Entry & Exit
China Visa-Free Countries List 2026
See the 2026 list of countries eligible for China's 30-day unilateral visa-free entry policy, plus stay limits, eligible purposes and how it differs from 240-hour transit.
China now allows ordinary passport holders from 50 countries to enter visa-free under its unilateral visa exemption policy.
Eligible travelers can generally stay for up to 30 days for purposes including:
- Tourism
- Business
- Visiting family or friends
- Exchange visits
- Transit
But this 50-country list is only one of China's visa-free entry systems.
China also has:
- Mutual visa exemption agreements
- 240-hour visa-free transit
- 24-hour transit
- Hainan regional visa-free entry
- Other special regional arrangements
So if your country is not listed here, that does not automatically mean you need a visa.
The Short Version
As of 2026, China's unilateral 30-day visa-free policy covers 50 countries.
Eligible ordinary passport holders may enter mainland China without obtaining a visa in advance for short stays for approved purposes.
The stay can be up to:
30 days
and the stay period is calculated from:
00:00 on the day after entry.
This policy is different from China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy.
The 50 Visa-Free Countries
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
- Russia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Asia — 7 Countries
- Bahrain
- Brunei
- Japan
- Kuwait
- Oman
- South Korea
- Saudi Arabia
Oceania — 2 Countries
- Australia
- New Zealand
Americas — 6 Countries
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- Peru
- Uruguay
What Kind of Passport Do You Need?
The unilateral visa-free policy applies to eligible travelers holding an ordinary passport.
It is not simply based on nationality alone.
Make sure:
- Your passport is valid
- You are traveling on the qualifying passport
- Your purpose of travel fits the policy
Different rules may apply to diplomatic, official or other special passport types.
How Long Can You Stay?
Eligible travelers can generally stay for up to:
30 days
The National Immigration Administration states that the stay period is calculated from:
00:00 on the day following the day of entry.
For example:
If you enter China on:
October 1
the calculation begins from:
00:00 on October 2
Do not assume the entry day is counted in exactly the same way as the following days.
Can You Stay for a Full 30 Days?
Yes, if you qualify under the policy and remain within the permitted stay period.
But do not plan your departure based on rough mental counting.
Check:
- Entry date
- Maximum stay
- Passport stamp or immigration record
- Current official guidance
When planning a long stay close to the maximum limit, leave yourself a safety margin.
What Purposes Are Allowed?
The current unilateral visa-free policy covers short visits for purposes including:
Tourism
Ordinary holidays and sightseeing.
Business
Short-term business activities.
Visiting Family or Friends
Private visits to relatives or friends in China.
Exchange Visits
Certain short-term exchange activities.
Transit
Passing through China as part of an international journey.
What Is Not Covered?
The visa-free policy does not normally cover activities requiring prior approval or a different immigration status.
Examples include:
- Employment
- Long-term study
- Journalism
- Long-term residence
- Other activities requiring special authorization
If you are coming to China to work or study, do not assume 30-day visa-free entry is sufficient.
Do You Need to Apply Before Traveling?
Normally, no.
If you qualify for unilateral visa-free entry, you do not need to apply for a tourist visa in advance simply to use this policy.
You travel with your qualifying ordinary passport and complete normal immigration procedures on arrival.
Border authorities still make the final entry decision.
Do You Need an Invitation Letter?
Not normally for an ordinary tourist trip under the unilateral visa-free policy.
But immigration officers may ask for information relevant to your trip.
It is sensible to keep:
- Hotel booking
- Return or onward ticket
- Basic itinerary
- Contact details
- Accommodation information
available.
Do You Need a Return Ticket?
The unilateral 30-day visa-free policy is not the same as 240-hour visa-free transit, which specifically depends on onward travel to a third country or region.
For normal unilateral visa-free entry, there is no general requirement that your itinerary must follow:
Country A → China → Country B
However, immigration officers can still ask about:
- Your travel purpose
- Length of stay
- Accommodation
- Departure plans
Keeping proof of onward or return travel is sensible.
Do You Need an Arrival Card?
Usually, yes, unless you fall into one of the specific exemptions.
Visa-free entry does not automatically exempt you from the China Arrival Card process.
Read next: How to Fill in the China Arrival Card
Do You Still Need Accommodation Registration?
Yes.
Visa-free entry and accommodation registration are separate procedures.
If you stay in a hotel, the hotel generally handles registration.
If you stay in a private residence, you or your host generally need to complete accommodation registration within 24 hours.
Read next: Accommodation Registration in China for Foreigners
Is This the Same as 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit?
No.
These are two completely different policies.
30-Day Unilateral Visa-Free Entry
You qualify based mainly on:
- Nationality
- Ordinary passport
- Purpose of visit
You can generally enter China directly for up to 30 days.
You do not need to be traveling onward to a third country simply because you are using this policy.
240-Hour Visa-Free Transit
You qualify based on:
- Eligible nationality
- Ordinary passport
- Eligible port
- Confirmed onward travel
- Transit through China to a third country or region
- Permitted stay area
The route matters.
For example:
Japan → China → France
may qualify if all requirements are met.
But:
Japan → China → Japan
does not meet the basic third-country transit logic.
Read next: China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Complete Guide
The Country Lists Are Different
This is important.
The unilateral 30-day visa-free policy currently covers:
50 countries
The 240-hour visa-free transit policy currently covers:
57 countries
A country may appear on:
- Both lists
- Only one list
- Neither list
Do not use one list to determine eligibility for the other.
Example: United States
The United States is not on the current 50-country unilateral 30-day visa-free list.
But U.S. ordinary passport holders are currently included in the 240-hour visa-free transit policy.
That means a U.S. traveler may be able to enter China visa-free under a qualifying transit itinerary even though they do not qualify for the unilateral 30-day policy.
Example: Peru
Peru is on the current unilateral 30-day visa-free list.
That means an eligible Peruvian ordinary passport holder can enter under the 30-day policy for approved short-stay purposes.
The traveler does not need to structure the trip as a transit itinerary simply to use this policy.
What If Your Country Is Not on This List?
Do not immediately assume you need a visa.
Check whether you qualify under another policy.
Possible options include:
- Mutual visa exemption agreement
- 240-hour visa-free transit
- 24-hour visa-free transit
- Hainan regional visa-free entry
- Other special regional policies
Read next: Do I Need a Visa for China? 2026 Guide
Mutual Visa Exemption Is a Separate System
China has signed mutual visa exemption agreements with multiple countries.
These agreements can have different:
- Eligible passport types
- Stay limits
- Cumulative stay limits
- Conditions
Some ordinary passport holders may qualify under a mutual agreement even if their country is not on the 50-country unilateral list.
Do not merge the two systems.
Some Mutual Agreements Use a 90-in-180 Rule
Certain mutual visa exemption agreements allow stays such as:
up to 30 days per visit
with a cumulative maximum such as:
90 days within any 180-day period.
The exact rule depends on the agreement.
If your country relies on a mutual visa exemption agreement rather than the unilateral policy, check the specific agreement.
Hainan Has Its Own Visa-Free Policy
Hainan has a separate regional visa-free policy.
As of August 2026, ordinary passport holders from 61 countries may qualify for up to 30 days of visa-free entry into Hainan under that policy.
But there is an important restriction:
the traveler must stay within Hainan Province under the regional policy.
Do not confuse Hainan visa-free entry with nationwide 30-day visa-free entry.
Hainan Visa-Free Entry Is Not Nationwide Entry
For example, a traveler may qualify to enter:
Haikou or Sanya
under Hainan's regional policy.
That does not automatically mean they can continue to:
- Shanghai
- Beijing
- Chengdu
- Xi'an
under the same regional exemption.
Always check the geographical limits of the policy you are using.
What About Hong Kong and Macao?
Hong Kong and Macao operate separate immigration systems from mainland China.
A traveler may have different visa requirements for:
- Mainland China
- Hong Kong
- Macao
Do not assume one policy automatically covers all three.
Can Hong Kong or Macao Count as a Third Region for Transit?
For 240-hour visa-free transit purposes, Hong Kong and Macao can be treated as separate regions when assessing a qualifying international transit itinerary.
For example:
London → Shanghai → Hong Kong
may satisfy the basic third-region route concept if all other requirements are met.
That is a transit-policy issue, not part of the unilateral 30-day visa-free list.
Can You Enter More Than Once?
The unilateral policy is designed for eligible short-term entries.
However, repeated entry does not mean you can ignore immigration scrutiny.
Border authorities can consider:
- Purpose
- Frequency
- Length of prior stays
- Whether you appear to be using short visits for long-term residence or work
Do not use visa-free entry as a substitute for the correct long-term immigration status.
Can You Leave and Re-Enter?
If you remain eligible, a later entry can be assessed again under the current policy.
But there is no guarantee that repeated entries will automatically be accepted.
Each entry is subject to immigration inspection.
Can You Work During the 30 Days?
No, not simply because you entered visa-free.
Visa-free tourism or business entry does not automatically authorize employment.
If your activity constitutes work under Chinese immigration and employment rules, obtain the correct authorization before arriving.
Can You Study?
Short exchange visits may fall within permitted purposes.
Long-term study does not.
If you are enrolling in a formal study program requiring a student visa or residence permit, use the appropriate immigration route.
Can You Attend a Trade Fair?
Short-term business travel may be covered.
That can include normal commercial visits or certain business events.
But activities requiring employment authorization or other approval remain outside ordinary short-stay visa-free entry.
Do You Need Travel Insurance?
China's unilateral visa-free policy does not generally make travel insurance a basic immigration requirement.
But insurance is still sensible.
Consider coverage for:
- Medical treatment
- Trip interruption
- Lost baggage
- Emergency evacuation
Travel insurance and immigration eligibility are separate issues.
Border Officers Can Still Ask Questions
Visa-free does not mean “no immigration process.”
You still pass through border inspection.
Officers may ask about:
- Purpose of visit
- Duration
- Hotel
- Return or onward ticket
- Contacts in China
- Travel plans
Answer accurately.
What Documents Should You Keep Ready?
For an ordinary tourist trip, keep these accessible:
- Passport
- Hotel booking
- Return or onward ticket
- Basic itinerary
- Arrival Card information
- Contact information
Do not bury everything in checked luggage.
What If Immigration Says You Are Not Eligible?
The immigration authority at the port makes the final decision.
If there is a problem, follow the instructions given by the border inspection authority.
Possible reasons for difficulty can include:
- Wrong passport type
- Travel purpose outside the policy
- Passport or immigration problems
- Prior violations
- Other legal restrictions
A website or airline interpretation does not override the border authority.
Common Mistake 1: “Visa-Free Means Every Country”
It does not.
Check your nationality and passport type against the current policy.
Common Mistake 2: “The 240-Hour List Is the Same”
It is not.
The current numbers are:
- 30-day unilateral policy: 50 countries
- 240-hour transit policy: 57 countries
They have different eligibility rules.
Common Mistake 3: “Not on the 50-Country List Means I Need a Visa”
Not necessarily.
You may qualify under:
- Mutual visa exemption
- 240-hour transit
- Hainan visa-free policy
- Another arrangement
Check the full set of policies.
Common Mistake 4: “30 Days Means I Can Work for a Month”
No.
The allowed stay length does not change the permitted activity.
Common Mistake 5: “I Don't Need Any Entry Paperwork”
Visa-free travelers still go through immigration procedures.
You may still need:
- Arrival Card
- Passport inspection
- Accommodation registration
Common Mistake 6: Using an Old Country List
China's visa-free policies have changed several times in recent years.
Do not rely on:
- Old blog posts
- Old screenshots
- Old social media posts
Check the current official list before departure.
Quick Eligibility Checklist
Passport
- Ordinary passport
- Passport valid
- Nationality on current unilateral list
Purpose
- Tourism
- Business
- Visiting family/friends
- Exchange visit
- Transit
Stay
- No more than 30 days
- Departure planned within permitted period
Entry preparation
- Arrival Card ready
- Hotel information ready
- Onward or return travel information available
- Accommodation registration understood
What We Recommend
Start with one question:
Is my country on the current 30-day unilateral visa-free list?
If yes, check:
- Passport type
- Purpose
- Length of stay
If no, do not stop there.
Next check:
- Mutual visa exemption
- 240-hour visa-free transit
- Hainan regional visa-free entry
- Whether you need a normal Chinese visa
That approach is much more accurate than relying on one country list alone.
Official Sources
This guide was checked against information published by:
- National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
- Official list of countries covered by China's unilateral visa exemption policy
- Official guidance on 240-hour visa-free transit
- Official information on mutual visa exemption agreements
- Official information on Hainan regional visa-free entry
Visa policies can change quickly. Always check current official guidance before booking travel.