Turkey has eased its visa rules, granting visa-free entry to Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports for tourism and transit.
The move, enacted through a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday, represents a significant step toward improving Turkey-China relations.
The exemption will allow Chinese travelers to enter Turkey for tourism and transit without requiring visas. The measure is expected to boost future arrivals from China as Turkey becomes more accessible.
Under the new rules approved by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Chinese visitors can stay in Turkey for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without needing a visa.
The policy will come into effect on January 2 and is intended to boost trade and tourism between the two countries. It comes after a notable increase in Chinese visitors, making China one of Türkiye’s fastest-growing tourism markets.
The initiative supports Turkey’s continued efforts to expand international tourism, especially as part of its post-pandemic recovery. By making travel easier for Chinese visitors, Turkey aims to strengthen its position as a leading global tourism hub, drive international visitor growth, and reinforce its standing as a major destination.
The visa exemption also serves as a diplomatic initiative to bolster Turkey-China relations. Introduced amid efforts by both countries to expand economic cooperation and cultural exchange, the policy is expected to strengthen people-to-people connections and foster closer cultural ties between the nations.
According to Türkiye’s official data, Chinese arrivals surged by 65.1% in 2024, reaching around 410,000 visitors. The growth was driven by improved flight connections and growing interest in Türkiye’s cultural heritage attractions.
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