A presidential decree published in Turkey’s Official Gazette states that citizens of China will be able to enter Turkey without a visa for tourism and transit purposes as of today. The measure, ratified by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, comes into force on 2 January 2026 and is expected to stimulate trade and the arrival of Chinese tourists to the Eurasian country.
According to the official text released by Turkish media, the exemption applies to citizens of the People’s Republic of China travelling on ordinary passports: the new regulation signals that they will be able to stay in Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days within each 180-day period from their initial entry into the country.
The exemption will apply as long as the purpose of the trip is for tourism or transit, as the decree specifies that entry to Türkiye for other reasons, including work or education, will remain subject to the existing visa regime.
Turkish authorities hope that this decision will serve to boost Chinese tourist arrivals and help strengthen bilateral economic relations between Turkey and China, which have soared in recent years to a trade volume of 48 billion dollars.
Tourism industry representatives expect the visa exemption to bring a significant increase in visitors from China, one of the world’s largest source markets. Chinese tourists are particularly interested in cultural tourism, especially in Turkey’s destinations such as Cappadocia, Istanbul and Ephesus.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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