Quick answer
- Short answer: US passport holders cannot use China's 30-day unilateral visa-free entry. The United States is not on the 50-country list (NIA; Chinese Embassy in Switzerland FAQ). Americans can visit without a visa in some cases:
- - 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit, if you are travelling on to a third country or region (NIA). - Hainan's 30-day entry, which only covers Hainan Province (NIA).
- For a normal round trip from the US to the Chinese mainland, you need a visa. Check your exact plan in our visa-free checker.
Your options at a glance
| Option | Is the US eligible? | Max stay | Main condition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-day unilateral visa-free | No | — | — | NIA list |
| Mutual visa exemption agreement | No (the US is not on the MFA list) | — | — | MFA list |
| 240-hour visa-free transit | Yes | 10 days | Onward ticket to a third country or region; 65 ports; 24 provinces | NIA |
| 24-hour direct transit | Yes (all nationalities) | 24 hours | Stay inside the airport's restricted area | NIA |
| Hainan 30-day entry | Yes | 30 days | Hainan Province only | NIA |
| Cruise tour group | Group rule, not nationality-based | 15 days | A group of two or more run by a Chinese travel agency, leaving on the same ship | NIA |
| HK/Macao tour group into Guangdong or Hainan | For countries with diplomatic ties to China | 6 days | Group organised by an HK or Macao travel agency | NIA |
| Tourist (L) visa | Yes | Set on the visa | Apply before travel | Chinese Embassy in the US |
Option 1: 240-hour visa-free transit (the main visa-free route)
The NIA describes the policy as covering "nationals of 57 countries including Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States" (NIA).
The key rule: A → China → B, where B is not the US.
| Itinerary | OK? |
|---|---|
| New York → Shanghai → Tokyo | ✅ |
| Los Angeles → Beijing → Seoul | ✅ |
| San Francisco → Shanghai → San Francisco | ❌ round trip to the same country |
| New York → Guangzhou → Chicago | ❌ same country |
Officials say the place you come from and the place you go to must be in different countries or regions (Yunnan gov).
Step by step:
- Book an onward ticket to a third country or region, with a confirmed date and seat, before you fly. You can't buy it after landing (Yunnan gov).
- Check that your passport is valid for at least 3 more months (Chinese Consulate-General in Montreal).
- Choose an arrival port from the 65 on the list, and keep every city on your route inside the permitted areas.
- Tell your airline at check-in that you'll use 240-hour transit.
- Fill in the free online arrival card.
- At the border, ask for the temporary entry permit. Shanghai's government lists the documents as: a passport from one of the 57 countries, a connecting ticket to a third country or region within 240 hours, and the transit arrival card (Shanghai gov).
- Leave by 24:00 on the 10th day. The clock starts at 00:00 the day after you arrive.
Hong Kong as your "B": the NIA wording is "third countries or regions". We found no official NIA example that confirms a mainland → Hong Kong leg counts, so confirm with the 12367 hotline (check with embassy).
Option 2: Hainan's 30-day visa-free entry
The United States is one of the 61 countries whose ordinary passport holders may enter Hainan through any open port in Hainan and stay up to 30 days (NIA).
- Allowed purposes: tourism, business, visits, family visits, medical treatment, conferences and exhibitions, sports competitions.
- Not allowed: work or study.
- Limit: it is valid only inside Hainan Province. To travel on to the mainland under this scheme, check with the embassy first.
Option 3: get a visa (the usual route for a round trip)
If you're flying US → China → US, you need a visa. For tourism that is usually an L visa.
Validity: since 11 November 2014, the Chinese Embassy in the US has accepted applications for 10-year multiple-entry visas for tourist (L), business (M), short family visit (Q2) and private (S2) purposes. The passport you submit must be valid for at least 1 year (Chinese Embassy in the US). The validity and stay length you actually get are decided by the consulate (check with embassy).
How to apply (Chinese Embassy in the US, updated Sept 2025):
- Check which embassy or consulate covers your state.
- Fill in the form and upload documents on the New COVA system, which launched 30 September 2025.
- When your status shows "Passport to be submitted", you or an agent hand in your passport, the info page with a barcode, and original documents at the visa office.
Documents for an L visa:
- Passport bio page and a blank visa page. You need more than 6 months' validity and at least 2 blank visa pages.
- Your latest Chinese visa, if you've had one.
- Proof of US residence, such as a driver's licence or utility bill.
- Since 1 January 2024, tourist applicants in the US no longer need a round-trip air booking, hotel booking, itinerary or invitation letter (Chinese Embassy in the US).
Fees for US citizens, regular service (Consulate-General in New York):
| Entries | Fee (US citizen) |
|---|---|
| Single | $140 |
| Double | $140 |
| Multiple, 6 months | $140 |
| Multiple, 12 months or more | $140 |
| Express service | +$25 per visa |
| Rush service | +$37 per visa |
These reduced fees apply until 31 December 2026 (Consulate-General in Chicago). The New York page lists regular processing as 4 business days, express as 2–3 and rush as 1 (emergencies only).
Things that apply whatever option you use
- Online arrival card: free on the official NIA site. See the arrival card guide.
- Accommodation registration: hotels do it for you. If you stay with friends or in a private rental, you must register within 24 hours. See hotel registration for foreigners.
- Payments: set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you go. See Alipay & WeChat Pay setup and using a foreign card in China.
- Final checks: run through the China arrival checklist.
FAQ
Can US citizens enter China visa-free for 30 days?
Not on the mainland. The US is not on China's 50-country unilateral list. US citizens can get 30 days visa-free only in Hainan Province, under its regional scheme.
Is the United States eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit?
Yes. The NIA's list of 57 countries includes the United States. You need an onward ticket to a third country or region and must enter through one of 65 ports.
Can I fly from the US to China and back to the US without a visa?
No. A round trip to the same country isn't transit. You need a visa, unless you only visit Hainan under its 30-day scheme.
How much is a China tourist visa for US citizens?
$140 for single, double or multiple entries, under the reduced fees that apply until 31 December 2026. Express service costs $25 more.
How long is a China visa valid for Americans?
The Chinese Embassy in the US accepts applications for 10-year multiple-entry L, M, Q2 and S2 visas. You need a passport valid for at least 1 year. The consulate decides what you actually get.
Sources
- National Immigration Administration — c183390/content.html
- ch.china-embassy.gov.cn — 202608/t20260819 12006793.htm
- National Immigration Administration — c183412/content.html
- National Immigration Administration — c180637/content.html
- cs.mfa.gov.cn — 202607/t20260716 11984014.html
- yn.gov.cn — yhbmhsfw/gjmqzc
- montreal.china-consulate.gov.cn — 202505/t20250530 11637915.htm
- us.china-embassy.gov.cn — 201411/t20141111 4899887.htm
- us.china-embassy.gov.cn — 202509/t20250920 11712385.htm
- newyork.china-consulate.gov.cn — 202505/t20250522 11630647.htm
- chicago.china-consulate.gov.cn — 202512/t20251230 11790067.htm
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — en VisaFreeTransit/index.html
Last checked 12 November 2026. Rules and app menus change; if something's outdated, let us know.
Do you need a visa for China?
Pick your passport, entry city and dates. We check the 30-day visa-free list, 240-hour transit, mutual agreements and Hainan rules, using official data verified on 12 November 2026.