Visa & Entry

The 30-day unilateral visa-free list

China currently grants visa-free entry (up to 30 days) to passport holders of 50 countries on a unilateral basis — no application, no fee, just show up. This includes most of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Russia and many others. (The US is not on this list — US passport holders qualify only for 240-hour visa-free transit; see the next chapter.)

Passport holders simply arrive at any open port and receive a 30-day stay. No invitation letter, no hotel booking required to enter.

• Validity: many of these unilateral arrangements run to 31 Dec 2026 — always re-check before you fly
• Purpose: tourism, business, visiting family, exchange and transit all qualify
• Entry: any international airport, land or sea port

How to check your country in 30 seconds

The most reliable source is the official list published by China's National Immigration Administration (nia.gov.cn) or the Chinese embassy in your country. Search “China unilateral visa-free list + your nationality + 2026” and look for a government domain.

Travel forums are often out of date — visa rules changed three times in 2025 alone, so trust the official list over advice threads.

Quickest route: use the official links in the “Official sources” chapter below — one page covers the visa-free list, the other covers visa applications by country.

Mutual visa-free agreements

Beyond the unilateral list, China has mutual visa-exemption agreements with around 29 countries and regions, including Singapore, the UAE, the Maldives, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and others. If you hold one of these passports you usually get 30 days, sometimes more.

The rule in plain English

Citizens of 57 countries can stay in China for up to 10 days (240 hours) without any visa when transiting through China to a third country or region. You fly in from abroad, spend up to 10 days inside China, and fly out to a different country — that's it.

As of 20 August 2026 the eligible country list grew to 57 (Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan added), and the transit ports cover most major airports and many rail and sea ports.

• You must hold a ticket to a third country or region — not back to where you came from
• The 240 hours run from midnight of the day after arrival, giving you up to 11 calendar days of usable time in practice
• Stay within the permitted regions/cities for your chosen port (most eastern and central provinces are covered)

Who can use it

The 57-country list includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, most of Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Indonesia. If your passport is eligible and your itinerary naturally passes through China, this is the cheapest way to add a China chapter to your trip.

Indian, Pakistani and some other passports are not on the transit list — those travellers need a regular visa.

Step-by-step at the airport

At check-in, show your onward ticket to the third country. At Chinese immigration, join the “240-hour transit” lane and hand over your passport plus the onward ticket. You'll be fingerprinted and stamped with the transit entry — keep that stamp safe until departure.

There is no fee, no form to fill in advance and no photo needed. Allow 15-30 extra minutes at immigration.

What you need

If you need a visa, the L (tourist) visa is straightforward: passport valid 6+ months, one photo, return flights, hotel bookings and a rough itinerary. Processing takes 4-7 working days at most embassies and consulates.

Many countries can use the online application portal first, then visit the Visa Application Service Centre in person for biometrics.

Fees and validity

A standard single-entry L visa costs roughly USD 30-90 depending on your nationality and entry count. Double-entry and multiple-entry options exist for frequent travellers. The visa is usually valid for 3 months from issue with a stay of 30-60 days per entry.

Expedited (rush) service is available at most centres for an extra fee.

Common rejection reasons

Incomplete hotel bookings, no onward ticket, passport expiring within 6 months, or an unclear itinerary are the usual culprits. Book refundable hotels and keep a simple day-by-day plan — approval is routine when the paperwork is complete.

Passport control

Arriving passengers use e-gates where available (automatic passport readers — fast and easy) or the manual lanes. Fingerprints are taken for first-time visitors. Have your hotel address handy — officers sometimes ask where you're staying.

Entry stamps are now often digital. If you want a physical stamp (useful for transit paperwork), ask the officer politely.

Customs declaration

You can bring in duty-free goods up to RMB 5,000 and two bottles of alcohol. Cash above RMB 20,000 or USD 5,000 equivalent must be declared. Meat, fresh fruit and plants are restricted — leave the apple in the plane.

There are two lanes: green (nothing to declare) and red (declaring). Use the mobile app 'Customs Declaration' for a faster QR-code pass.

Hotel registration is automatic

Your hotel registers you with the local police through their system — you don't do anything except hand over your passport at check-in. Stay in a private apartment? The host should register you; remind them politely if not.

Keep your passport or a photo of it with you at all times. Some museums, train stations and ancient town tickets require it.

One-minute check for your country

Official rules change a few times a year, so always confirm your own status on a government website within a week of flying. Two pages cover almost every case:

Visa-free: open the official country list below and find your passport. Mutual visa-exemption countries are listed on the consular service portal.

Need a visa: open the Visa Application Service Centre, pick your country and city — it shows the exact requirements and lets you apply online.

Transit rules, agreements & embassies

For the 240-hour transit policy, regional visa-free rules and the mutual-exemption agreement list, use the two government portals below.

Your local Chinese embassy is the final authority for your nationality — find its contact page through the consular service portal.

Arrival card & the 12367 hotline

Fill in your arrival card before landing, register your accommodation, or track a visa application on the immigration service platform. Questions at any hour? Call the official hotline 12367 — from abroad dial +86-10-12367.