Visa-Free Policy FAQ

To facilitate international travel, the People's Republic of China implements a unilateral visa exemption for ordinary passport holders from 50 designated countries. Travelers from these nations can enter mainland China without a visa for up to 30 days.

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

Check if you are eligible for visa-free entry using our visa-free eligibility checker.

Eligible passport holders can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days. The permitted purposes of entry include:

• Tourism and leisure travel
• Business activities (e.g., meetings, trade talks)
• Visits to relatives and friends
• Exchange visits
• Transit to a third country

Note: If you intend to work, study, or engage in news reporting, you must apply for a corresponding visa before arrival.

Reddit users often confuse the arrival date. The duration of your stay is calculated starting from 00:00 on the day following the date of your entry. For example, if you enter China on October 1, Day 1 of your 30-day stay officially begins at 00:00 on October 2.

You can use the visa-free checker to calculate how long you can stay.

** China has upgraded its standard 72/144-hour transit visa-free policy to a 240-Hour (10-Day) Visa-Free Transit Policy for qualified nationals.

To qualify for the 240-hour TWOV, travelers must meet three criteria:

1. Nationality: Must hold an ordinary passport from one of the 55 designated countries (includes the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, 40 European nations, 4 South American nations, and 7 Asian nations like Singapore and South Korea).
2. Transit Route (Strict Rule): You must be transiting through China to a third country or region. Your itinerary must fly: Country A (Origin) $\rightarrow$ Permitted Port in China $\rightarrow$ Country C (Destination).
3. Tickets: You must hold a valid onward ticket with confirmed seats and departure dates to the third destination.

Check if you are eligible for visa-free entry using our visa-free checker.

Yes. This is the most asked question on Reddit. For immigration purposes, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are treated as third regions.

• Valid Route: London -> Shanghai -> Hong Kong (Eligible)
• Invalid Route: London -> Shanghai -> London (Not eligible; this is a round trip, not a transit)

You can enter through any of the 65 designated open exit-entry ports across 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China. You must stay within the specific permitted regional area associated with your port of entry. During your stay, you can engage in tourism, business, and family visits, but working or studying is prohibited.

Check if you are eligible for visa-free entry using our visa-free checker.

The 24-Hour Transit Visa-Free policy applies to nationals of all countries around the world at all open exit-entry ports in China. If you are transiting to a third country within 24 hours, you do not need a visa as long as you stay within the port's restricted area. If you need to leave the restricted airport area (e.g., to stay at a hotel overnight), you must apply for a Temporary Entry Permit at the immigration desk upon arrival.

Ordinary passport holders from 59 countries can enter Hainan Province visa-free for up to 30 days via any open port in Hainan.

• Permitted Activities: Tourism, business, family visits, medical treatment, exhibitions, and sports.
• Geographical Restriction: You must stay within the administrative region of Hainan Province only. You cannot travel to mainland China without a visa.

Check if you are eligible for visa-free entry using our visa-free checker.

Yes, as part of a tourist group. Foreign nationals holding ordinary passports from countries with diplomatic relations with China can enter 9 cities in the Pearl River Delta (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area) plus Shantou visa-free for up to 6 days.

• Condition: You must first enter Hong Kong or Macao and join a tour group organized by a registered travel agency in Hong Kong or Macao. You must enter and exit together as a group.

Yes. Foreign tourist groups (2 or more people) organized and received by a travel agency registered in China can enter visa-free via cruise ports in 13 designated cities (including Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Xiamen).

• Stay Duration: Max 15 days.
• Permitted Area: You can travel within Beijing and 11 coastal provinces/municipalities, but you must depart China on the same cruise ship according to the scheduled itinerary.

Check if you are eligible for visa-free entry using our visa-free checker.

Yes. Tourist groups (2 or more people with ordinary passports) from ASEAN member states can enter Guilin (Guangxi) or Xishuangbanna (Yunnan) visa-free for up to 6 days, provided the tour is organized and received by a registered Chinese travel agency.

Yes, it is legally mandatory. If you stay at a hotel, the hotel will automatically register your stay with local authorities. If you are staying at a friend's or relative's home, you or your host must register your temporary residence at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival (some cities allow doing this online via a WeChat mini-program).

Overstaying in China without authorization is a serious violation of exit-entry laws. It can lead to fines, detention, and a future travel ban. If an emergency arises (such as medical issues or flight cancellations) that forces you to stay longer, you must apply for a stay extension at the local Exit-Entry Administration of the Public Security Bureau before your visa-free period expires.

Use our free Visa-Free Checker tool (above). China currently offers: 1) 30-day unilateral visa-free for 38+ countries (France, Germany, Australia, etc.). 2) 240-hour (10-day) transit visa-free for 54 countries at designated ports. 3) Mutual visa exemptions for specific countries. Select your nationality and travel purpose in the checker for an instant answer.

The 240-hour (10-day) policy allows citizens of 54 countries to stay in designated regions of China without a visa while transiting to a third country. Requirements: 1) Hold a passport from an eligible country. 2) Have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country/region within 240 hours. 3) Enter through a designated port. You cannot travel to non-designated areas.