Portugal remains off China visa exemption list

The extension comes after, at the beginning of the month, Beijing included Norway in the list of countries whose citizens will be able to stay in the Asian region for tourism, business or transit for 15 days, exempt from visas.
This month's announcements mean that a total of 16 European countries now benefit from Beijing's measure, which is trying to stimulate international tourism and foreign investment, shaken by the Covid-19 pandemic, during which China imposed an almost total closure of its borders.

Last November, China announced that nationals of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain would benefit from a unilateral visa exemption.

In March, it extended the policy for stays of up to 15 days to six more European countries — Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg.