False update about China travel policy for Pakistanis spreads online

"China has removed Pakistan from the list of visa-free countries," reads a post on X published on July 14, 2025.

The post carries a graphic of Chinese President Xi Jinping holding a list of countries titled "Visa-Free Countries". Text on the graphic says: "China just announced 'visa-free entry for 74 countries' but 'Pakistan didn't make the list." It also shares a link to a website.

Image

Screenshot of the false X post taken on July 22, 2025, with a red 'X' added by AFP

Similar posts also surfaced on Threads and Facebook.

A keyword search on Google found the latest lists published in July detailing visa exemptions granted by China to foreign citizens holding valid ordinary passports visiting for business, tourism, family or friends visits, exchange and transit (archived here and here).

Compared with a previous list on May 22, the only change is to grant visa-free access to four more countries announced on June 9. No countries have been removed, and Pakistan has not been on the earlier lists (archived link).

It is also not covered in China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy, according to the National Immigration Agency (archived link).

Visa-free access to China is only given to Pakistani citizens holding diplomatic or official passports (archived link).

"I confirm that we were not on the list so no question of removal," Foreign Ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan told AFP on July 28, 2025. 

China is Pakistan's largest arms supplier and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar confirmed that Islamabad used Chinese jets in the conflict with India in May (archived link).