Which Entry Arrangement Applies to You?

The first step is to establish whether your passport qualifies for visa-free entry. If it does, you may not need to apply for a tourist visa at all.

Who Can Visit China Without a Visa?

China currently allows ordinary passport holders from 50 countries to enter mainland China without obtaining a visa in advance under its unilateral visa-exemption programme.

Eligible visitors can stay for up to 30 days per entry for approved purposes, including tourism, business, visiting family or friends, exchanges and transit.

Independent travellers qualify. You do not have to join an organised tour.

Eligible Countries — October 2026

This list covers China’s unilateral exemption programme. China also maintains mutual visa-waiver agreements with other countries, and those arrangements may provide different permitted lengths of stay or conditions.

How Long Can You Stay?

Under the unilateral programme, the permitted stay is 30 calendar days, calculated from the day after the date of entry.

For example, if you enter China on 1 November, your 30-day permitted stay is calculated beginning on 2 November.

Travellers must leave before their permitted stay expires unless they have obtained appropriate permission to remain longer.

Can You Enter More Than Once?

Yes. Under the published unilateral visa-exemption rules, eligible travellers may enter China multiple times. There is currently no general restriction on the number of entries or total days spent under that particular programme.

However, each entry remains subject to immigration approval, and travellers must not use visa-free visits for activities inconsistent with their declared purpose.

When Does the Policy Expire?

What Documents Do You Need?

Qualifying for visa-free entry does not mean entering China without immigration checks. Travellers must still satisfy the relevant entry requirements and may be asked to provide information about their visit.

• Valid Ordinary Passport: The passport must be valid for at least the intended period of stay under the unilateral visa exemption. Different visa and transit categories can have additional requirements.
• Purpose of Visit: Your visit must fall within an approved category, such as tourism, business, family visits or transit.
• Accommodation Details: Carry the name and address of your first hotel or other accommodation.
• Travel Arrangements: It is sensible to have your onward or return travel information available.
• Supporting Evidence: Immigration officials may ask for documents demonstrating the purpose of your visit.

The Chinese authorities recommend carrying relevant supporting documents, including accommodation reservations, travel bookings or invitation letters where appropriate.

Visa-free entry does not generally authorise employment, long-term study or other activities that require separate approval.

What Is China’s 240-Hour Transit Scheme?

China’s 240-hour visa-free transit scheme allows qualifying travellers to enter China for up to ten days while travelling to a third country or region.

The previous principal 72-hour and 144-hour transit arrangements were expanded to 240 hours in December 2024.

As of October 2026, the scheme covers 57 eligible countries and 65 designated entry ports across 24 provincial-level regions.

Eligible Nationalities

The Third-Country Requirement

One of the most important conditions is that you must be travelling through China to a third country or region.

Simply visiting China and returning to the same country or region from which you arrived does not satisfy the transit requirement.

These examples illustrate only the third-country rule. Travellers must also meet the nationality, passport, approved-port, onward-ticket and permitted-area requirements. Connections through additional countries or regions may affect eligibility.

Where Can You Enter?

The scheme currently covers 65 designated entry ports across 24 provincial-level regions. These include major entry points serving Beijing, Shanghai and other participating areas.

Not every airport, railway crossing or land border is included. Travellers must confirm that their specific arrival port is approved.

Movement within China is also limited to the areas permitted under the transit arrangement. The scheme should not be treated as unrestricted permission to travel throughout the country.

Documents Required

• Ordinary passport from an eligible country.
• Valid travel document meeting the applicable validity requirement, including at least three months’ validity under the published 240-hour scheme.
• Confirmed onward transportation to a third country or region.
• Onward ticket showing the departure date and itinerary within the permitted transit period.
• Any documents required for entry to the onward destination.
• Relevant arrival and temporary-entry information requested by Chinese immigration authorities.

The 240-hour period is calculated from 00:00 on the day following entry under the published transit rules.

Short Connections Through China

China also operates a separate 24-hour visa-free transit arrangement for travellers of all nationalities who meet the relevant conditions.

This is particularly useful for passengers connecting between international flights without entering mainland China for a longer visit.

• Travellers must hold valid international travel documents.
• Confirmed onward international transportation is required.
• The transit period must not exceed 24 hours.
• Travellers normally remain within the restricted transit area.

Travellers who wish to leave the restricted transit area must obtain temporary entry permission from the appropriate immigration authority.

Permission to leave the airport should never be assumed, even if the connection is less than 24 hours.

A Separate Regional Arrangement

Hainan Province operates a special visa-free entry programme covering ordinary passport holders from 61 countries.

Qualifying visitors may enter Hainan for up to 30 days for approved short-term purposes. However, the arrangement is limited to Hainan Province and does not automatically allow unrestricted travel elsewhere in mainland China.

Eligible Countries

Travellers must enter through an appropriate Hainan port and comply with the geographic and other conditions of this specific exemption.

Understanding China’s Port Visa System

China does issue visas at certain authorised ports of entry. These are officially known as port visas.

However, China’s port visa system is not equivalent to the general tourist visa-on-arrival schemes found in some other countries.

There is no published list of nationalities automatically entitled to obtain an ordinary Chinese tourist visa simply by arriving at an airport.

Who May Qualify?

Port visa applications may be considered in circumstances such as:

• Urgent humanitarian reasons, such as visiting a critically ill relative.
• Urgent business activities requiring entry at short notice.
• Urgent engineering or repair work.
• Other qualifying urgent circumstances supported by appropriate documentation and authorisation.
• Certain organised tourist groups covered by applicable group visa arrangements.

Port Visa Conditions

Who Needs a Visa?

Travellers who do not qualify for an exemption, who intend to stay beyond the permitted visa-free period, or who are entering for activities requiring a visa must obtain the appropriate visa before travelling.

China issues several different categories of visas according to the purpose and length of the visit.

Common Chinese Visa Categories

Some visa categories require additional documents, invitations, official approvals or residence formalities after entry.

The length of stay, number of permitted entries and validity period depend on the individual visa issued. Do not assume that every tourist visa grants the same number of days.

How to Apply for a Tourist Visa

1. Confirm the Need for a Visa: Check your passport nationality, intended travel dates and purpose of visit against the current exemptions.
2. Select the Correct Visa: For ordinary tourism, this will generally be an L visa if a visa is required.
3. Check the Official Application Process: Consult the Chinese embassy, consulate or authorised visa application centre responsible for applications in your country or place of residence.
4. Prepare Your Documents: These may include your passport, application form, photograph, travel itinerary and accommodation information.
5. Submit the Application: Follow the current official online and in-person procedures applicable to your location.
6. Pay the Applicable Fees: Visa charges and service fees depend on nationality, visa category and application location.
7. Check the Issued Visa: Verify the validity period, number of entries, permitted duration of stay and passport details before travelling.

Processing times and documentation requirements vary. Travellers should allow sufficient time and avoid relying on generic promises of a particular processing period.

Check Your Passport Before Travelling

Passport requirements depend on the entry arrangement being used.

Under China’s unilateral 30-day visa-free programme, an eligible traveller must hold a valid ordinary passport that remains valid for at least the intended period of stay.

Under the published 240-hour transit scheme, the traveller’s international travel document must have at least three months’ validity.

Visa applications can involve different passport validity requirements, so travellers who need a visa should follow the instructions applicable to that visa category.

Even when a shorter validity period is legally sufficient for a particular exemption, having at least six months remaining on your passport can help avoid complications involving airlines, onward destinations or other travel arrangements.

Travellers using emergency passports, temporary passports or other non-standard travel documents should check their eligibility carefully. They must not assume the ordinary passport exemption applies.

Arrival and Immigration Procedures

Arriving in China is generally straightforward when your documents are in order, although the exact procedures can vary by airport, port and individual circumstances.

Travellers should allow time for arrival documentation, immigration inspection, baggage collection and customs procedures.

Step-by-Step Arrival Process

1. Arrival Documentation: Complete the applicable foreigner arrival card unless you are exempt.
2. Biometric Checks: Follow any instructions concerning fingerprints, facial photographs or other immigration procedures.
3. Passport Control: Present your passport and visa, or your documents supporting the applicable visa-free entry arrangement.
4. Entry Questions: You may be asked about your accommodation, purpose of travel, intended length of stay and onward arrangements.
5. Entry Approval: Immigration authorities determine whether you meet the conditions for admission.
6. Baggage Collection: Collect checked luggage and proceed through customs.

China’s Online Arrival Card

Since November 2025, China has offered an official online arrival-card service for foreign visitors.

Eligible travellers who are required to complete an arrival card can submit the information online before travelling through the National Immigration Administration’s official platform.

Travellers who cannot complete the information in advance may use the facilities available at the port of entry. Paper arrival cards remain available.

Some categories of travellers, including qualifying direct-transit passengers who remain within restricted transit areas, are exempt from the arrival-card requirement.

Registering Where You Stay

Foreign visitors are required to comply with China’s accommodation registration rules.

If you stay in a hotel, the hotel is responsible for registering the accommodation information with the relevant public security authorities.

If you stay in private accommodation or another residence rather than a hotel, you or your host must generally complete the required accommodation registration within 24 hours of arrival at that address.

Since September 2026, China has introduced nationwide online accommodation registration for foreigners staying in non-hotel accommodation. The online service is available through official National Immigration Administration channels.

Visitors staying with friends or relatives should not assume that an ordinary accommodation booking or invitation automatically fulfils this requirement.

Different Immigration Arrangements

Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Regions with immigration arrangements separate from mainland China.

This is important when planning journeys that combine Hong Kong, Macau and mainland destinations such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Shanghai.

Permission to enter Hong Kong does not automatically provide permission to enter mainland China. The same principle applies to Macau.

Travellers must check the separate entry requirements applicable to each destination.

Leaving and Re-Entering Mainland China

Travelling from mainland China to Hong Kong or Macau generally involves leaving mainland immigration jurisdiction.

If you then return to mainland China, you will normally undergo a new mainland entry process and must qualify for entry again.

Travellers using a single-entry visa should take particular care when planning these journeys. Returning to mainland China may require a new visa or eligibility under a separate visa-free arrangement.

Additional Travel Requirements

Foreign visitors planning to travel into the Tibet Autonomous Region must understand that additional travel permits and restrictions apply.

These are separate from the ordinary Chinese visa or visa-free entry arrangements.

Foreign travellers generally need to arrange the required Tibet entry permit through an authorised specialist travel agency and follow the applicable organised travel arrangements.

It is also important to distinguish the Tibet Autonomous Region from Tibetan cultural areas elsewhere in China.

For example, Shangri-La in Yunnan Province is part of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Travelling there is not the same as entering the Tibet Autonomous Region.

What If You Need More Time?

Visitors must leave China before their authorised period of stay expires unless they obtain appropriate permission to remain longer.

Travellers who know in advance that their intended stay exceeds the applicable visa-free limit should apply for an appropriate visa before travelling.

If an unexpected situation arises after entry, a visitor may be able to apply for a stay permit through the relevant local exit-entry administration authority, provided there are sufficient supporting reasons.

Approval is not automatic.

Possible Consequences of Overstaying

Overstaying can lead to penalties and may affect future entry to China.

• Administrative fines or other penalties.
• Immigration enquiries or additional procedures.
• Possible restrictions affecting future entry.
• More serious consequences in significant cases.

Keep track of your authorised departure date and allow sufficient time for any necessary administrative procedures.

Before You Travel

• Confirm the nationality and type of passport you will use.
• Check whether you qualify for visa-free entry.
• If using visa-free transit, verify the complete route, entry port and permitted travel area.
• Check passport validity against your particular entry arrangement.
• Apply for the appropriate Chinese visa if required.
• Check your onward or return travel arrangements.
• Keep your accommodation details accessible.
• Complete the official arrival card if required.
• Check whether any additional permits are needed for your destination.
• Confirm separate entry requirements for Hong Kong or Macau where applicable.
• Know the final date of your permitted stay.

Where to Verify Current Entry Rules

China’s visa and entry policies can change. Always use official government sources to confirm the rules applicable to your passport and travel arrangements.