Germany’s Federal Foreign Office has updated its China travel advisory, reiterating that German ordinary-passport holders may enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days until 31 December 2026. The notice—dated 29 September—emphasises that travellers staying in private accommodation must still complete local police registration within 24 hours of arrival. The clarification follows Beijing’s expansion of unilateral visa-waiver arrangements for 18 European countries earlier this year. For corporates the measure removes administrative lead-time and cost for short business trips, but mobility managers should remind employees that visa-free status does not allow on-shore work and that overstays can trigger exit bans. The advisory also warns that exit bans can be imposed on foreigners involved in civil or criminal proceedings, echoing the new Exit and Entry Regulations that took effect on 15 September. Companies should vet whether staff are subject to unresolved legal disputes in China before travel. German firms with large China footprints—particularly in automotive and chemicals—stand to benefit from easier executive travel, though they must still comply with registration, data-security and audit-trail requirements.
Source: Auswärtiges Amt (Germany)
