China 30-Day Visa-Free Entry 2026: Countries & Rules

Want to visit China without applying for a visa first? If your passport is from one of the countries below, you may be able to enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days. It's one of the easiest ways to visit China right now — you can come for tourism, business, or to visit friends and family. You don't need to apply for anything, you don't need to plan your trip in advance, and you don't need an onward ticket to another country.

Who This Article Is For

This guide is for ordinary passport holders from the 50 countries currently covered by China's 30-day visa-free policy.

Jump to your region: Europe · Asia & Middle East · Americas · Oceania

Europe

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 & Middle East

Bahrain
Brunei
Japan
Kuwait
Oman
Saudi Arabia
South Korea

Americas

Argentina
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Peru
Uruguay

Oceania

Australia
New Zealand

If your country is on this list, keep reading — this article is for you. If your country is not on this list, check our Visa-Free Ways to Enter China hub. You may still qualify for another policy, like the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, or you may need a regular visa.

What the 30-Day Visa-Free Policy Lets You Do

If your passport qualifies, you can enter mainland China without a visa and stay for up to 30 days.

You can use it for tourism, business, visiting friends or family, exchange visits, and transit.

What it does not cover is paid work, long-term study, and journalism or news reporting that requires approval. If that is why you are coming to China, this policy is not enough, and you will need to apply for the correct visa before you travel.

This Is Not the Same as 240-Hour Transit

This is the part that confuses many travelers. The 30-day visa-free policy is not the same as the 240-hour transit policy.

With the 240-hour transit policy, China has to sit between two different countries or regions — you arrive from one place and fly onward to another, like New York → Shanghai → Tokyo. With the 30-day visa-free policy, there is no such rule. You don't need a third country, and you don't need an onward route to qualify. A simple round trip like London → Shanghai → London works fine. That's why this policy is so much easier: China can be your actual destination, not just a stop on the way to somewhere else.

When the 30 Days Actually Start

Your 30-day stay does not begin the minute your plane lands. The count starts the next day — so the day you arrive doesn't use up any of your 30 days. For example, if you land in Shanghai on Monday afternoon, your first full day is Tuesday, and your 30 days are counted from there.

What Documents Should You Bring?

You don't need a visa, and there are no forms to fill out in advance to "activate" your visa-free entry — you just show up and go through immigration. But you should still travel with documents that explain your trip:

Your ordinary passport
A hotel booking or accommodation address
A return ticket or onward ticket, if you already have one
An invitation letter, if you are coming for business or visiting someone
Event, meeting, or conference details, if relevant
A simple travel plan, especially if you will visit more than one city

There is one form everyone fills out: the arrival card. You can complete it online before your trip through China's official arrival card service, or fill in a paper card at the airport. It asks for basic details — the hotel or address where you'll be staying, your contact and emergency contact information, your passport details, and your flight number — so have that information ready before you reach immigration.

Border officers may check whether your reason for entering China matches the visa-free policy, so the goal is simple: make your trip easy to understand. If you are coming as a tourist, hotel bookings and a return ticket are usually the most useful. If you are coming for business, bring your meeting details or invitation. If you are visiting friends or family, keep their address and contact information ready.

Passport Requirements

This policy is for ordinary passports. You cannot use this 30-day visa-free policy with a temporary passport, emergency passport, travel document, or other non-ordinary document.

Your passport also needs to be valid for your intended stay in China. Simple rule: if your passport is expiring soon, renew it before traveling. Do not risk being refused by the airline or border officer.

Can You Enter From Any Country?

Yes.

You do not need to fly from your passport country. For example, if you have a Canadian passport, you can fly to China from Japan, Korea, Thailand, France, or another country. What matters is the passport you use to enter China, not where your flight starts.

Can You Enter by Train, Ferry, or Land Border?

Yes, the policy is not only for airports. It applies through sea, land, and air ports that are open to foreign nationals, unless a specific law or arrangement says otherwise.

So in normal cases, you can enter by plane, train, ferry, or land border crossing.

If you are using a less common route, check before booking. Major international airports are usually the easiest option for first-time travelers.

Where Can You Travel Inside China?

Unlike the 240-hour transit policy, this 30-day visa-free policy is not limited to a special list of provinces.

After you enter mainland China, you can travel normally within mainland China during your allowed stay.

You can go from Beijing and Shanghai to Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, or wherever your trip takes you. Just note that a few special areas, like Tibet, need extra permits, the same as they do for regular visa travelers.

After You Arrive: Hotel and Address Registration

If you stay in a hotel, the hotel usually handles your accommodation registration when you check in.

If you stay at a friend's home, apartment, or other non-hotel address, you or your host may need to register your stay with the local public security authority within 24 hours.

This is not meant to scare you. It is a normal rule for foreigners in China.

Simple rule: hotel stay, the hotel usually does it. Private apartment or friend's home, ask your host how to register.

Can You Enter More Than Once?

Yes, according to the official FAQ, eligible travelers can currently use the visa-free policy multiple times.

There is currently no fixed limit on the number of visa-free entries or total visa-free stay days under this policy.

But this does not mean you should treat it like a way to live or work in China. If your real purpose is working, studying, or staying long-term, you should apply for the correct visa or residence document.

What to Say at Immigration

There's nothing to memorize. Just tell the truth — give your real reason for visiting, whether that's tourism, business, or seeing friends or family, and have the documents from the list above ready if the officer asks. That's usually all it takes.

If you have everything above prepared, you have the best possible chance of a smooth entry. Just keep in mind that the final decision to allow you into China always rests with the immigration officer.

FAQ

Is this a tourist visa? No. It is not a tourist visa. It is visa-free entry. You do not apply for it in advance if your passport and trip qualify.

Can I stay exactly 30 days? You can stay for no more than 30 days. The count starts from the day after you enter China and lasts for 30 calendar days.

Do I need a return ticket? The policy is not a transit-only rule, so you do not need a third-country ticket just to qualify. But you should carry documents that prove your trip makes sense, such as a return ticket, hotel booking, or invitation.

Can I enter China and fly back to the same country? Yes, if your passport qualifies. Unlike the 240-hour transit policy, this rule does not require you to fly to a different country after China.

Can I come for business meetings? Yes. Short business activities are allowed. Paid employment is not.

Can I come for a conference or exhibition? Yes, if your stay is no more than 30 days and the activity fits the allowed purpose. Bring event or invitation details in case immigration asks.

Can minors use this policy? Yes. The official FAQ says minors follow the same visa-free requirements as adults.

Can I travel with a tour group? Yes. Eligible travelers can use the policy whether traveling with a tour group or independently.

Can I extend my stay after entering China? If you already know you need more than 30 days, apply for the correct visa before traveling. If you enter visa-free and later have a reasonable need to stay longer, you may need to apply for a stay permit at the local exit-entry administration.

Does this apply to Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan? This article is about entering mainland China. Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan have separate entry rules.

What if my passport country is not listed? Check our Visa-Free Ways to Enter China hub. You may qualify for another policy, like 240-hour visa-free transit, or you may need to apply for a regular visa.

Bottom Line

China's 30-day visa-free entry policy is the simplest way for many travelers to visit mainland China without applying for a visa.

The rule is simple: your passport must be from an eligible country; you must hold an ordinary passport; your stay must be no more than 30 days; your purpose must be tourism, business, visiting friends or family, exchange visit, or transit; you cannot use it for work, long-term study, or news reporting.

If your country is on the list, China is much easier to enter than many people think. Bring your passport, keep your travel documents ready, and make your trip easy for immigration to understand.

First time in China? Our complete first-trip guide walks you through everything to set up before you go — from Alipay and WeChat to translation apps and the essentials most travelers don't find out until they land. Check it out if you want to arrive fully prepared.

Sources

Visa policies can change. Always verify requirements with official Chinese government sources before traveling.

China 30-Day Visa-Free Entry: Stay Up to 30 Days Without a Visa