China's entry rules changed a lot recently — many travelers no longer need a visa at all. Find your country in the lists below and check which case applies to you.

Case 1: Visa-free entry (30 days)

Countries covered (50):

  • Europe (35): France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Russia
  • Asia (7): Japan, South Korea, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain
  • Americas (6): Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Canada
  • Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand

Rules:

  • Citizens of these countries can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, visiting family, exchange visits, or transit. The 30 days are counted from the day after entry.
  • You just need a valid ordinary passport. Sports events, exhibitions, and study tours of up to 30 days are also covered.
  • Not covered: coming to China for work, study, or news reporting — you still need the proper visa.
  • Validity: most countries on this list are covered through December 31, 2026 and the policy may be extended; Brunei has no time limit; Russia is covered through December 31, 2027.

Case 2: 240-hour visa-free transit

Countries covered (57):

  • Europe (40): Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway
  • Americas (6): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
  • Asia (9): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam
  • Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand

Rules:

  • If your country is not on the Case 1 visa-free list (e.g. the US), you can still visit without a visa for up to 10 days (240 hours) when transiting to a third country or region. The 240 hours are counted from midnight of the day after entry.
  • You must fly A → China → B, where A and B are different countries/regions (Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count as B), with a confirmed onward ticket showing date and seat.
  • Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months.
  • Entry is through 65 designated ports in 24 provinces, including Beijing (Capital & Daxing), Shanghai (Pudong & Hongqiao), Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Xi'an.
  • You can travel within the 24 designated provinces — far more flexible than the old 144-hour scheme — but not to Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Tibet, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, or Xinjiang.
  • Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added on August 20, 2026, bringing the total to 57 countries.

Case 3: Tourist visa (L visa)

Who needs it: citizens of all countries not listed in Case 1 or Case 2 above (for example, India, the Philippines, Thailand nationals visiting for longer than their exemption allows, and most African countries).

Rules:

  • Apply at a Chinese embassy or visa center (CVASC). Typical requirements:
  • Passport valid 6+ months with blank pages
  • Completed online application form (COVA) plus appointment
  • Round-trip flights and hotel bookings, or an invitation letter
  • Fee roughly $30–$185 depending on nationality (US citizens pay the most)
Pro tip: Processing takes about 4 working days; express takes 2–3. Apply 3–4 weeks before departure — not months early, since single-entry visas are only valid for 3 months from issue.

Bonus: Mutual visa exemption agreements

Citizens of the following countries enjoy two-way visa-free travel with China (most allow 30 days per entry):

  • Asia (11): United Arab Emirates (90 days), Qatar, Singapore, Thailand (60 days), Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia (90 days), Maldives
  • Europe (6): Serbia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania (90 days), San Marino (enter via Italy), Russia
  • Americas (7): Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname, Brazil
  • Africa (2): Mauritius, Seychelles
  • Oceania (4): Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands

Newly added in 2025–2026: Malaysia (Jul 17, 2025), Azerbaijan (Jul 16, 2025), Uzbekistan (Jun 1, 2025), Türkiye (Jan 2, 2026, up to 90 days in any 180-day period), Brazil (May 11, 2026). Note: Zambia and Botswana only have mutual exemptions for diplomatic/official passports — ordinary passport holders still need a visa.

On arrival

Fill in the arrival card (paper on the plane, or online in advance through the NIA app/website), have your fingerprints taken, and answer basic questions about where you're staying. Keep your hotel's Chinese address handy.

Policies change frequently — always confirm with the Chinese embassy/consulate or the National Immigration Administration before you travel.