On December 31, Turkey’s Official Gazette published a presidential decree:
* Starting January 2, 2026, Turkey will grant visa-free entry to holders of ordinary Chinese passports.
Under the policy, visa-free stays are limited to 90 days within any 180-day period, and apply to tourism and transit purposes.
This marks the first time Turkey has introduced a visa-free policy for ordinary Chinese passport holders, significantly lowering the barrier for Chinese travelers visiting the country.
Since the beginning of 2025, Turkey has seen steady growth in international tourist arrivals.
Hotel bookings in Istanbul have surged, with occupancy rates hitting record highs. Travelers from China, Europe, and the United States have been key drivers of demand, a trend that continued through October and November.
In 2024, Turkey’s tourism sector delivered a strong performance, welcoming 52.6 million international visitors and generating USD 61.1 billion in tourism revenue.
Among them, Chinese arrivals reached 409,700, up 65.1% year-on-year, making China Turkey’s fastest-growing source market.
In fact, air capacity had already been expanded ahead of the visa waiver announcement.
In May 2025, China and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding on air services, increasing passenger flight frequencies from 21 to 49 flights per week—the first major expansion of traffic rights in 15 years.
In October, Turkish Airlines completed a capacity upgrade:
* Shanghai routes increased to 11 flights per week
* Beijing and Guangzhou routes each increased to 10 flights per week
Via the Istanbul hub, Chinese travelers can now connect more easily to destinations along the Belt and Road, including Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
From the reopening of group tours, to expanded air rights, and now visa-free entry, Turkey has been steadily advancing its strategy toward the Chinese market.
