On this page 9 sections
China visa-free entry at a glance
Checked 4 November 2026- 240-hour transit
- 10 days57 countries; onward ticket to a third country or region
- Ports
- 65designated ports in 24 provinces
- 30-day visa-free
- 50countries; most until 31 December 2026
- 24-hour transit
- All nationalities, if you stay in the port’s restricted area
Rules change; check the National Immigration Administration and your airline before you book. We aren’t an immigration authority.
Which rule applies to you?
| Route | Who | Stay | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 240-hour visa-free transit | Ordinary-passport holders from 57 countries | Up to 10 days | Onward ticket with confirmed seat and date to a third country or region; enter at a designated port; stay in permitted areas |
| 30-day unilateral visa-free entry | Nationals of 50 countries (for example the UK and Canada; not the US) | Up to 30 days | Tourism, business, visits and similar purposes; scheme runs to 31 December 2026 for most countries |
| 24-hour transit | All nationalities | Up to 24 hours | Onward ticket with confirmed seat; stay in the port’s restricted area |
National Immigration Administration, Shanghai Municipal Government and the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland, checked 4 November 2026.
Check your route
Third country means third country. For the 240-hour transit, the NIA requires an onward ticket to a “third country or region”, so flying back to the place you came from doesn’t meet that wording. If your onward leg is to Hong Kong or Macau, confirm with your airline that the route qualifies.
The 240-hour visa-free transit
The National Immigration Administration says nationals of 57 countries holding ordinary passports may enter through any of 65 designated ports in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and stay in the permitted areas for no more than 10 days. Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added on 20 August 2026 (NIA Announcement No. 4 of 2026).
- Allowed: travel, business, visits and family reunions.
- Not allowed without a visa: work, study and news reporting.
- Where you can go: only the permitted areas of the 24 provinces. Check the NIA’s port and area list for your entry point.
| Region | Eligible countries |
|---|---|
| Europe (40) | Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom |
| Asia (9) | Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam |
| North America (2) | Canada, United States |
| South America (4) | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico |
| Oceania (2) | Australia, New Zealand |
National Immigration Administration, policy interpretation dated 20 August 2026, checked 4 November 2026.
30-day visa-free entry
Separately, China lets nationals of 50 countries visit for up to 30 days without a visa. According to Shanghai’s government and the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland, the scheme runs until 31 December 2026 for most of them; Russia’s runs to 31 December 2027 and Brunei’s has no end date. The 30 days count from the day after entry. The UK and Canada are on the list; the United States is not, so US citizens usually rely on the 240-hour transit or a visa.
If your trip runs into 2027, check whether the 30-day scheme has been extended before you book. The end date has been extended before, but we can’t predict that it will be again.
What to carry at the border
- An ordinary passport with enough validity for your stay.
- Your onward ticket with a confirmed seat and date (for the 240-hour transit).
- Your hotel address in Chinese, and a printout or offline copy of bookings.
- A working phone: you’ll need it for payments and maps from the moment you land.
Connectivity checklist for a short China visit
On a 10-day or 30-day visit, there’s little time to sort out a phone once you arrive.
Buy and install a travel eSIM at home
Several providers say you can’t buy a new plan in mainland China. Compare prices and routing in our China eSIM guide.
Set up payments
Link a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before you go (step-by-step app guide).
Keep your home number active
For SMS codes from your bank and apps.
Our take
Check which route fits your passport and itinerary on the NIA’s page, book a genuine onward ticket to a third country or region if you’re using the 240-hour transit, and arrive with a travel eSIM and a payment app already set up.
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Open the checklistFrequently asked questions
How long can I stay in China without a visa?
Up to 10 days on the 240-hour transit (57 countries, onward ticket to a third country or region), up to 30 days on the unilateral visa-free scheme (50 countries), or 24 hours airside for anyone in transit.
Can US citizens visit China without a visa?
The US isn’t on the 30-day list, but US citizens are eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit if they meet its conditions.
Can I fly in and out of the same country on the 240-hour transit?
The NIA requires an onward ticket to a third country or region. A round trip back to where you started doesn’t meet that wording; check with your airline before booking.
Can I travel between cities on the 240-hour transit?
Yes, within the permitted areas of the 24 provinces covered by the policy. Check the NIA’s list for the areas linked to your entry port.
Can I work or study on visa-free entry?
No. Work, study and news reporting still need the appropriate visa.
When does the 30-day visa-free scheme end?
On 31 December 2026 for most of the 50 countries; Russia’s runs to 31 December 2027 and Brunei’s has no end date.
Sources and method
Last checked 4 November 2026
All prices and plan facts on this page were read from these official pages on 4 November 2026. We have not purchased or tested these plans ourselves; we summarize what the providers publish, in our own words. Read our method.
- National Immigration Administration — Visa-free transit policies (policy interpretation)Checked 4 November 2026
- National Immigration Administration — Announcement No. 4 of 2026 (57 countries)Checked 4 November 2026
- Shanghai Municipal Government — Visa-free policiesChecked 4 November 2026
- Embassy of China in Switzerland — Visa-free entry FAQ (August 2026)Checked 4 November 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China — Notice on extending unilateral visa-free entry (Chinese)Checked 4 November 2026
- SafetyWing: Nomad InsuranceChecked 4 November 2026