For a trip to China, getting a visa is often not a problem. Many countries now enjoy visa-free entry for 10 to 30 days.
In the following section, we'll show you which countries qualify for visa-free travel to China.
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- 1. 30-Day Visa-Free Policy
- 2. 10-Day Visa-Free Transit Policies
- 3. Shanghai 15-Day Visa-Free Policy for Cruise Groups
- 4. 6-Day Pearl River Delta Visa Exemptions
- 5. Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free Access
- 6. Visa-Free Policy in Hong Kong and Macau
- 7. 6-Day Visa Exemption for ASEAN Tour Groups to Guilin
- 8. APEC Business Travel Card Holders
- 9. Holders of Aliens' Residence Permits
1. 30-Day Visa-Free Policy
China has now implemented a 30-day visa-free policy for citizens of several countries.
- If you are from Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan, you can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days until December 31st, 2025.
- If you are from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay, you can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days from June 1st, 2025, to May 31st, 2026.
- If you are from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, you can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days from June 9th, 2025, to June 8th, 2026.
- If you are from Russia, you can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days from September 15th, 2025, to September 14th, 2026.
Will the visa-free policy still apply in 2026? Some visa-free policies will expire at the end of 2025. If you plan to enter China after January 1, 2026, you will need a visa unless the policy is extended. If the policy is extended, we will update it immediately.
Citizens of the following countries enjoy mutual visa exemption with China, permitting a 30-day visa-free stay per visit:
Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Antigua and Barbuda, Albania, Barbados, Bahamas, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dominica, Ecuador, Fiji, Grenada, Qatar, Mauritius, Serbia, Seychelles, San Marino, Suriname, Tonga, Armenia, Georgia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Micronesia.
Recommended visa-free tours:
- 3-Week Must-See Places China Tour Including Holy Tibet
- 18-Day Classic China Tour with Yunnan
- 14-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Zhangjiajie–Guilin–Shanghai
2. 10-Day Visa-Free Transit Policy
Valid for: Travelers from 54 countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom
Cities that can be visited: Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Chengdu, Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, Zhangjiajie, Huangshan, and more
How to apply: You just need to apply for a temporary entry permit at your entry airport.
Key Requirement: You will need to be transiting via China to a third region or country. Find out more requirements on 10-Day Visa-Free Transit policy.
Recommended China Visa-Free Tours
3. 15-Day Visa-Free Policy for Cruise Groups
Valid for: Foreign tourist groups entering China via a cruise through the ports in Shanghai, Tianjin, Dalian, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Lianyungang, Xiamen, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beihai, Haikou, or Sanya.
Cities that can be visited: You are allowed to visit coastal municipalities (Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai) and provinces (Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan).
Requirements: You must arrive and depart on the same cruise, your group must consist of at least two people, and you must be received by a Chinese travel agent.
- 3-Day Shanghai & Tongli Watertown with Port Transfer
- 4-Day Private Beijing Excursion Before or After Cruise
4. 6-Day Pearl River Delta Visa Exemptions
Valid for: International visitors traveling from Hong Kong and/or Macau
Cities that can be visited: Those of the conurbation surrounding the Pearl River Delta, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Huizhou, and Shantou.
How to apply: You will need to go with a registered travel agency, such as ours. The permitted tour group size starts from 2 people.
5. Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free Access
Valid for: Ordinary passport holders from 59 countries, including the USA, the UK, Canada, and Australia.
Cities that can be visited: Hainan Island
6. Visa-Free Policy in Hong Kong and Macau
For most visitors, a visa is not required if traveling to Hong Kong and/or Macau.
Hong Kong: The former colony continues its liberal entry policies established by the British government. Citizens of about 160 countries can obtain visa-free entry for durations that range from 180 days to 7 days. For more detailed information, see Hong Kong's visa policy.
Macau: This territory's policies are more restrictive than those of Hong Kong. British nationals can stay for 6 months. Citizens of about 38 countries including those of the EU, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and South Korea can stay for 90 days. For more, see Macau's visa policy.
For even greater travel opportunities, you can also plan a visa-free trip to the Chinese Mainland from Hong Kong or Macau by taking advantage of the visa-free policies mentioned above.
7. 6-Day Visa Exemption for ASEAN Tour Groups to Guilin
Valid for: ASEAN member citizens, including those of Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei, and the Philippines.
City that can be visited: Guilin
How to apply: You will need to join a group tour with a registered travel agency.
- 5-Day Guilin Off-the-Beaten-Path Tour
- 6-Day Guilin, Longsheng, & Yangshuo Relaxation
- 4-Day Guilin Scenic and Ethnic Discovery
8. APEC Business Travel Card Holders
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card holders can simply enter China with the card without applying for a visa.
Travelers who hold a valid APEC business travel card can stay in China for up to 60 days.
9. Holders of Aliens' Residence Permits
No visa is required for those who hold aliens' permanent residence certificates issued by the People's Republic of China Public Security Bureau (PSB).
Foreigners visiting China for study, employment, or working as resident correspondents must apply for Aliens' Residence Permits with the PSB within a month of arrival in China.
FAQs
Can the 30-day visa-free entry be used multiple times?
Yes. You can make repeated use of this policy. For example, once your 30-day stay expires, you can leave China and re-enter again. There is no required gap between visits.
Can the 10-day visa-free entry be used multiple times?
Yes. As long as your trip follows the 10-day visa-free transit route requirements, you can use this policy repeatedly.
How should I plan my trip in a reasonable way?
We usually recommend choosing major cities as your entry and exit points, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou (direct flights from Australia are available), or Hong Kong (which has more international flight options).
The most popular choice among our travelers is flying into Beijing and out of Shanghai, or the other way around.
If you are eligible for the 30-day visa-free stay, you may consider an extended route such as:
- Beijing → Xi'an → Lhasa → Chengdu → Zhangjiajie → Guilin → Shanghai.
If you are traveling on the 10-day visa-free transit, a shorter route like:
- Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai
Since the 10-day visa-free stay requires you to be transiting via China to a third country or region, if you find traveling to another country less convenient, you can use Hong Kong as your exit point. Hong Kong connects seamlessly with the Chinese Mainland and offers a wide range of international flights.
Popular Visa-Free Tours
If you want to enjoy a hassle-free tour that maximizes your limited time in China, just contact us. The following itineraries, and any other ideas you may have, can be customized by us to fit your length of stay and other needs:
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