China has unilaterally simplified visa requirements for Kyrgyzstan citizens in a move that will further deepen mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries and make tourism, business, investment, and trade more convenient and efficient, according to Chinese officials.
China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced that effective August 20, 2026, nationals of Kyrgyzstan will be eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy and the 30-day visa-free entry policy for Hainan, making travel to China more convenient.
Nationals of Kyrgyzstan holding ordinary passports and interline passenger tickets with confirmed dates and itineraries bound for a third country or region may enter China visa-free through any of the 65 open ports of entry, including those in Beijing and Shanghai, and stay within the designated areas for no more than 240 hours, or 10 days.
Kyrgyz citizens may also enter Hainan Province visa-free and stay there for no more than 30 days.
Hainan is an island province of China and the country’s southernmost point. Often called “China’s Hawaii,” Hainan is known for its tropical climate and beach resorts. In recent years, Hainan has become a popular tourist destination for citizens of Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan.
According to the NIA, under the above two visa-free policies, eligible travelers may engage in short-term activities in China such as tourism, business, visits, and family visits. Activities requiring prior approval, such as work, study and news reporting, still require travelers to obtain the appropriate visa before coming to China.
The visa-free transit regime for Kyrgyz citizens does not apply to all regions of China. China has 31 regions, and 24 of which have a visa-free transit regime. Travel to regions like the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Tibet, Hong Kong, or Macau still requires standard visas.
Kyrgyzstan welcomes China’s decision to simplify visa requirements for Kyrgyz citizens, according to Sagynbek Abdumutalip, head of the Foreign Policy Department at Kyrgyzstan’s Presidential Administration.
Abdumutalip emphasized that China’s decision is unilateral, and Chinese citizens still require a visa to enter Kyrgyzstan.
“We believe that in making this decision, the Chinese side took into account the high level of bilateral cooperation, the results of reforms, the security and socio-political stability in Kyrgyzstan, economic growth, and the full control over the production of state documents [passports]. I am confident that this measure will create conditions for the development of cooperation in trade and tourism,” stated Abdumutalip.
