Updated 2025-11-05
Travelers are often surprised to learn that a visa is not always required to visit mainland China. On top of the 240-hour transit program, there are three other routes worth knowing.
Unilateral visa-free entry (ordinary passports)
China unilaterally waives visas for ordinary passport holders from 43 countries — including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Greece, the Nordic countries, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brunei, and (from 1 June 2025) Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. Eligible travelers may enter for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit and stay up to 30 days without a visa. In late 2025 the arrangement was extended for many of these countries through 31 December 2026, and Sweden was added to the list.
Mutual visa-exemption agreements
Separately, China maintains full reciprocal visa-waiver agreements with a growing set of countries (around 27 as of early 2025), such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the UAE, Qatar, Serbia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Mauritius and the Maldives. Holders of ordinary passports can visit for short stays without a visa under these treaties.
Regional and group schemes
- Hainan: visa-free entry for 30 days for citizens of 59 countries, arriving through the island's open ports.
- Cruise tourists: foreign tour groups (2+) organized by a Chinese travel agency can enter visa-free at 13 cruise ports for up to 15 days.
- ASEAN groups in Yunnan & Guilin, and the Greater Bay Area: qualifying tour groups from ASEAN countries enjoy 6-day visa-free stays in designated areas.
Key reminders
- Visa-free does not cover work, study or journalism.
- Carry supporting documents (invitation letter, return ticket, hotel booking) even when no visa is required.
- The 30-day count starts the day after arrival and runs continuously.
These policies shift often. Before booking, confirm your nationality's current status with a Chinese embassy or consulate or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.