China Simplifies Travel for Koreans with E-Entry Forms and Visa-Free Extension
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
China will fully digitalize arrival cards from the 20th and has extended 30-day visa-free entry for South Koreans through the end of 2026. Travelers can submit entry information via the 'Immigration12367' website, WeChat/Alipay mini-programs, or by scanning QR codes at airports, removing paper forms filled on planes and reducing queue checks. The move, paired with the visa-free extension, is already boosting Korean travel to China — visits rose 40.6% in Jan–Aug 2025 versus last year. Regional Chinese governments are also actively promoting tourism to Korea with roadshows and info sessions in Seoul to attract Korean tour operators and visitors. There are sporadic reports of KakaoTalk access in some Chinese areas (KakaoTalk: a popular Korean messaging app), but embassies advise caution and say full restoration is unconfirmed.
