MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a presidential decree extending the visa-free entry program for Chinese citizens until December 31, 2027, further strengthening bilateral cooperation between Russia and China.
According to the decree published on Russia’s official legal information portal, the visa-free arrangement was previously scheduled to expire on September 14, 2026. Under the new order, the program will remain in force until the end of 2027.
Russian authorities said Chinese citizens can continue to enter Russia without a visa and stay for up to 30 days under the reciprocal travel arrangement between the two countries.
The extension follows a similar move by China. In May 2026, Beijing announced that visa-free entry for Russian citizens would also remain in effect until the end of 2027, reflecting the growing strategic partnership between the neighboring nations.
The reciprocal visa-free regime was initially introduced after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on December 1, 2025, allowing Chinese nationals to visit Russia for up to 30 days without a visa. China implemented a corresponding policy for Russian citizens on September 15, 2025.
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Russian officials said the initiative is expected to promote tourism, expand trade and investment, encourage business exchanges and strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.
The latest extension underscores Moscow and Beijing’s commitment to deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership through enhanced travel facilitation and closer economic cooperation.
