Mutual visa waiver for China and Malaysia starts July 17

China's mutual visa-exemption agreement with Malaysia officially took effect July 17, further expanding the country's visa-free travel policy.

A staffer of the Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport Port checks the document of an international traveler. Photo from Dute News

Under the policy, Chinese and Malaysian citizens holding valid ordinary passports can enter, exit or transit through the other country for travel without a visa. Each stay should not exceed 30 days, with a cumulative limit of 90 days within any 180-day period. It marked another step forward in China's efforts to ease travel and boost international exchanges. Since Dec. 1, 2023, China and Malaysia have been implementing a trial visa-free policy for each other's ordinary-passport-holding citizens. 

As of May, China had signed mutual visa-exemption agreements with 157 countries, covering different types of passports. In November 2024, it extended the visa-free entry stay period to 30 days.