Enter China without a visa: the up-to-date guide
Check in 10 seconds whether your passport gets visa-free entry, which airport or port you can use, and how to pay and get online once you land. Every rule links to its official source. Last checked 2026-10-17.
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The three main routes
- 30-day unilateral visa exemption: 50 countries. For most of them it currently runs until 31 Dec 2026 valid until 2026-12-31 (Russia until 31 Dec 2027, Brunei no end date). Sources: Chinese Embassy in Switzerland – FAQs on Visa-free Entry (2026-08-19) (checked 2026-10-17)
- Mutual visa exemption agreements: 29 countries, including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, UAE and Qatar (generally up to 30 days per entry). Sources: MFA Consular Service – 中外互免签证协定一览表 (List of mutual visa exemption agreements, updated 2026-05-29) (checked 2026-10-17) · Chinese Visa Application Service Center (Mumbai) – Comprehensive Mutual Visa Exemption Agreements, 24 countries (2026-08-28) (checked 2026-10-17)
- Hainan 30-day visa-free entry: 61 countries, Hainan Province only. Sources: NIA – Regional visa-free entry policies (Hainan 30-day, 61 countries) (checked 2026-10-17)
- 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit: 57 countries, via 65 ports in 24 provinces. Needs a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. Sources: NIA – Visa-Free Transit Policies (updated 2026-08-20) (checked 2026-10-17)
Heads-up: The 30-day exemption for 48 countries is currently set to end on 31 Dec 2026. China has extended it before, but nothing is announced yet. We'll update this page when that changes.
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