China’s ‘game-changing’ Aussie passport move

China has just made a “game-changing” move for Aussie passport holders, adding Australia to a list of only 13 other countries that enjoy this perk.

Aussies will no longer need a visa when visiting China for 15 days or less in a new move that will see them save $110.

Chinese premier Li Qiang made the announcement at Parliament House on Monday during his visit where he explained Australia would be included in the Asian country’s visa waiver program to fast track international travel for Aussies travellers.

The number of nations enjoying visa-free entry to China now totals 14, including New Zealand after it was added to the program in May.

Australia and China have entered into a visa-free travel agreement.

The move will see Aussies enjoying travel to China for up to 15 days for business, tourism and to visit family and friends without having to secure a visa. It also means they will save $110, which was the rough price for a single-entry visa into China, according to Flight Centre.

Mr Li said Australia will reciprocate the gesture for Chinese passport holders.

It also means that the Aussie passport, currently the sixth most powerful in the world, will now give visa-free access to 190 out of 227 destinations worldwide.

Australia-China relations tighten

During his visit to Parliament House in Canberra on Monday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang revealed Aussies will no longer need a visa when visiting China for 15 days or less. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We agreed to provide each other with reciprocal access to five-year multiple entry visas for tourism, business, and visiting family members to better facilitate personal exchanges. China will also include Australia in its visa waiver program,” Mr Li said.

Multiple entry visas mean a person will be able to enter and exit the country as many times as they want during the time their visa is valid.

China has yet to detail the specifics of the new visa waiver arrangement but the move has been welcomed by Aussie travel company founder Wender Wu who branded it a “game-changer” for Australian travellers and the tourism industry.

It also means they will save $110, which was the rough price for a single entry visa into China.

“As the number one China touring specialist in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, we are thrilled about the opportunities this presents for travellers,” she told Travel Weekly.

“(The) announcement is very welcome news. This visa-free policy will make short trips more accessible and straightforward, and we’re positive it will encourage a robust return to destination China for Aussie holiday-makers.”

Mr Li said his visit to Canberra demonstrated that China’s relationship with Australia is “on the right track” as the trading partners moved on from a bitter economic dispute despite a duel for influence in the Pacific.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers joins Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang during a signing ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared relations between the two nations as “renewed and revitalised”, adding there will also be talks on improving military relations to avoid incidents such as last year’s sonar attack on HMAS Toowoomba.

“One of the very practical measures that we spoke about was improving military-to-military communication so as to avoid incidents,” Mr Albanese told reporters on Monday.

“So obviously what will happen is that officials will go away, and we’ll have that discussion about how that can be implemented in practice.”

Business travel to China up 68 per cent amid visa-waiver program

Flight Centre Corporate – incorporating flagship brands FCM Travel and Corporate Traveller – revealed business travel between China and Australia had grown by 68 per cent in the current quarter to date (April 1, 2024 to June 17, 2024), compared to the second quarter of the 2023 calendar year.

China opened its borders to Australia again in March 2023, following border closures as a result of the pandemic.

“This move means Australian businesses will be able to travel more seamlessly and more cost effectively to China,” Renos Rologas, FCM Travel general manager ANZ, said.

Fee changes to Aussie passport

As of next month the cost of the Australian passport is set to increase by 15 per cent, meaning those who plan on purchasing the ten-year travel document will have to pay almost $400, up from $346.

In January, the fee increased per standard inflation price indexing that occurs each year – and will jump up again on July 1 to exactly $397.90.

The federal government announced in May that Australians can fast-track their passport being processed if they pay $100.

Their new passport will be processed within five business days if they do so. The change will kick in from July 2.

As it currently stands, obtaining a new passport or renewing one usually takes around six weeks, according to the Australian Passport Office.

There’s already a “priority processing” option for Aussies needing their travel documents urgently, which allows them to get their hands on their passport in just two business days – this costs $252 – on top of the $346 base fee for the passport itself.