Navigating China’s visa policies is an essential step for foreign visitors planning to travel, study, work, or conduct business in the country. China offers various visa categories tailored to different purposes, including tourism, business, student programs, and work opportunities. Understanding the application process, required documents, and specific regulations for each visa type is crucial for a smooth entry into China.
Mutual Visa Exemption Policy
Asia: UAE, Qatar, Armenia, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Singapore, Georgia.(8)
Europe: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, San Marino.(5)
Americas: Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Ecuador, Suriname.(7)
Africa: Seychelles, Mauritius.(2)
Oceania: Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands[Dec 28, 2024](3)
Visitors who holds ordinary passports of the above-mentioned 25 countries can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transiting for no more than 30 days per entry, and up to 90 days for multi-entries every 180 days. For those who plan to stay longer or visit for other purposes, you may still need to apply for a proper visa. For further information, please visit China Consular Affairs official website. [updated on 11/11/2024]
Reference:
- List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption Between the People’s Republic of China and Foreign Countries
- China and the Solomon Islands signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for citizens holding ordinary passports
- The Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Mutual Visa Exemption will soon enter into force
- The China-Georgia Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption will soon come into force
30-days Unilateral Visa-free Policy to Dec 31, 2025
38 countries: Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, 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 [updated on 22/11/2024]
[Effective 30/11/2024] In order to further facilitate the exchange of people between China and foreign countries, China has decided to expand the scope of visa-free countries and implement a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders of Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia and Japan on a trial basis from November 30, 2024 to December 31, 2025. “In addition, the Chinese side has also decided to further optimize the visa-free policy, include exchange visits as a reason for visa-free entry, and extend the visa-free stay period from the current 15 days to 30 days.” Lin Jian said that from November 30, 2024, ordinary passport holders from 38 visa-exempt countries, including the above nine countries, can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchange visits, and transit for no more than 30 days.[Reference: https://www.mfa.gov.cn/wjbzwfwpt/kzx/tzgg/202411/t20241122_11531285.html]
[Effective 08/11/2024] In order to further promote people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries, China has decided to expand the scope of visa-free countries and implement a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from 9 countries, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and South Korea on a trial basis. From November 8, 2024 to December 31, 2025, holders of ordinary passports from the above-mentioned countries can enter China visa-free for business, tourism, family and friends and transit for no more than 15 days. Those who do not meet the conditions for visa exemption still need to apply for a visa to China before entering the country.[Reference: https://www.mfa.gov.cn/wjbzwfwpt/kzx/tzgg/202411/t20241101_11520010.html]
[Effective 15/10/2024] In order to further promote people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries, China has decided to expand the scope of visa-free countries and implement a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from 4 countries, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Slovenia on a trial basis. During the period from October 15, 2024 to December 31, 2025, holders of ordinary passports from the above-mentioned countries can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transiting through the border for no more than 15 days.[Reference: https://www.mfa.gov.cn/wjbzwfwpt/kzx/tzgg/202409/t20240930_11501298.html]
[Effective 01/07/2024] In order to further promote people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries, China has decided to implement a visa-free policy for holders of ordinary passports from 3 countries: New Zealand, Australia and Poland. During the period from July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025, holders of ordinary passports from the above-mentioned countries can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transiting for no more than 15 days. Those from the above-mentioned countries who do not meet the conditions for visa exemption still need to apply for a visa to China before entering the country.[Reference: https://www.mfa.gov.cn/wjbzwfwpt/kzx/tzgg/202406/t20240625_11441137.html]
[Effective 07/05/2024] In order to further promote people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries, China has decided to extend the visa-free policy for 12 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, until December 31, 2025. Holders of ordinary passports from the above-mentioned countries can enter China without a visa for business, sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends, and transiting through the border for no more than 15 days.[Reference: https://www.mfa.gov.cn/wjbzwfwpt/kzx/tzgg/202405/t20240508_11300950.html]
[Effective 14/03/2024] Starting from March 14, 2024, China implemented a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from six countries: Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg. According to the relevant arrangement, from March 14 to November 30, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from six countries, including Switzerland, can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family and friends and transit for no more than 15 days. Those from the above-mentioned countries who do not meet the conditions for visa exemption still need to apply for a visa to China before entering the country.[Reference: https://www.mfa.gov.cn/wjbzwfwpt/kzx/tzgg/202403/t20240307_11255438.html]
[Effective 01/12/2023] In order to further promote people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries, and serve high-quality development and high-level opening-up, China has decided to expand the scope of unilateral visa-free countries on a trial basis, and to implement a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from six countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. From December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from the above-mentioned countries can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family and friends and transit for no more than 15 days.[Reference: https://www.mfa.gov.cn/wjbzwfwpt/kzx/tzgg/202311/t20231124_11186388.html]
24/240-hours Transit Visa-free Policy
All ports open to the outside world in China implement a 24-hour visa-free transit policy for people from all over the world. Foreigners holding valid international travel documents and connecting tickets with reserved seats on an aircraft, ship or train for international voyages transiting through China to a third country or region, staying in China for no more than 24 hours without leaving the port, may be exempted from applying for a visa; If you need to leave the port, you should apply to the exit/entry border inspection authority at the port for a temporary entry permit.
At present, 60 ports located in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) are open to 54 countries for a 240-hour visa-free transit policy. Nationals of the following 54 countries may apply for transit visa exemption to the port exit and entry border inspection authorities of cities where China has implemented the transit visa-free policy with valid international travel documents and connecting tickets with a fixed date and seat within a limited time, and the visa-free stay period shall be calculated from 0:00 on the next day of entry.[updated on 17/12/2024]
54 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway, United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar[updated on 11/11/2024]
For more details, please refer to Complete Guide to Visa-Free Transit in China.
Reference: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/jiedu/tujie/202407/content_6963327.htm
Other Visa-free Policies
Foreign tour groups coming to China on cruise ships can enter China visa-free from May 15, 2024
From May 15, 2024, foreign tour groups (2 or more) who take a cruise ship and are received by a domestic travel agency can enter the country without a visa for the whole group from the cruise ports of 13 cities, including Tianjin, Dalian, Liaoning, Shanghai, Lianyungang in Jiangsu, Wenzhou and Zhoushan in Zhejiang, Xiamen in Fujian, Qingdao in Shandong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong, Beihai in Guangzhou, Haikou and Sanya in Hainan. The tour group must go to the next port with the same cruise ship until the cruise leaves the country, and the scope of activities is coastal provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) and Beijing. At the same time, in order to support the development of cruise tourism, it was decided to add seven cruise ports in Dalian, Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beihai and other places to be applicable to China’s transit visa-free policy, so as to facilitate foreign passengers who meet the conditions of China’s transit visa-free policy to take cruise ships.[Reference: https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202405/content_6951060.htm]
Foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao will be exempt from 144-hour visa-free entry to Hainan from July 30, 2024
From 30 July 2024, a 144-hour visa-free entry policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao will be implemented. Citizens of countries that have diplomatic relations with China can stay in Hainan without a visa for up to 144 hours after arriving in Hong Kong and Macao with ordinary passports and entering Hainan in a group (2 or more people) organized by a travel agency legally registered in Hong Kong or Macao (in accordance with the provisions of the Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement signed with China or other visa-free policies of the Chinese government). The entry and exit ports are all open ports set up by the state in Hainan Province, which must enter and exit the whole group, and the scope of activities is the administrative region of Hainan Province, and the stay time is calculated from 0:00 on the next day of entry.[Reference: https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202407/content_6965265.htm]
Announcement on the Expansion of the Visa-free Entry into Hainan for Persons from Certain Countries
Since Feb 9, 2024, Russia, Great Britain, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, United States, Canada, Nationals from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Monaco, Belarus and other countries can enter Hainan visa-free for a stay of no more than 30 days for business, trade, visits, family visits, medical treatment, exhibitions, sports competitions and other needs (except for work and study reasons). The entry and exit ports are all open ports set up by the state in Hainan Province, and the scope of activities is the administrative area of Hainan Province (in accordance with the provisions of the mutual visa exemption agreement signed with China), and the calculation time of stay is calculated from 0:00 on the next day of entry. The previously implemented policy of 30-day visa-free entry into Hainan for tourists from the above-mentioned countries will continue to be effective.[Reference: https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202402/content_6931091.htm]
More Policies
(1) Holders of valid APEC business travel cards. The APEC Business Travel Card is equivalent to a 5-year multiple-entry visa, and cardholders can enter China multiple times during the validity period of the travel card with the travel card and a valid passport consistent with the card, with each stay ranging from 60 days to 90 days.
(2) Foreigners holding ordinary passports of countries that have diplomatic relations with China and are already in Hong Kong or Macao and enter the Pearl River Delta region of Guangdong Province (referring to the administrative regions under the jurisdiction of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing and Huizhou) through a travel agency legally registered in Hong Kong or Macao for a stay of no more than 6 days are exempted from applying for a visa. The above-mentioned groups traveling to Shantou shall also apply to the above-mentioned groups if they leave Shantou directly and the scope of their activities does not exceed the administrative area of Shantou.
(3) Citizens of the following countries holding ordinary passports who travel to Hainan Province in groups (more than 5 people) with the approval of the China National Tourism Administration and for a stay of no more than 15 days can be exempted from visas: the United States, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Japan, Singapore. Among them, the group of South Korea, Germany and Russia has more than 2 people (including 2 people) and can stay for 21 days.
(4) Citizens of Singapore, Brunei and Japan holding ordinary passports who come to Chinese mainland for tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting for no more than 15 days may be exempted from visa when entering China from ports open to foreigners.
(5) From May 28, 2015, tour groups (2 or more) from 10 ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines) can stay in the administrative area of Guilin City without a visa for no more than 6 days if they are organized and received by a tourism agency that has been approved by the tourism department of Guilin City, Guangxi.[Reference: https://bmfw.www.gov.cn/zcdwpt/index.html#/detail?id=2078]
Reference Link: https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c156126/content.html
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