In a move that underscores the warming of Sino-Russian people-to-people ties, Russian President Vladimir Putin on 20 July 2026 signed Decree No. 499, formally prolonging the visa-free entry regime for holders of Chinese ordinary passports until 31 December 2027. The measure, introduced on a temporary basis in late 2025, was due to lapse this summer; Moscow’s one-year extension removes uncertainty for tour operators and corporates that move staff between the two countries. Under the decree, Chinese visitors may continue to enter Russia for stays of up to 30 days without obtaining a visa, provided they are travelling for tourism, business meetings, family visits or transit. Group travel quotas remain unchanged and single-entry only; work and study still require appropriate permits. Russia’s Federal Security Service has been instructed to streamline e-declarations at airports and key land crossings in Vladivostok, Blagoveshchensk and Manzhouli to handle an anticipated 20 % surge in Chinese arrivals during the 2026–27 winter tourism season. For Chinese outbound travellers the announcement is significant. Russia was China’s sixth-largest short-haul destination before COVID-19; bookings recovered to 83 % of 2019 levels in the first half of 2026 following China’s reciprocal waiver for Russians in May. Travel platforms such as Trip.com and Tongcheng reported an immediate 35 % jump in search volumes for “Vladivostok ski packages” and “St Petersburg cultural tours” within hours of the decree. Airlines are reacting quickly: China Eastern will add four weekly Shanghai–Irkutsk flights from September, while Aeroflot is considering restoring Beijing–Moscow double-daily service over the winter timetable. For corporate mobility managers the extension simplifies short-term assignments, project kick-offs and after-sales support in Russia’s energy and infrastructure sectors. HR teams should still brief travellers on Russia’s new online migration card (launched 1 April 2026) and mandatory hotel registration within 24 hours of arrival. They should also monitor export-control developments that could affect hand-carried equipment. Overall, the decision reinforces the strategic alignment between Beijing and Moscow and signals both governments’ intent to keep cross-border movements fluid despite geopolitical headwinds.
Source: Xinhua / Interfax
