Sweden Excluded from China's Visa-Free Travel, Impacting Tourism and Business
Sweden remains the only Nordic country not granted visa-free access to China, affecting travel and business.
Key Points
- • China has eased visa requirements for 74 countries, excluding Sweden and the UK.
- • Diplomatic tensions have been ongoing since 2015, impacting Swedish travel to China.
- • Group travel from Sweden to China has drastically decreased due to visa requirements.
- • There's an expressed desire from Swedish businesses for improved travel access to China.
In a significant diplomatic fallout, Sweden has found itself the only Nordic country excluded from China's recent expansion of visa-free travel. As of July 2025, citizens from 74 nations, including nearly all its European neighbors like Norway, Denmark, and Finland, can now travel to China without needing a visa. In contrast, Sweden and the UK stand out as the only high-income European countries facing this restriction, spurring concerns over the impact on Swedish tourism and business interests in China.
Experts link the visa exclusion to ongoing diplomatic tensions between Sweden and China, a relationship that has been strained since 2015 following the controversial disappearance and imprisonment of Swedish publisher Gui Minhai. Björn Cappelin, a China expert, indicated that such diplomatic conflicts likely play a role in China’s decision to not include Sweden in its visa reform. The restrictions have already shown adverse effects, with tour operator Emanuel Karlsson of Rolfs Flyg & Buss reporting a drastic decline in group tours to China—plummeting from weekly excursions to merely ten groups annually. Ulrika Linderson, operations manager at Lotus Travel, added that the time-consuming and expensive visa application process further discourages potential travelers.
While over 20 million foreign visitors traveled to China visa-free in 2024, marking more than a twofold increase from the previous year, Swedish travelers are left to navigate a complex visa landscape. There's an expressed desire from the Swedish business sector for easier travel into China, seen as vital for enhancing trade and business relations.
Looking forward, it remains uncertain whether Sweden will regain visa-free status. However, recent signs of thawing relations—such as resumed ministerial visits following a lengthy six-year hiatus—might offer some hope for reconciliation.
In conclusion, without changes in diplomatic relations, the exclusion from the visa-free travel list continues to pose significant challenges for Swedish visitors and businesses, reflecting broader tensions that could linger in the future.