Quick answer
- Short answer: China has three main national ways to visit without a visa. First, a 30-day unilateral visa-free entry for 50 countries. Second, 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit for 57 countries, which only works if you travel on to a third country. Third, mutual visa exemption agreements with individual countries. They have different rules, ports, areas and end dates. Use the table below to see which ones could fit you, then check your passport in our visa-free checker.
- These rules change often. Everything here comes from official Chinese government pages we opened on 2026-11-12. If anything here differs from your embassy's advice, follow the embassy.
The big comparison table
| 30-day unilateral visa-free | 240-hour visa-free transit | Mutual visa exemption agreement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who | Ordinary passport holders of 50 countries (NIA list, 17 Feb 2026) | Ordinary passport holders of 57 countries (NIA, 20 Aug 2026) | Citizens of countries that signed an agreement with China covering ordinary passports. We count 29 on the MFA list updated 29 May 2026 (MFA) |
| Max stay | 30 days | 10 days (240 hours) | Set by each agreement. Many say 30 days per entry and no more than 90 days in any 180 days (NIA Q&A) |
| Allowed purposes | Business, tourism, visiting family or friends, exchange visits, transit (Embassy FAQ) | Tourism, business, visits, family visits (NIA) | "Short-term" travel (NIA table). Exact purposes depend on the agreement (check with embassy) |
| Not allowed | Work, study, journalism | Work, study, journalism | Work and study generally need a visa (check with embassy) |
| Onward ticket to a third country | Not required | Required, booked before entry, with a confirmed date and seat | Not required by the NIA pages we read (check with embassy) |
| Where you enter | All sea, land and air ports open to foreigners, unless laws or bilateral arrangements say otherwise (Embassy FAQ) | Only the 65 designated ports | Not stated on the NIA pages we read (check with embassy) |
| Where you can go | The FAQ sets no special area limit | Only the permitted areas in 24 provinces | The NIA pages set no special area limit |
| Stay counted from | 00:00 the day after entry (NIA) | 00:00 the day after entry (Yunnan gov) | Per agreement. The 90/180 rule counts back 180 days from any given day (NIA Q&A) |
| End date | 48 countries: 31 Dec 2026. Russia: 31 Dec 2027. Brunei: no end date (Embassy FAQ) | None published on the NIA page | None shown on the MFA list |
| Apply in advance? | No. Nothing to file with an embassy (Embassy FAQ) | No. You ask at the border on arrival | No |
Sources for each row are linked in the cells. For dates, see our visa-free policy expiry tracker.
Policy 1: 30-day unilateral visa-free entry
"Unilateral" means China grants it on its own. Your country does not have to give Chinese citizens the same deal.
The 50 countries (NIA list, compiled from MFA information as of 17 February 2026):
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| Europe (35) | 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, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom |
| Asia (7) | Bahrain, Brunei, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, South Korea, Saudi Arabia |
| Americas (6) | Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, Uruguay |
| Oceania (2) | Australia, New Zealand |
The United States is not on this list. See China visa-free options for US citizens.
Key rules from the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland FAQ (19 August 2026):
- You need an ordinary passport valid for at least your planned stay. Travel documents and emergency documents don't qualify.
- You can fly in from any country or region, not only your own.
- Minors follow the same rules as adults. Tour groups and solo travellers both qualify.
- You may use it many times. There is currently no limit on the number of entries or total days, but your activities must match your purpose of entry.
- The embassy suggests carrying papers that match your purpose, such as an invitation letter, air tickets or hotel bookings.
- If you need to stay longer than 30 days for a good reason, apply to the local public security exit-entry office for a stay permit.
End dates: Brunei has no end date. Russia runs to 31 December 2027 (consulate notice). The other 48 countries run to 31 December 2026 (Embassy FAQ; MFA notice and annex; Canada/UK).
Policy 2: 240-hour visa-free transit
This is a transit policy, not a holiday visa waiver. You must arrive from one country or region and leave for a different one (Yunnan gov).
Main rules (NIA; NIA Notice 2026 No. 4):
- You hold an ordinary passport from one of the 57 countries. Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added on 20 August 2026.
- You hold an onward ticket with a confirmed date and seat to a third country or region.
- You enter through one of 65 designated ports.
- You stay within the permitted areas of 24 provinces for no more than 10 days.
It suits travellers whose passports are not on the 30-day list, such as the US, Mexico, Indonesia or Singapore. Full step-by-step details are in our 240-hour visa-free transit guide.
Policy 3: mutual visa exemption agreements
These are treaties between China and one other country. They work both ways. Each agreement says which passports are covered and how long you can stay, so read your own country's line in the NIA table.
Countries with an agreement covering ordinary passports (our reading of the MFA list "updated to 29 May 2026"):
Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dominica, Ecuador, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Qatar, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan.
We counted this ourselves from the official table. Ordinary passports only marked "public affairs" don't count. If your country is near the edge, check with the embassy.
How the 90/180 rule works (NIA Q&A, 2025):
- Count back 180 days from any day of your stay.
- Visa-free days in China within that window must not add up to more than 90.
- Days spent on a visa, residence permit or APEC Business Travel Card don't count.
- If you have fewer than 30 days left in your 90, that is all you get on this entry.
Which one should you use?
| Your situation | Likely best option |
|---|---|
| Your passport is on the 30-day list and you are flying home from China | 30-day unilateral entry |
| Your passport is on the 240-hour list (not the 30-day list), and you will fly on to another country | 240-hour transit |
| Your passport is covered by a mutual agreement | The agreement (check its stay limit) |
| You are covered by more than one | The relevant rules apply, and officials say you may choose (NIA regional policies; Yunnan gov) |
| None apply | Apply for a visa before you go |
Whichever you use, a few things are the same:
- Arrival card: fill in the free official online arrival card. See our online arrival card guide.
- Accommodation registration: you must register where you stay. Hotels do this for you. See hotel registration for foreigners (NIA Q&A).
- Final checks: go through our China arrival checklist before you fly.
Regional schemes (not covered above)
The NIA also lists regional visa-free schemes (NIA, 20 Aug 2026):
- Hainan: 30-day entry for 61 countries, which includes the US. It is valid only inside Hainan Province.
- Cruise groups: up to 15 days.
- Tour groups: schemes for ASEAN groups to Xishuangbanna and Guilin, and for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong or Macao into Guangdong or Hainan.
These have their own conditions and are not general visa waivers.
FAQ
Is the United States on China's 30-day visa-free list?
No. The 50-country NIA list does not include the US. US citizens can use 240-hour transit, or Hainan's regional 30-day scheme, if they meet the conditions.
How many countries get China's 30-day visa-free entry?
50, per the NIA list as of 17 February 2026: 48 until 31 December 2026, Russia until 31 December 2027, and Brunei with no end date.
Can I combine 30-day entry and 240-hour transit on one trip?
If you qualify for more than one, officials say you may choose. We found no official guidance on combining policies on a single trip, so ask the 12367 hotline first (check with embassy).
Does mutual visa exemption let me stay 90 days?
Usually not in one go. Many agreements allow 30 days per entry with a total of 90 days in any 180-day period. Check your country's line in the NIA table.
Do I still need to register my accommodation on a visa-free entry?
Yes. The NIA says visa-free visitors must still register. Hotels do it for you; elsewhere, you or your host must register within 24 hours.
Sources
- National Immigration Administration — c183390/content.html
- ch.china-embassy.gov.cn — 202608/t20260819 12006793.htm
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — 202511/t20251103 11746081.html
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — 202511/P020251103658926204218.wps
- fmprc.gov.cn — 202602/t20260215 11860467.html
- khabarovsk.china-consulate.gov.cn — 202605/t20260520 11914505.htm
- National Immigration Administration — c183412/content.html
- National Immigration Administration — c1796294/content.html
- cs.mfa.gov.cn — 202607/t20260716 11984014.html
- National Immigration Administration — c181470/content.html
- National Immigration Administration — c183401/content.html
- National Immigration Administration — c180637/content.html
- yn.gov.cn — yhbmhsfw/gjmqzc
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.