14 September marked the final day of China’s 12-month unilateral visa-waiver programme for Russian ordinary-passport holders. From 15 September, Russians travelling for business, tourism, family visits or transit will once again need to obtain Chinese visas in advance, unless Beijing grants an extension. The temporary waiver, launched on 15 September 2025 to boost post-pandemic tourism and bilateral trade, allowed stays of up to 30 days. According to China’s foreign-ministry FAQs and embassy notices, the pilot was always scheduled to expire at 24:00 on 14 September 2026. Russian tour operators told local media that package bookings for Golden Week surged 40 % in the final fortnight as travellers rushed to take advantage of the last visa-free window. Business chambers on both sides expressed hope that the programme would be renewed, noting that visa-free entry reduced average mobility lead times by two weeks and cut compliance costs for small exporters. Absent an extension, companies must revert to the standard visa process, including invitation letters and, for some categories, fingerprinting at Chinese consulates. HR teams with Russian staff assigned to China after mid-October should budget additional processing time and monitor official channels for any 11th-hour policy change. Airlines, meanwhile, expect a short-term dip in load factors on Moscow–Beijing and St Petersburg–Shanghai sectors before demand normalises under the visa regime.
