Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries can enter China visa-free in 2026?
Fifty countries hold unilateral visa-free entry: 35 European, 7 Asian (Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain), 6 Americas (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Canada) and 2 Oceanian (New Zealand, Australia). Ordinary passport holders may enter without a visa for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit of up to 30 days.
How long does the visa-free policy last?
Most of the 50 national policies run through December 31, 2026 — the extension was confirmed in the visa service centers' notice of August 26, 2026. Three exceptions: Brunei has no expiry date on its policy, Russia is extended to December 31, 2027, and Sweden's current window runs November 10, 2025 to December 31, 2026. Extensions have been the pattern — check before each trip.
Can I extend my 30-day visa-free stay inside China?
No — the unilateral visa-free entry covers stays of up to 30 days and is not designed for extension. If you need longer, apply for a proper visa (L tourist, M business, etc.) at a Chinese embassy or consulate before travel. Overstaying a visa-free entry is treated like any overstay: fines of RMB 500 per day up to RMB 10,000, and possible detention or ban.
Is this the same as the 240-hour visa-free transit?
No — they are separate policies. The 30-day visa-free entry above starts the moment you enter China from anywhere. The 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit instead requires you to be continuing to a third country through one of 65 designated ports and stay within a defined area — and it now covers 57 nationalities, including countries not on the 50-nation list. Many travelers qualify for both and pick per itinerary.
Do I still register my accommodation on visa-free entry?
Yes — visa-free entry changes nothing about the 24-hour accommodation rule. Hotels register you automatically; for stays anywhere else you or your host must register within 24 hours, which you can now do online nationwide through the "NIA 12367" app or s.nia.gov.cn.
What documents do I show at immigration for visa-free entry?
A passport valid for the duration of the stay, plus — in practice — onward or return tickets and proof of accommodation or itinerary, since officers may ask about the trip's purpose. Visa-free entry covers business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit; work, study and journalistic activities still require a visa arranged in advance.
Quick Summary: Fifty nationalities enter China without a visa for up to 30 days — most policies extended through December 31, 2026. Here is the full list, the three countries on special clocks, what the entry covers, and how it differs from 240-hour visa-free transit.
Expiry dates move: China has repeatedly extended these unilateral policies in six-month or one-year steps. This page tracks the current windows (most to Dec 31, 2026) per the official notices linked at the bottom — always re-check close to booking, and remember the policy applies to ordinary passports only.
The 50 visa-free countries, by region
Eligibility: ordinary passport holders entering for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit of up to 30 days. Countries marked with * are on special validity clocks (see the table below).
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| Europe (35) | France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Russia*, Sweden, United Kingdom |
| Asia (7) | Brunei*, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain |
| Americas (6) | Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Canada |
| Oceania (2) | New Zealand, Australia |
Special validity clocks
| Country | Visa-free window |
|---|---|
| Most of the 50 (incl. Sweden) | through December 31, 2026 |
| Russia* | through December 31, 2027 (separately extended) |
| Brunei* | no expiry date on the policy |
What the 30-day visa-free entry covers — and what it doesn’t
- Covers: business activities, tourism, visiting family or friends, exchanges and visits, and transit of no more than 30 days. No invitation letter is required at entry for tourism, but officers may ask for tickets and accommodation proof.
- Does not cover: work, study, journalistic assignments or any activity requiring prior approval — those need a visa before travel. It is also not a residence route: no local driver’s license conversions, bank products or long stays ride on it.
- Counting the 30 days: the stamp you receive on entry sets the “enter before / permitted to stay until” dates — check it at the counter. Day 1 is the day you enter.
On arrival, the standard entry flow applies: file the arrival card online in advance or fill the paper card, clear passport control, and register your accommodation within 24 hours unless a hotel does it for you.
Visa-free entry vs 240-hour visa-free transit
Travelers often mix up two overlapping policies:
- Unilateral visa-free entry (this page): 50 nationalities, enter from anywhere for up to 30 days, no onward-ticket requirement.
- 240-hour visa-free transit: 57 nationalities (a superset — it includes countries like the United States that are not on the 50 list), arriving via 65 designated ports with an onward ticket to a third country, staying within defined provincial areas for up to 10 days.
If your nationality is on the 50-list, the 30-day entry is almost always the better tool. If it isn’t — US, India, and others — the transit rule is the one that matters. Full mechanics, port lists and area maps live in the 240-hour transit visa-free hub.
Source & verification
- China Visa Application Service Center — 关于延长单方面免签政策的通知 (Notice on Extending the Unilateral Visa-Free Policy), 2026-08-26: visaforchina.cn
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — 单方面免签政策常见问题解答 (FAQ on Unilateral Visa-Free Policy, updated June 2026) and press conference remarks on the Russia extension to 2027-12-31
- National Immigration Administration — unilateral visa-free country grouping (Europe 35 / Asia 7 / Americas 6 / Oceania 2) as of 2026-02-17: nia.gov.cn
Last verified: 2026-09-24. Country list and validity windows are transcribed from the official notices above; policies extend on rolling announcements — the notices prevail over this page if they change.