UPDATE - Putin signs decree granting Chinese citizens visa-free entry into Russia for up to 30 days

UPDATES WITH DETAILS

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed off on a decree introducing visa-free entry into Russia for some categories of Chinese citizens for a period of up to 30 days.

The decree, published on the government portal, provides visa-free entry into Russia for Chinese citizens arriving for business, tourism, or participation in scientific, cultural, and sports events.

The measure will stay in effect until Sept. 14, 2026, the decree said, adding that it does not apply to some categories, including those coming for work or education.

In September, China announced a visa-free regime for Russian citizens starting from Sept. 15, 2025 to Sept. 14, 2026.

Earlier this month, Putin said at a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Moscow that bolstering bilateral contacts between their peoples will be facilitated by Beijing’s decision to introduce a visa-free regime for Russian citizens, and that mirror decisions will come into effect in Russia "very soon."

"I am confident that this will have very significant consequences in both the economic and humanitarian spheres. In my view, this will be a positive boost to the development of our relations," the Russian president added.

Following the development, air-ticket searches to Russia on Chinese travel platform Fliggy jumped more than eightfold from the previous day, the company told the Global Times on Monday.

According to platform, Russian cities of Moscow, Murmansk, Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, and Irkutsk are locations that Chinese travelers are most interested in.

Another Chinese platform, Tongcheng Travel, told the Global Times that searches related to Russia had more than doubled shortly after the reporting of the visa-free announcement.