Germany’s Federal Foreign Office updated its travel advisory for China on 28 July, confirming that German citizens may continue to enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days until at least 31 December 2026. The notice appears under the “Aktuelles – Visumsfreie Einreise” section and reminds travellers that registration with local Public Security Bureaus within 24 hours remains compulsory when staying in private accommodation. Berlin’s advisory aligns with Beijing’s broader extension of its unilateral visa-waiver scheme for 50 countries, but the German clarification is significant because it removes lingering doubts among business travellers and MICE organisers about possible mid-year expiry. The update comes at the height of the European summer travel season, when China is marketing itself aggressively to German tour operators and industrial investors. For German companies the move simplifies short-term travel for project engineers, after-sales technicians and senior managers who frequently shuttle between headquarters and Chinese subsidiaries. Visa-free entry eliminates application fees (approx. €155 for a single-entry M visa) and speeds deployment times by two to three weeks. However, employers must still ensure that “no-visa” travellers do not engage in remunerated local employment, which would require a Z-visa and work permit. Immigration advisers recommend carrying proof of hotel booking, return flight and at least one business invitation letter to avoid secondary questioning at Chinese border-inspection counters. Travellers should also download the Chinese immigration health-declaration mini-app in advance to expedite arrival formalities.
