Do you need a visa for China?
Pick your passport and where you'll land. Get the visa-free rules that apply to you, checked against official Chinese government notices.
Three ways in without a visa
30 days visa-free
50 countries (most of Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, the UK, Canada, much of South America and the Gulf) under China's unilateral policy, plus 28 countries with mutual agreements such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.
240-hour transit
57 countries — including the United States — can stay 10 days if they fly in and continue to a third country. How it works.
Hainan 30 days
61 countries can visit the tropical island province of Hainan for 30 days when they fly straight in.
Before you fly
Set up Alipay with a foreign card
China barely uses cash or cards. Get Alipay working before you land.
Internet that works
eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM — and keeping Google and WhatsApp running.
Ride the bullet trains
Book with your passport and get through the station like a local.
All before-you-go guides → · Practical guides for China →
Where to go
Beijing
Imperial palaces, the Great Wall and hutong alleys.
Shanghai
Skyline, colonial streets and water towns.
Xi'an
The Terracotta Army and the start of the Silk Road.
Chengdu
Pandas, teahouses and Sichuan food.
Chongqing
The 8D mountain megacity on the Yangtze.
Guilin & Yangshuo
Karst peaks, rice terraces and the Li River.
Zhangjiajie
The floating mountains of Avatar.
Hangzhou
West Lake, tea hills and temples.
Ready-made itineraries
10 days visa-free transit
Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai → onward to a third country, all within 240 hours.
7 days Beijing & Shanghai
The classic first week: imperial Beijing, the Great Wall and modern Shanghai, linked by bullet train.
14-day classic route
Great Wall, Terracotta Army, pandas, karst scenery and the Shanghai skyline in two weeks.
Latest policy updates
- Will China's 30-day visa-free policy be extended after 31 December 2026?Developing
- Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam added to 240-hour transit and Hainan visa-freeNew
- Visa-free entry for Russian citizens extended to 31 December 2027
FAQ
How long can I stay in China without a visa?
Citizens of 50 countries on China's unilateral list and 28 countries with a mutual exemption agreement can stay up to 30 days per entry. Citizens of 57 countries can stay up to 240 hours (10 days) when travelling through China to a third country or region.
Does the visa-free policy end on 31 December 2026?
For most countries on the unilateral list the current notice runs until 31 December 2026 (Russia until 31 December 2027). China has extended the policy every year so far. We update this site as soon as an extension notice is published.
Can I use 240-hour transit on a round trip?
No. You must be travelling on to a third country or region — for example London → Beijing → Tokyo, or Los Angeles → Shanghai → Hong Kong. Flying back to the country you came from does not qualify.
Can I work or study on visa-free entry?
No. Visa-free entry covers tourism, business meetings, visiting family or friends, exchange visits and transit. Work, study and journalism require a visa.
Where does this data come from?
From official notices by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Immigration Administration and Chinese embassies, which we read in the original Chinese. Last checked 9 November 2026.