China and Uzbekistan to Launch Mutual Visa Exemption From June 1

A mutual visa exemption between China and Uzbekistan will take effect on June 1, allowing nationals of both countries to travel to the other country without a visa for a period of up to 30 days. 

The Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs made this announcement on May 13, following the signing of the mutual visa exemption agreement by the foreign ministers of China and Uzbekistan in Chengdu on December 1, 2024.  

With the launch of the visa-free regime, citizens of both countries will be able to stay in the other country for a cumulative period not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period. At present, Chinese citizens can travel to Uzbekistan without a visa for 10 days, while Uzbekistan nationals require a visa to enter China. 

This visa exemption does not permit individuals to gain employment, or engage in study, news reporting, or other activities that require prior authorization from the relevant government departments. The agreement will also not apply to Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions. 

If an individual needs to stay in the other country for more than 30 days, they will need to apply for an appropriate visa before traveling to the country. 

In 2024, China launched a similar mutual visa exemption agreement with Uzbekistan’s neighbouring country, Kazakhstan. Most recently, China waived the visa requirement for nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay, enabling them to travel into the country without a visa from June 1, 2025 for up to 30 days.