Visa-Free Entry Policies in China

Q: Under what circumstances can one enter China without a visa?

Transit Visa-Free Policies:

24-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Applicable to all international travelers, provided they do not leave the port of entry and the transit time does not exceed 24 hours.
240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Applicable to travelers from 54 countries, allowing a stay of up to 240 hours (10 days) in designated cities, with multiple ports of entry available.

Unilateral Visa-Free Policies:

30-Day Visa-Free Entry for Nationals of 38 Countries: Ordinary passport holders from 38 countries can enter China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit for up to 30 days without a visa. The applicable countries include:
Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan.
For more information, please refer to to the following link: https://en.nia.gov.cn//n147413/c178106/content.html/ https://en.nia.gov.cn//n147413/c178053/content.html

Regional Visa-Free Policies:

30-Day Visa-Free Entry to Hainan for Nationals of 59 Countries: Tourists holding ordinary passports from 59 countries can enter Hainan for up to 30 days for purposes such as tourism, business, and family visits. Entry is limited to open ports in Hainan.
The applicable countries include: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, 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, UAE, UK, and the USA.
Visa-Free Entry to Guilin for ASEAN Tourist Groups: Tourist groups (2 or more people) from ASEAN countries (e.g., Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand) organized through travel agencies can enter Guilin via Guilin Airport visa-free for up to 144 hours.
144-Hour Visa-Free Entry to Hainan for Foreign Tourist Groups via Hong Kong or Macau: Tourists (2 or more people) from countries with diplomatic ties with China, organized by travel agencies in Hong Kong or Macau, can stay in Hainan for up to 144 hours.
144-Hour Visa-Free Entry to Guangdong for Foreign Tourist Groups via Hong Kong or Macau: Tourist groups organized through Hong Kong or Macau travel agencies can travel in nine cities within the Greater Bay Area and Shantou for up to 144 hours.
Visa-Free Entry for Cruise Ship Tourists: Foreign tourist groups (2 or more people) traveling via cruise ships organized by Chinese travel agencies can enter 13 Chinese port cities without a visa for up to 15 days.
For more information, please refer to to the following link: https://en.nia.gov.cn//n147418/n147463/c156126/content.html

Q: Which countries qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit?

25 Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
15 other European countries: Russia, UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Monaco.
6 American countries: USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.
2 Oceanian countries: Australia, New Zealand.
6 Asian countries: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar.
For more information, please refer to to the following link: https://en.nia.gov.cn//n147413/c178106/content.html/ https://en.nia.gov.cn//n147413/c178053/content.html

Q: Do regional visa-free policies apply to individuals?

Some policies, such as the Hong Kong-Guangdong 144-hour visa-free policy, apply only to group travelers.

Q: Are multiple entries allowed? Are there limits on visa-free entries or total stay duration?

Eligible travelers can enter multiple times, with no specific restrictions on total entries or stay duration, provided the purpose aligns with the visa-free conditions.

Q: Are there special requirements for minors under visa-free policies?

Minors must meet the same requirements as adults.

Q: Do foreign travelers need to pre-register for visa-free policies?

Travelers eligible for visa-free policies do not need prior registration with Chinese embassies or consulates and can enter directly.

Q: What documents should be carried upon entry?

It is recommended to carry documents relevant to the purpose of the visit, such as an invitation letter, flight tickets, and hotel bookings. Note that activities like work, study, and journalism are not covered under visa-free policies.

Q: How is the duration of stay calculated?

The stay period starts at 00:00 on the day following entry.

Q: Is departure allowed from non-nationality countries?

Eligible travelers can depart for China from any country or region outside their nationality.

Q: What ports of entry are applicable for the 240-hour visa-free policy?

For details, please click here (link to the relevant news webpage).

For details, see the National Immigration Administration: https://en.nia.gov.cn/n182/n285/n20208/n26006/c38080/content.html

For more information about guide to working and living in China as Business Expatriates, please refer to the following QR Code: