China is visa-free for 40+ countries in 2026. Here is how it actually works
Most European travelers, plus visitors from the UK, Canada, Australia and more, can now enter China for 30 days without a visa. The rules, the fine print, and the transit option for everyone else.
The single biggest change in China travel over the last few years has nothing to do with apps or payments. It is that for a long list of countries, the visa itself disappeared. No forms, no embassy appointment, no fee. You book a flight, you fly, you get a stamp for up to 30 days.
China has been extending and widening this unilateral visa-free policy since late 2023, and it currently runs through December 31, 2026. Here is what it covers and where the edges are.
Who is on the 30-day list
The list now covers more than 40 countries with ordinary passports. Broadly: most of Europe, including Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and, since February 2026, the United Kingdom. Canada joined at the same time. Australia and New Zealand are in, alongside Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, several Gulf states, and a group of South American countries including Brazil, Argentina and Chile.
Lists shift, and getting this wrong ruins a trip, so check the current official list from China’s National Immigration Administration before you book. It takes one minute.
What the 30 days cover
- Tourism, visiting family and friends, business meetings, cultural exchange, and transit.
- Up to 30 days per entry, counted from the day after arrival.
- Ordinary passports only. Diplomatic and service passports follow separate agreements.
- No fee, no pre-registration. You fill in the standard arrival card on the plane or at the border.
What it does not cover: working, studying, or journalism. For those you still need the appropriate visa.
Not on the list? The 240-hour transit rule
Travelers from a further group of countries, most notably the United States, can use visa-free transit instead: up to 240 hours, which is ten days, when arriving in China and continuing on to a different country or region. Hong Kong counts as a different region, which makes a one-way routing like home to Beijing to Hong Kong a perfectly valid way to see China without a visa. You need a confirmed onward ticket, and entry is limited to designated ports, which include all the major international airports.
The fine print worth knowing
- The current policy is announced through December 31, 2026. It has been extended before, but build your plans on the published end date.
- Have at least six months of validity left on your passport. It is the standard expectation at check-in.
- Airlines sometimes ask for proof of onward travel. Having a return or onward booking ready avoids check-in debates.
- Hotels register your stay with the police automatically. If you stay in a private home instead, you are supposed to register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival.
- The 30 days are per entry. Leaving and re-entering restarts the clock, but immigration officers can ask questions if it looks like you are living in China on tourist entries.
What this means for planning
30 days is generous. It comfortably fits the classic first-timer route of Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and a coastal stop like Xiamen, with slack for slow days. If you are starting from zero, my first-time China tips covers the on-the-ground basics, and the two things to sort before flying are payments and your apps.