Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay Gain Visa-Free Access to China from June 1, 2025: What You Need To Know About A New Era of Latin America-China Connectivity

This policy opens the door for eligible travelers holding ordinary passports to visit China for tourism, business, or transit purposes without the need to apply for a visa beforehand, for stays of up to 30 consecutive days.

By easing administrative barriers such as visa restrictions, China aims to foster greater bilateral trade, tourism, and educational exchanges with these countries, bolstering people-to-people connectivity and mutual understanding.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) notes that Latin America is a key trading partner, with China being the largest export destination for many of these countries.

The visa waiver is expected to increase the volume of business travel, facilitating smoother cross-border collaboration and encouraging short-term visits by entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and tourists.

For Latin American countries, this development can contribute positively to their economies by attracting Chinese tourists and encouraging outbound travel to China.

This pilot program follows a pattern of gradual visa liberalization that China has been implementing since late 2023. Earlier phases included visa-free travel agreements with several European countries, such as France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and the Nordic countries. China also introduced similar exemptions for countries like Uzbekistan and Samoa, showcasing an increasingly diversified foreign engagement strategy.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has recognized such measures as crucial for revitalizing international travel post-pandemic, enhancing global mobility, and supporting sustainable tourism growth.

The China National Immigration Administration continues to update travel regulations on its official website and issues regular notices through diplomatic missions worldwide.

Corporate travel managers, human resources professionals, and mobility leaders operating within multinational companies involving China and Latin America should take note of the following to maximize benefits from the new visa policy:

Cultural diplomacy initiatives, including the promotion of Chinese language and culture in Latin American universities supported by the Confucius Institutes, benefit from improved people-to-people exchanges facilitated by visa liberalization.

The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscores that reducing visa restrictions enhances mutual trust and opens avenues for educational exchanges, technical cooperation, and tourism development.

Similarly, the China National Tourism Administration promotes the initiative as part of its efforts to diversify inbound tourism markets beyond traditional sources.

Both regions stand to gain from increased cultural exposure and economic activity linked to travel.

Countries and businesses are advised to stay informed through official government channels such as:

As the pilot program progresses, it is set to foster stronger ties, increase international travel flows, and contribute to the global recovery of the tourism and business sectors.

Travelers and organizations should remain vigilant of official updates and prepare to leverage this new era of more accessible travel between these dynamic regions.