China Visa-free Policy

China has granted a 30-day visa-free entry for British and Canadian passport holders. The date of implementation is from Feb 17 to Dec 31, 2026.

China has extended the 30-day visa free policy for most countries covered by the policy previously like Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland ... to December 31, 2026.

China becomes more and more generous in allowing visa-free travel within its territory. Citizens of Australia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland and more have been eligible for 30-day visa-free travel policy successively. By now, the allowed nationalities who can travel to China without a visa have been increased to 77. Hopefully, we conjecture that the policy will be adopted among more and more foreign citizens.

The Independent State of Samoa

30 days for each entry; 90 days each calendar year

30 days for each entry; 90 days every 180 days

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.

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.

The policy is only valid within mainland China. If you also plan to travel to Hong Kong and Macau, please check the

If you are not from the visa-free countries, there is the supplementary 240-hour visa-free transit for 55 countries to avoid visa application. You can fly from country/region A to 24 provinces, regions and municipalities of China, travel around here for up to 240 hours, and then leave for country/region B. In this case, Hong Kong and Macau are considered as third regions.

There are some more visa-free policies for specific travel areas and nationalities:

How to Travel to China without a Visa

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 30 days. When does this 30-day start and end?

It starts from your arrival date and ends at 24:00 of the 30th 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. While for nationals from Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Thailand, the allowed total days in China within a certain timeframe are limited as listed in the chart above.

- Last updated on Jul. 14, 2026 by Brenda Lian -