China Visa Free Countries - Which Countries Don't Need Visa for China

China entry rules — what applies right now

Last checked against official sources on 22 September 2026. Entry policy changes several times a year, so confirm against the official list below before you book flights.

Travelling on a US, Canadian, Australian or British passport? You still need a visa for an ordinary tourist visit to mainland China — most visitors apply for the L (tourist) visa. None of these four nationalities are on China's visa-free entry list as of the date above.
240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit. Open to 57 nationalities, including the US, Canada, Australia and the UK, when you are transiting China on the way to a third country and hold an onward ticket out within the window. Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam joined on 20 August 2026. You may move between the provinces covered by the scheme rather than staying in one city.
Visa-free entry without transit. China has mutual visa-exemption agreements with a set of countries and a separate unilateral visa-free trial covering much of Europe plus several Asian, Oceanian and South American countries. Which list your passport sits on — and for how many days — changes; check the official page.
Hainan. Flying straight into Haikou or Sanya gets many nationalities 30 days visa-free, but the permission covers Hainan island only.

Official source: China National Immigration Administration — visa-free transit policies. The NIA also runs a public enquiry line on +86 10 12367.

Which countries can travel to China without visa?

Like other countries in the world, China offers different visa free policies for international visitors in different situations. Currently, there are more than 10 Chinese Visa Exemption cases, which have specific requirements of nationality, port of entry, place and duration of stay, etc. So, read the following China Visa free countries to see if you are the lucky person who don't need a visa to visit China.

China Visa Exemption Countries in Different Visa-free Policies

Except visa free entry to China's Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau also give visiting convenience to lots of citizens (holders of ordinary passports). Certainly, all the no-visa stay in China needs necessary qualification and requirements.

Which Countries' nationals can Enter China's Mainland without Visa?

Various type of visa-free rules are implemented in China for international visitors, who visit China's Mainland through specific ways of transportation, ports of entry and holding different nationality of passport.

(1) 20+ Countries on China Mutual Visa Exemption - Thailand, Singapore, Serbia...

China has executed two-way visa free agreement with 18 foreign countries, which permits qualified visitors to visit China without a visa for a certain period. Please read permitted duration of stay and more useful tips on Mutual Visa Exemption.

Countries with a mutual visa exemption agreement with China include Asian countries: Thailand, Singapore, Maldives, Kazakhstan, the UAE, Qatar, Armenia, Georgia; European countries: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, San Marino; African countries: Mauritius, Seychelles; Oceania countries: Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands; North American countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Bahamas; South American country: Suriname.

(2) 30-Day Visa Free - 35+ Countries (Australia, France, Spain...)

In order to further promote the exchange of personnel between China and foreign countries, serve high-quality development and high-level opening up, the Chinese government has decided to pilot the expansion of the scope of unilateral visa-free countries and implement a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders of 35+ countries. Ordinary passport holders of the these countries can enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days until December 31, 2025. Personnel of the above-mentioned countries who do not meet the visa-free conditions still need to apply for a visa to China before entering the country.

Eligible countries include several European nations — Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Russia. In Oceania, Australia and New Zealand are listed, while in Asia, Malaysia, South Korea, Brunei, and Japan are included.

(3) China Visa-free Transit - 54 Countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, Russia, Singapore...)

Now, China carried out 2 major transit visa exemption policies, including 24-Hour and 240-Hour visa-free transit.

*24-Hour Direct Visa-free Transit: it is valid for foreigners from any country with connecting (flight, cruise, train) tickets to a third country/region within 24 hours, and applies to any ports opened for foreigners. (Notes: Visitors can only stay inside the airport, for no more than 24 hours. Individual airport in China has own restrictions of nationality and stay period.)

*240-Hour Visa-free Transit: it is valid for citizens of appointed 54 countries to visa-free transit in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin, Chengdu, etc. Applicants must hold connecting transportation tickets to onward destinations within 240 hours. (Notes: Visitors can only enter from certain ports, and stay in specific administrative area as stated.)

Country List of the 54 Countries:

European Countries

a. European Countries under Schengen Visa Agreement: Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Monaco.

b. Other European Countries: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, and Belarus.

American Countries:

United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and the Republic of Chile.

Oceania Countries:

Australia and New Zealand.

Asia Countries:

South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

(4) 6-Day Visa-free Guilin Group Tour - 10 ASEAN Nations (Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand...)

Except the 240-Hour Visa-free Transit for transit passengers from 54 countries, Guilin also offers 144-Hour Visa-free Entry to group tourists from ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations). All group tour members have to enter and exit from Guilin Liangjian Airport, and stay in administrative area of Guilin for not exceeding 6 days. If you want to use this visa-free convenience, you should contact an authorized travel agency in China to arrange such a group tour.

10 ASEAN Member States: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam.

(5) 6-Day Visa-free Group Tour in Pearl River Delta - China's Diplomatic Countries

A. If you hold ordinary passport from any country that established diplomatic relationship with China, you can travel to the Pearl River Delta (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Huizhou) without a Chinese Visa, for no more than 6 days. Other requirements are : 1.) you already in Hong Kong or Macau; 2.) your trip is organized by a travel agency legally registered in Hong Kong or Macau.

B. The 6-Day visa-free rule still applies to above mentioned tour group, who enter and exit from Shantou, and only stay in administrative in Shantou.

(6) 30-Day Hainan Visa-free Entry - 59 Countries (US, Canada, Australia, Malaysia...)

Since May 1, 2018, citizens from 59 countries are visa exempted to travel to Hainan Island (Haikou, Sanya...) from any open ports in Hainan, for no more than 30 days. Meanwhile, they must report current travel information (including passport, round-trip tickets, hotel reservation and itinerary in Hainan) to a local travel agency 48 hours before arrival.

59 Hainan Visa-free Countries:

Europe (40 Countries): Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom;

America (6 countries): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile;

Asia (11 countries): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar;

Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand.

(7) 15-Day Visa-free Cruise Group Tour to Shanghai & China Coastal Areas - All Foreign Countries

Cruise ship visitors holding any foreign ordinary passport may visit Shanghai, Beijing and other coastal provincial-level cities for no more than 15 days.

The requirements includes:

1.) travel tour group with at least 2 members;

2.) enter from cruise terminals in Shanghai;

3.) organized and received by travel agency legally organized in China;

4.) the movement area is limited in specific regions, Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, Hainan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Liaoning, Shangdong.

(8) Holders of Special Documents - 21 APEC States & Aliens Residing in China

*APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Holders: the holders can enjoy multiple-entry business visit to (mainland) China for up to 60 days each entry during 5 years.

21 APEC Economies: Australia, Brunei, Chile, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, plus China, Hong Kong, Taiwan.

*Holders of People's Republic of China Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card & Residence Permit: the holders can enjoy multiple-entry business visit to (mainland) China for up to 60 days each entry.

With the two valid certificates, foreigners can stay in China, and enter & exit multiple times without applying a Chinese Visa. The Permanent ID Card means you are a permanent resident in China. If you've obtained China D/Z/J1/J2/S1/X1 Visa, you should apply for a Residence Permit from the local Public Security Bureau within 30 days upon arrival.

(10) Visa-free in China Border Area - Russia & Kazakhstan

*Residents of Amur Oblast, Russia can enjoy one day visa-free visit to Heihe in Heilongjiang Province, Northeastern China.

*Russians (with at least 2 members totally) can have 15-day visa-free visit to Suifenhe, Heilongjiang Province.

*Kazakhstan citizens can visit Tacheng of Xinjiang visa free for 3 days.

Who can Travel to Hong Kong without Visa？

Hong Kong provide visa waiver program for tourists and transit visitors from 170 foreign countries/regions, for a stay not exceeding permitted duration, from 7 days, 14 days, 30 days, 90 days and 180 days at most. That means, once your nationality is on the Visa-free list of Hong Kong, you can simply bring your passport, enter and stay in Hong Kong visa free within certain days.

Please note that, Indians need to make a pre-arrival registration to enjoy 14-days visa-free visiting in Hong Kong. Besides, if you visit Hong Kong for other purposes (like for business, work, study...), or want to stay longer than allowed time when travelling, a visa/entry permit is required before arrival. Does UK citizen need visa for Hong Kong? Find answers in the following list.

Hong Kong Visa-free Period:

Nationality	Visa-free Duration	Nationality	Visa-free Duration	Nationality	Visa-free Duration
Britain	180 days	U.S.A.	90 days	Australia	90 days
Canada	90 days	New Zealand	90 days	France	90 days
Germany	90 days	Malaysia	90 days	Philippines	14 days

Tips: We only list part of the Hong Kong visa free countries. You can check more details and guide information in Hong Kong SAR Visa.

Which Citizens Don't Need A Visa for Macau ?

Nationals from 79 countries (including U.S.A, UK, Australia, etc) are allowed to enter Macau SAR without applying a visa, if the visiting purpose is for travel or business. Under the visa exemption policy, foreigners may stay in Macau for 14 days, 90 days, 3 months, 6 months, and up to 1 year according to different identity.

Macau Visa-free Period:

Nationality	Visa-free Duration	Nationality	Visa-free Duration	Nationality	Visa-free Duration
Britain	6 months	U.S.A.	30 days	Australia	30 days
Canada	30 days	New Zealand	90 days	Singapore	30 days
India	30 days	Malaysia	30 days	Philippines	30 days

Tips: Visit the Macau SAR Visa to get more useful visa (entry permit) guide and instruction for your trip to Macau.

Travel China Visa Free with WeTrip

WeTrip is a professional and experienced travel companion who offers high-value and worry-free tours covering sightseeing, dining, transfer and hotel, etc. to Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Hangzhou and more available destinations if you meet relevant visa requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa to visit China in 2026?

It depends on your nationality. US, Canadian, Australian and British passport holders still need a visa for an ordinary tourist visit. China offers visa-free entry to citizens of 38+ countries, 240-hour visa-free transit for 57 countries, and 30-day visa exemptions for many European and Asian nations. Check our full visa guide for details specific to your passport.

How long does it take to get a Chinese visa?

Standard processing takes 4-5 business days at most Chinese embassies. Express service (2-3 days) and rush service (1 day) are available at higher fees. We recommend applying at least 2 weeks before your trip.

What documents do I need for a China tourist visa?

You need a valid passport (6+ months validity, 2 blank pages), the completed application form and a passport photo. If you apply in the United States, flight, hotel and itinerary documents have not been required for a tourist visa since 1 January 2024. Other consulates may still ask for a flight itinerary, hotel bookings and proof of financial means, so check the one you apply to.

Can WeTrip help with my China visa application?

We can’t issue invitation letters — for our own tour clients or anyone else — and most tourists do not need one. For travellers who book a tour with us, we provide a day-by-day itinerary and confirmed hotel and transport bookings for consulates that ask for them, plus step-by-step guidance through the application.