China announces visa-free travel for Australians visiting up to 30 days (previously 15 days)

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Arrived in China earlier this week with my AU passport with a visa I got last year as I travel there frequently.

Officer at immigration even mentioned to me that I no longer require a visa to enter China (although I do typically stay longer than 15 days so I would still get a visa regardless). It was at a smaller airport (WUX) so pleasantly surprised to see that they’re aware of it and actively encouraging visa free travel.
 
Can report back that the visa-free entry for China for stays of up to 15 days works very smoothly - they didn't even blink when I flew into Shanghai, fairly simple form to fill out on the plane (stupidly I forgot to take a photo of the form to post here), biggest hassle was that they picked a random page somewhere in the middle of my passport to put their rubber stamp and it took the hotels a while to find it each time when they were checking me in - one couldn't find it at all and so I had to find it for them.

I do remember that one of the questions on the form asked what countries I had visited in the last two years.
 
AIRwin said:
Oh yes I struggled to fit my answer in the space
Click to expand...
I had the same when I visited Madagascar back in April, it asked for where you'd been in the previous 2 weeks and I was able to fit in 7 of the countries I had been to........ she laughed when I handed her the form.
 
AIRwin said:
Oh yes I struggled to fit my answer in the space
Click to expand...
@RooFlyer might need to take a typed list with him and attach it to the form!

The nice thing was that it wasn't a "Have you been to any of these countries?" type of thing like when going to the U.S.
 
Reminds me of my visa application for Russia 10 years ago....list every country you have been to in the last 10 years INCLUDING date of entry....got up to 30+ and then the system wouldn't let me enter any more! ;)
 
I wonder what actually is the purpose of knowing which countries one has been to in this instance. Are they not going to let you in if you've been to [insert China's enemy here]?

A few years ago, while filling out a form for a one-off high level security clearance, our government asked me the question but of the last 10 years. The list included Libya, Cuba, Iraq, Russia and China. All as a tourist of course but they still gave me the clearance. So why ask if there's seemingly no line. I've since travelled on an Official Passport and they didn't ask.
 
Happy Dude said:
…
The list included Libya, Cuba, Iraq, Russia and China. All as a tourist of course but they still gave me the clearance. So why ask if there's seemingly no line. …
Click to expand...
Why ask?
The issue is not which countries you’ve been to, the issue is are you truthful about which countries you’ve been to…
 
Scarlett said:
Why ask?
The issue is not which countries you’ve been to, the issue is are you truthful about which countries you’ve been to…
Click to expand...
Put another way, if they wish to detain you for any reason, this would be a 'gotcha' question they could hold you on.
 
The question about countries visited could be health related.

Parts of Africa and South America have epidemics.
 
RSD said:
I do remember that one of the questions on the form asked what countries I had visited in the last two years.
Click to expand...

I put as many as I could remember and fit in the fairly small space. I might have missed one or two? My current passport is just 2 years old. The official did flip through it.

There was no issue for me.
 
Last edited:
Bali Guy said:
The question about countries visited could be health related.

Parts of Africa and South America have epidemics.
Click to expand...
But two years?? The declarations for health issues tend to be for a much shorter period and one would think a similar approach would happen elsewhere. Plus the irony of China trying to prevent a disease getting in..... is too much.
 
From 30/11 China Visa Free program for Australian passport holders have increased from 15 days to 30 days! Much better now with enough time to see a lot more compared to before.
 
playbargain said:
From 30/11 China Visa Free program for Australian passport holders have increased from 15 days to 30 days! Much better now with enough time to see a lot more compared to before.
Click to expand...
Great news! Now hopefully it continues for Australia beyond 31 Dec 2025....

visasnews.com

China: visa-free policy extended to 30 days

From November 30, 2024, visa-free stays in China will increase from 15 to 30 days, and nine new countries will be added to the list of nations benefiting from the unilateral visa-free policy.
visasnews.com visasnews.com
 
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kpc said:
Great news! Now hopefully it continues for Australia beyond 31 Dec 2025....

visasnews.com

China: visa-free policy extended to 30 days

From November 30, 2024, visa-free stays in China will increase from 15 to 30 days, and nine new countries will be added to the list of nations benefiting from the unilateral visa-free policy.
visasnews.com visasnews.com
Click to expand...
Awesome, won’t have to have lunch in HKG when I can’t count anymore and accidentally have 15 days in Shenzhen
 

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