Welcome to the 2025 12th World Congress of Chemical Engineering and 21st Asian-Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering Congress (WCCE 12 & APCChE 2025) in Beijing, China. Please ensure you review the following entry and visa requirements for the People’s Republic of China to facilitate a smooth conference experience. For more information on foreign nationals visiting China, visit the China Consular Service website (http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/), and for an overview of visa requirements, visit the China Consular Service website - Visa Overview (http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/lhqz/lhqzjj_660596/).
The WCCE 12 & APCChE 2025 Organizing Committee requires all registrants to independently verify their eligibility for entry into the People’s Republic of China and regularly check the official website of the Chinese embassy or consulate in their country for the latest updates on visa and entry policies. The visa guidance provided here is for general reference only, and users assume full responsibility for its use, which is provided free of charge by the WCCE 12 & APCChE 2025 Organizing Committee.
I. Visa Requirements for Entry
China has mutual visa exemption agreements with 24 countries. During specific periods, citizens from certain countries may enter China visa-free for short stays; however, most foreign nationals must apply for a visa prior to entry. Please select the appropriate visa type based on your nationality, purpose of visit, and intended length of stay. Common visa types include:
• M Visa: For commercial activities.
• F Visa: For exchanges, visits, or study tours.
Please contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country for detailed information on the application process and required documents. For further information on visas for foreign nationals visiting China, visit the China Visa Application Service Center:
https://www.visaforchina.cn/globle/
II. Visa-Free Entry Policies for China
As of November 2024, China’s visa-free entry policies include the following:
1. Comprehensive Visa Exemptions
China has mutual visa exemptions with 24 countries, including the UAE, Qatar, Singapore, and Thailand, allowing cumulative stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. For specific details, refer to the List of Mutual Visa Exemption Agreements:
https://cs.mfa.gov.cn/zlbg/tyxy_660627/202110/t20211029_10403855.shtml
If a traveler has already stayed for 90 days within the past 180 days under a visa exemption, they are not eligible for visa-free entry. Visa-free entry does not permit indefinite stays or residence; based on the agreements, holders of relevant passports are generally permitted to stay no more than 30 days. For stays over 30 days, passport holders should promptly apply for a residence permit locally.
2. Unilateral Visa-Free Entry
For specific periods, citizens from the following countries may enter China visa-free for short stays:
• Refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China’s official notice: “To further facilitate travel between China and other countries, China has decided to extend the visa-free policy for 12 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg, until December 31, 2025. Nationals of these countries holding ordinary passports may enter China for business, tourism, family visits, and transit for up to 15 days visa-free. Those who do not meet the visa-free requirements must obtain a visa prior to entry.” Please refer to the website of the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country for the latest visa and entry policy updates.
• Refer to the China Consular Service Network’s official notice: “To further facilitate travel between China and other countries, China has decided to expand the list of visa-free countries to include New Zealand, Australia, and Poland. From July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025, nationals of these countries holding ordinary passports may enter China for business, tourism, family visits, and transit for up to 15 days visa-free. Those who do not meet the visa-free requirements must still obtain a visa prior to entry.” Please refer to the website of the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country for the latest visa and entry policy updates.
• Refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China’s official notice: “To further facilitate travel between China and other countries, China has decided to expand the list of visa-free countries to include Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, and Slovenia. From October 15, 2024, to December 31, 2025, nationals of these countries holding ordinary passports may enter China for business, tourism, family visits, and transit for up to 15 days visa-free. Those who do not meet the visa-free requirements must still obtain a visa prior to entry.” Please refer to the website of the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country for the latest visa and entry policy updates.
• Refer to the China Consular Service Network’s official notice: “To further facilitate travel between China and other countries, China has decided to expand the list of visa-free countries to include Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and South Korea. From November 8, 2024, to December 31, 2025, nationals of these countries holding ordinary passports may enter China for business, tourism, family visits, and transit for up to 15 days visa-free. Those who do not meet the visa-free requirements must still obtain a visa prior to entry.” Please refer to the website of the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country for the latest visa and entry policy updates.
*Please note that the above visa-free policies only apply to citizens holding ordinary passports and for the specified purposes. Individuals not meeting these conditions must still obtain an appropriate visa prior to entry. For the latest updates on visa and entry policies, refer to the website of the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country.
3. 72-Hour or 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy
Refer to the official announcement on the website of the National Immigration Administration:
Effective from November 17, 2023, China will implement the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy for Norwegian citizens. The list of countries eligible for the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy has now expanded to 54 countries, as follows:
• Europe (40 countries): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway.
• Americas (6 countries): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.
• Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand.
• Asia (6 countries): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar.
*Please note that travelers benefiting from this policy must hold a valid international travel document and a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region within the specified period, departing from a designated port. The maximum stay allowed is 72 or 144 hours.
III. WCCE 12 & APCCHE 2025 Visa Invitation Letter
After accessing the registration page for WCCE 12 & APPChE 2025, kindly click the "Individual Registration" button to apply for a visa invitation letter. Once you fill in all the required information, the invitation letter will be available for download under the "Invitation Letter" section.
Note: Confirmed travel details, including hotel reservations, must be provided when applying for a visa.
Important Reminders
• Valid Passport: Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months upon entry.
• Advance Visa Preparation: Visa applications may require a long processing time; we recommend early travel confirmation and visa application.
Please regularly check the official website of the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country for the latest updates on visa and entry policies. (The policy guidance provided by the WCCE 12 & APCChE 2025 Organizing Committee is for reference only, and the validity of any links provided above is not guaranteed). If you have questions regarding entry policies or visas for China, please contact the WCCE 12 & APCChE 2025 Organizing Committee or the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country.
We look forward to welcoming you to Beijing, China, and seeing you at WCCE 12 & APCChE 2025!
