Beijing will add Sweden to its unilateral visa‑free entry scheme from 10 November 2025, while extending the policy for eligible countries until 31 December 2026. The move allows Swedish passport holders to enter China for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit, and signals a tentative thaw in bilateral ties.
What changes for Swedish travellers and companies
Swedish citizens will be able to visit China without a visa for short stays of up to 30 days, aligning Sweden with most EU peers already in the scheme. The measure covers travel for tourism, business, family visits and transit, potentially lowering costs and easing last‑minute trips for exporters, investors and universities that maintain links with Chinese partners. The United States, the United Kingdom and Canada remain outside the programme.
A careful thaw after years of friction
Relations between Sweden and China have been strained since Sweden’s 2020 ban on Huawei and ZTE in 5G networks, followed by market repercussions for Swedish firms operating in China. The new visa‑free access does not resolve structural disagreements, but it suggests a pragmatic opening to rebuild trust through mobility, people‑to‑people exchanges and trade.
Signals from recent diplomacy
The decision follows a period of renewed high‑level contacts, including meetings in Beijing between China’s leadership and Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs (Utrikesminister) Maria Malmer Stenergard, where both sides called for more face‑to‑face dialogue. Stockholm framed visa facilitation as a practical step to support business travel and cultural exchange while continuing to address security concerns with allies.
Part of a broader China–EU recalibration
Extending visa‑free travel to the end of 2026 fits Beijing’s wider push to revive inbound tourism and reset ties with European partners. For the Nordics, the change could boost air connectivity and tourism flows from Sweden to China, complementing existing arrangements for neighbouring EU and Schengen countries. It may also soften day‑to‑day frictions even as Brussels and Beijing keep negotiating over trade, technology and supply‑chain risks.
Practical details to know
Under the current rules, eligible travellers can enter China visa‑free for up to 30 days for limited purposes (tourism, business, family visits, transit). Longer stays, work, study or journalism still require the appropriate visas. Travellers should check passport validity, insurance and any airline documentation requirements before departure. The extension currently runs until 31 December 2026 and may be revised.
What to watch next
The inclusion of Sweden will be monitored by tourism boards, airlines and export‑oriented sectors to assess whether easier entry translates into higher demand. Any follow‑up steps—such as expanding visa‑free categories, restoring flight capacity, or progress on consular issues—will show whether this opening becomes a durable reset in Sweden–China relations.
