mobile app in advance, and I can quickly pass through customs with my passport in less than five minutes," she said.

In the past two months, Harbin Trip of Garden International Tour Co, a local travel agency, has received over 400 Russian tourists, a year-on-year increase of 30 percent.

"Most visitors come from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk," said Wang Taixiang, the company's vice-general manager. "After arriving in Harbin, they often choose to visit other popular Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an in Shaanxi province, Luoyang in Henan province, and Zhangjiajie in Hunan province."

Zhang Jinshan, a researcher of tourism planning and development at Beijing Union University, said that China, which shares the longest land border with Russia, has a large market for outbound tourism. The mutual visa-waiver policies will greatly stimulate tourism development and promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, he said.

"Russia has actively promoted strategic cooperation with China, which has generated mutual growth in economic and trade exchanges," Zhang said, noting that visas play a crucial role in tourism and business growth.

Russia's implementation of a reciprocal visa-free policy will not only boost tourism, but also revitalize traditional industrial zones in Northeast China and in Russia's Far East region, he added.