Russian Foreign-Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed on 27 July that Moscow and Beijing have agreed to extend their mutual 30-day visa-free arrangement for tour groups and certain business travellers until 31 December 2027. President Vladimir Putin signed the enabling decree on 20 July, and China’s Foreign Ministry has issued a reciprocal notice. Zakharova told reporters that tourist flows between the two neighbours jumped 50 percent year-on-year in Q1 2026, calling the waiver ‘a strong driver of people-to-people exchanges and economic ties’. Russian tour operators are already marketing winter sport packages in Harbin and cultural cruises on the Yangtze, while Chinese agencies see rising interest in Baikal and Vladivostok city breaks. For corporates, the extension secures a predictable travel environment for cross-border project teams in energy, mining and logistics corridors such as the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor. Companies should, however, note that individual travellers still require visas; the waiver applies to group travel arranged by accredited agencies. Mobility managers should audit whether staff itineraries qualify for the scheme and liaise with approved operators to secure group codes at least five working days before departure. The prolonged window also gives HR teams time to negotiate preferential contract terms with Russian providers ahead of the busy 2026-27 ski season.
Source: Xinhua (Moscow bureau)
