China's visa-free policy for France has eased business cooperation, cut logistical hurdles, and boosted people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
On November 3, 2025, China announced it would extend the visa-free arrangement for French citizens until Dec 31, 2026, to expand high-level opening up and facilitate exchanges.
Cross-border organizations say the policy touches everything from factory inspections to client meetings.
Yann Duigou, CEO of French circuit board maker Icape Group, said their supply chain relies on people moving as freely as the parts themselves, adding that if more time is spent on visa procedures, business will slow down.
"It's absolutely vital. Even though we have 254 employees in China, most of whom are local hires, our management is largely French, and we need to be able to bring clients with us. We rely on regular business exchanges, so we need to travel to China frequently and, ideally, at short notice," said Duigou.
Duigou said the extended visa-free policy has deepened business cooperation with Chinese partners.
"When you have an issue to resolve quickly, you need to be able to act fast and efficiently. So not needing a visa really makes things easier for us and helps us strengthen business relationships between our teams in China, our Chinese manufacturing partners, and the rest of the world," he said.
Scholars said that for China, the move also facilitated tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
"I think there is more and more attraction for tourism, and I've seen a couple of ads from China actually, in the metro station in Paris. But also, businesses are more and more eager to visit new industries in China, and more facilities. So also businesses will want to visit China soon," said Sacha Courtial, an associate researcher at the Jacques Delors Institute.
China's visa-free policy with France eases business travel, drives tourism
