China has opened up visa-free travel for many passports since late 2023. Whether your trip needs a visa depends on the passport, how long you stay and where you go next. This summary was checked against official notices on 8 November 2026. Rules change at short notice, so confirm each traveller’s case with the Chinese embassy or consulate before booking flights.
30-day visa-free entry
Citizens of about 50 countries can enter mainland China without a visa and stay for up to 30 days on an ordinary passport. Permitted purposes are tourism, business, visiting family or friends, exchanges and transit. Work, study and journalism still need a visa.
The list includes most EU countries, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. The United Kingdom and Canada were added on 17 February 2026.
Planning trips for 2027? The current 30-day arrangement runs until 31 December 2026. As of 8 November 2026, no extension for 2027 had been announced. If your trip is in 2027, check for a new notice before confirming whether travellers need a visa, and leave time to apply if they do.
Russian citizens are covered by a separate visa-free arrangement with its own end date. Check the current terms with the Chinese embassy before booking.
Mutual visa exemption
Some countries have reciprocal agreements with China that allow short visits without a visa, usually up to 30 days per entry. They include Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The terms differ by agreement.
10-day (240-hour) visa-free transit
Citizens of 57 countries, including the United States, can stay up to 10 days without a visa when travelling through China to a third country or region. The main conditions:
- Arrive and leave through one of the 65 designated ports in 24 provinces and regions, which include the main airports in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Xi’an.
- Hold a confirmed onward ticket to a different country or region. Hong Kong and Macao count as separate regions. A round trip such as New York – Beijing – New York does not qualify.
- Stay within the permitted provinces and regions. Travel between them is allowed.
This works well for a 10-day route that starts in Beijing and ends with a flight to Tokyo, Seoul or Hong Kong, for example.
Hainan and Sanya
Hainan Island has its own visa-free entry scheme for a longer list of nationalities arriving directly in the province. It can suit a beach or incentive trip to Sanya. Check eligibility and conditions for your passport before booking.
What to check for each traveller
- The passport is valid for the whole trip; six months’ validity and blank pages are a safe standard.
- The purpose and length of the trip fit the scheme being used.
- For transit, the onward ticket goes to a third country or region and the entry port is on the designated list.
- In mixed groups, each passport is checked separately.
- Fill in the arrival card online before departure where it is required, using the National Immigration Administration’s official channels.
Official sources
- National Immigration Administration
- Notice on extending the unilateral visa-free policy to 31 December 2026
- Visa-free entry for Canadian and British citizens from 17 February 2026
- 240-hour transit: Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam added, 57 countries in total
Need help with a route?
We plan routes that fit the entry rules for your passport, including transit routes that end in a third country. Tell us your nationality, dates and interests and we will suggest a first route. Travel agencies can see how we work with agencies.