China Visa-free Policy
Update: China announced on November 22, 2024, that a 30-day visa-free policy will be implemented for citizens of nine additional countries, namely Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Estonia, Montenegro, Malta, North Macedonia, Latvia and Japan which will take effect from November 30, 2024.What more, China also will extend visa-free stay period from current 15 days to 30 days from Nov. 30, 2024 for citizens of 38 countries which have been granted 15-day visa-free entry since November of 2024.
China becomes more and more generous in allowing visa-free travel within its territory. The visa-free duration of stay for 38 countries has been extended from 15 days to 30 days. Since last year, citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, News Zealand, Australia and Poland have been eligible for 15-day visa-free travel policy successively. By now, the allowed nationalities who can travel to China without a visa have been increased to 63. Hopefully, we conjecture that the policy will be adopted among more and more foreign citizens.
Who are eligible for China visa-free policy?
Oceania
| Nationality | Duration of Stay |
|---|---|
| Australia | 30 days |
| Fiji | 30 days |
| New Zealand | 30 days |
| Tonga | 30 days |
Europe
| Nationality | Duration of Stay |
|---|---|
| Albania | 30 days |
| Andorra | 30 days |
| Austria | 30 days |
| Belarus | 30 days for each entry; 90 days each calendar year |
| Belgium | 30 days |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 90 days every 180 days |
| Bulgaria | 30 days |
| Croatia | 30 days |
| Cyprus | 30 days |
| Denmark | 30 days |
| Estonia | 30 days |
| France | 30 days |
| Finland | 30 days |
| Germany | 30 days |
| Greece | 30 days |
| Hungary | 30 days |
| Iceland | 30 days |
| Ireland | 30 days |
| Italy | 30 days |
| Latvia | 30 days |
| Liechtenstein | 30 days |
| Luxembourg | 30 days |
| Malta | 30 days |
| Monaco | 30 days |
| Montenegro | 30 days |
| North Macedonia | 30 days |
| Norway | 30 days |
| Netherlands | 30 days |
| Poland | 30 days |
| Portugal | 30 days |
| Romania | 30 days |
| San Marino | 3 months |
| Serbia | 30 days |
| Slovakia | 30 days |
| Slovenia | 30 days |
| Spain | 30 days |
| Switzerland | 30 days |
Asia
| Nationality | Duration of Stay |
|---|---|
| Armenia | 90 days every 180 days |
| Azerbaijan | 30 days for tour groups |
| Brunei | 30 days |
| Gerogia | 30 days |
| Japan | 30 days |
| Kazakhstan | 30 days for each entry; 90 days every 180 days |
| Maldives | 30 days |
| Malaysia | 30 days |
| Qatar | 30 days |
| Singapore | 30 days |
| South Korea | 30 days |
| Thailand | 30 days for each entry; 90 days every 180 days |
| UAE | 30 days |
The Americas
| Nationality | Duration of Stay |
|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | 30 days |
| Barbados | 30 days |
| Dominica | 30 days |
| Grenada | 30 days |
| Ecuador | 30 days |
| Surinam | 30 days |
| The Bahamas | 30 days |
Africa
| Nationality | Duration of Stay |
|---|---|
| Mauritius | 30 days |
| Seychelles | 30 days |
Recommended Tours
Tips for Using China Visa-free Policy
1. Passport holders of above countries should travel to China for the purposes of sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends, doing business and connecting flights. Those coming here to study, work, reside, or do media report and interview should apply for a visa in advance.
2. If your planned duration of stay is longer than the allowed, you also need to apply for a visa in advance.
3. The validity of the passport should be long enough to cover one’s stay in China. In some cases, it requires that the passport should be valid for at least 3 months or even longer. Other travel certificates or ID certificates are not recognized.
4. There is no “overstayed” or “refused” stamps on your passport.
5. The policy is only valid within mainland China. If you also plan to travel to Hong Kong and Macau, please check the Hong Kong Visa Policy and Macau Visa Policy.
What other documents do I need to show to the immigration staff in addition to my passport? 
It is advised you also bring an invitation letter, hotel order(s) in China, outbound ticket from China, or other documents proving your travel purpose(s) in China.
In addition to flying, can I enter China by other transport? Principally, you can enter China by air, train, ship, bus or any other transport via any port.
Based on China visa-free policy, my allowed duration of stay is 15 days. When does this 15-day start and end? It starts from your arrival date and ends at 24:00 of the 15th day.
What if I need to stay longer than the allowed after entry? After entering China, if you have to stay longer than the allowed duration of stay, go to local Entry and Exit Administration Office to apply for a temporary stay permit.
Can I use this policy for multiple times? Is there any limitation on number of visa exemptions, interval between two entries, and total length of stays? For most visitors listed above, there is no limitation on the number of exemptions, interval between two entries and total duration of stay. That means one can leave China on the expiration day and reenter right after to activate a new duration of stay.
This is not applicable to passport holders of Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who can stay for at most 90 days every 180 days without a visa; while Byelorussians can stay for at most 90 days each calendar year.
I’m not from the visa-free countries. Is there any other way I can travel to China without a visa? The easiest way is to take advantage of 144-hour visa-free transit. You can fly from country/region A to China, travel around here for up to 144 hours, and then leave for country/region B. In this case, Hong Kong and Macau are considered as third regions. But only citizens of 54 countries are eligible currently. 
See details: China 144-hour Visa-free Transit
There are some more visa-free policies, but with more restrictions on travel documents, travel areas, arrival transport means and more. See details: How to Travel to China without a Visa
FAQs on China Visa-free Policy
What other documents do I need to show to the immigration staff in addition to my passport? It is advised you also bring an invitation letter, hotel order(s) in China, outbound ticket from China, or other documents proving your travel purpose(s) in China. In addition to flying, can I enter China by other transport? Principally, you can enter China by air, train, ship, bus or any other transport via any port. Based on China visa-free policy, my allowed duration of stay is 15 days. When does this 15-day start and end? It starts from your arrival date and ends at 24:00 of the 15th day. What if I need to stay longer than the allowed after entry? After entering China, if you have to stay longer than the allowed duration of stay, go to local Entry and Exit Administration Office to apply for a temporary stay permit. Can I use this policy for multiple times? Is there any limitation on number of visa exemptions, interval between two entries, and total length of stays? For most visitors listed above, there is no limitation on the number of exemptions, interval between two entries and total duration of stay. That means one can leave China on the expiration day and reenter right after to activate a new duration of stay. This is not applicable to passport holders of Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who can stay for at most 90 days every 180 days without a visa; while Byelorussians can stay for at most 90 days each calendar year.
I’m not from the visa-free countries. Is there any other way I can travel to China without a visa? The easiest way is to take advantage of 144-hour visa-free transit. You can fly from country/region A to China, travel around here for up to 144 hours, and then leave for country/region B. In this case, Hong Kong and Macau are considered as third regions. But only citizens of 54 countries are eligible currently. See details: China 144-hour Visa-free TransitThere are some more visa-free policies, but with more restrictions on travel documents, travel areas, arrival transport means and more.
See details: How to Travel to China without a Visa - Last updated on Nov. 25, 2024 by Gabby Li -