China Simplifies Visa Rules for Southeast Asia and Latin America: A Game Changer for Business and Travel
Regional tourism receives a boost as China implements ASEAN visa for 11 participating nations.
Embrace the new Horizons! China has boldly announced the launch of a groundbreaking visa program, the "ASEAN Visa," with the 11 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and observer state Timor-Leste in the spotlight. These nations include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.
The ASEAN Visa: Your Gateway to Boosted Business and Seamless Travel
On June 3, 2025, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the announcement at a press briefing, revealing the ASEAN Visa is essentially a five-year multiple-entry visa for eligible business visitors. Quite impressive, isn't it? This visa is not only for the business gurus but also extends to their spouses and children, making it a family-friendly scheme. The perk? Each stay can last an remarkable 180 days!
In an attempt to make cross-border travel within the region more accessible, the ASEAN Visa has been initiated based on mutual visa exemption with prominent countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and represents China's Lancang-Mekong visa for Mekong River nations.
A Leap toward Latin American bonding: ¡Bienvenidos!
In a monumental move starting June 1, 2025, China has extended unilateral visa-free entry to citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay - a first for Latin America and the Caribbean! Previously, China has already rolled out similar visa-free access to the countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), increasing the total number of nations eligible for unilateral visa-free entry to an astounding 43!
Propelling Global Cooperation and Mutual Prosperity
The latest numbers paint an impressive picture. In the first quarter of 2025, the number of foreigners visiting China surged past 9 million, with a staggering 40% growth year-on-year[4]. In addition, more than 18,000 foreign-invested businesses were established in China in the year to May, experiencing a robust 12.1% year-on-year growth[4].
With these figures in motion, China plans to optimize their entry policies, expanding the roster of visa-free countries, and ensuring more foreign visitors enjoy the improved product supply, diverse consumption scenarios, and superior service guarantees, fostering prosperity around the world.
References:
[1] (Not Provided)[2] Mo, Judy, and Xu, Jiangsu. “China Launches ASEAN Visa to Offer Flexible Travel to Southeast Asia.” Nikkei Asia, 3 June 2025, https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/China/China-launches-ASEAN-visa-to-offer-flexible-travel-to-Southeast-Asia.[3] Tan, Chun Han. “China Launches ASEAN Visa to Boost Business and Travel." The Straits Times, 3 June 2025, https://www.straitstimes.com/world/china-launches-asean-visa-to-boost-business-and-travel.[4] (Not Provided)[5] Public Diplomacy News. "China Expands Access for Latin American Visa-Free Countries." Public Diplomacy News, 1 June 2025, http://pdn.news/china-expands-access-for-latin-american-visa-free-countries/.
- The ASEAN Visa not only caters to businessmen, but also extends this family-friendly scheme to their spouses and children, promising each stay of 180 days.
- In a remarkable move, China has extended unilateral visa-free entry to citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay, reinforcing global cooperation and mutual prosperity.
- With the launch of the ASEAN Visa, China has initiated a visa policy that aims to make cross-border travel within the region more flexible, following a similar approach with countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Latin American nations.
