China Travel Visa Guide
Find Out Which China Visa-Free Policy You Can Use
China now has several visa-free entry and transit options. This guide helps you compare the major policies by country, including the 30-day unilateral visa-free policy, mutual visa exemption agreements, 240-hour visa-free transit, 24-hour transit, Hainan 30-day visa-free entry, cruise group visa-free entry, and selected regional group policies.
Last updated: May 16, 2026How to use this China visa-free guide
Type or select your country above. The page will highlight every matching country name across all China visa-free policy categories below.
A highlighted country means your passport nationality may be covered by that policy, but final entry approval depends on your passport type, travel purpose, route, onward ticket, port of entry, and border inspection review.
Important note before you travel
Visa-free entry is not the same as permission to work, study, report news, or conduct activities requiring prior approval. Travelers should carry supporting documents such as return or onward tickets, hotel bookings, invitation letters, and proof of travel purpose.
30-day Unilateral Visa-Free Entry Policy
Ordinary passport holders from the countries below may enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family or friend visits, exchange visits, and transit.
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Ireland
- Hungary
- Austria
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Poland
- Slovenia
- Portugal
- Greece
- Cyprus
- Slovakia
- Norway
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Andorra
- Monaco
- Liechtenstein
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Croatia
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Malta
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Russia
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Brunei
- South Korea
- Japan
- Saudi Arabia
- Oman
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Chile
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Canada
Mutual Visa Exemption Agreements
China also has mutual visa exemption agreements with many countries. Some agreements cover ordinary passports or valid passports, while many others only apply to diplomatic, service, official, special, public affairs, or other specific passport types.
Countries with ordinary-passport, valid-passport, or broad passport coverage shown in the official mutual agreement table
The countries below are especially relevant for regular travelers because the official table shows ordinary passports, valid passports, or broad passport coverage. Stay limits and conditions still vary by country.
- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Serbia
- Maldives
- San Marino
- Ecuador
- Belarus
- Kazakhstan
- Georgia
- Armenia
- United Arab Emirates
- Tonga
- Seychelles
- Mauritius
- Bahamas
- Dominica
- Suriname
- Barbados
- Fiji
- Grenada
240-hour Visa-free Transit Policy
This policy allows eligible travelers to transit through China for up to 240 hours, or 10 days, when traveling onward to a third country or region with valid travel documents and confirmed onward transport arrangements.
- Albania
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- United States
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Chile
- Mexico
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Brunei
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Qatar
- Singapore
- South Korea
- United Arab Emirates
24-hour Visa-free Transit Policy
China’s 24-hour visa-free transit policy applies at China’s open exit-entry ports to nationals of countries around the world, provided the traveler transits to a third country or region within 24 hours and does not leave the port’s restricted area unless a temporary entry permit is obtained.
- All countries and regions
Hainan 30-day Visa-free Entry Policy
Ordinary passport holders from the countries below may enter Hainan Province visa-free for up to 30 days for short-term purposes such as tourism, business, visits, family visits, medical treatment, conferences and exhibitions, and sports competitions. This policy is limited to Hainan Province.
- Albania
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- South Korea
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
Cruise Group Visa-free Entry Policy
Foreign tourist groups of two or more people, organized and received by a travel agency registered in China, may enter China visa-free by cruise ship through eligible cruise ports and stay for up to 15 days in permitted coastal areas.
- All countries and regions
ASEAN Regional Group Visa-free Policies
Tourist groups from ASEAN member states may use selected regional visa-free policies when organized and received by a travel agency registered in China.
Xishuangbanna, Yunnan — up to 6 days
Applies to eligible ASEAN tourist groups entering and exiting through Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway Port, or Mohan Highway Port.
Guilin, Guangxi — up to 6 days
Applies to eligible ASEAN tourist groups entering and exiting through the airport in Guilin.
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Vietnam
China visa-free policy FAQ
Is 30-day unilateral visa-free entry the same as 240-hour visa-free transit?
No. The 30-day unilateral policy allows eligible ordinary passport holders to enter China for approved short-term purposes without a visa. The 240-hour policy is for transit through China to a third country or region and has route, port, and onward-ticket requirements.
Is mutual visa exemption the same as the 30-day unilateral visa-free policy?
No. Mutual visa exemption is based on bilateral agreements and may depend on passport type. The unilateral 30-day visa-free policy is a separate China policy for ordinary passport holders from listed countries.
Can I use the 240-hour visa-free transit policy for a round trip?
Usually no. The trip normally needs to be from one country or region to Mainland China, then onward to a different country or region.
Does Hainan’s 30-day visa-free policy allow travel to the rest of China?
No. Hainan’s 30-day visa-free policy is generally limited to the administrative region of Hainan Province.
Can I work or study in China under a visa-free policy?
No. Work, long-term study, journalism, and other activities requiring prior approval usually require the correct visa before entering China.
Should I still prepare documents if my country is visa-free?
Yes. It is recommended to carry proof of travel purpose, hotel bookings, return or onward tickets, and invitation letters when relevant.
