The 30-day visa-free policy runs to 31 December 2026
Every visa-free policy has an end date in the official text, and China’s 30-day scheme is currently written to run until 31 December 2026 for 48 of the 50 countries covered.
Travellers reasonably ask whether that means the door closes on 1 January 2027. The honest answer is: nobody has announced yet, and you should plan accordingly.
The dates, as published
| Group | Current end date |
|---|---|
| 48 countries on the 30-day scheme | 31 December 2026 |
| Russia | 31 December 2027 |
| Brunei | No end date |
| 240-hour transit scheme | No published end date |
| Hainan scheme | No published end date |
What the end date actually means
It is the end of the current policy period, not a scheduled cancellation. China has extended this policy repeatedly, and the list of countries has grown rather than shrunk.
But an end date is still an end date. If the policy lapses without an extension, travellers from those 48 countries would need a visa for entry on or after 1 January 2027.
How to plan around it
- Travel in 2026: book normally. The policy is in force now.
- Travel in early 2027: do not assume. Re-check in December 2026 — this site tracks the date and flags changes.
- Travel in late 2027: plan for the possibility of a visa, especially if your trip is expensive or hard to move.
- If your passport is from Russia or Brunei, your window runs longer.
What happens if the policy is extended
Extensions have historically been announced close to the expiry date and take effect without any action from travellers. New bookings are unaffected; existing tickets remain valid.
The practical risk is not a mid-trip change — it is booking a non-refundable 2027 trip in 2026 on the assumption that nothing will change.
Frequently asked
Will China extend visa-free entry beyond 2026?+
No announcement had been made as of October 2026. The policy has been extended before, and the list of countries has expanded, but travellers should not treat an extension as guaranteed.
If I enter in December 2026, can I stay into January 2027?+
The policy governs entry, and your permitted stay is recorded at the border. A 30-day stay that begins in December can run into January. If you are entering close to the deadline, confirm your permitted stay when you clear immigration.
Do the transit and Hainan schemes expire too?+
They do not carry the same published 31 December 2026 end date. They can still be adjusted at any time, which is why re-checking before booking is worthwhile.
Check your own passport
The guides explain the rules. The checker applies them to your nationality and shows the exact date your policy runs to.
Visa rules by nationality
The 30-day visa-free policy covers 18+ of these nationalities. Pick yours:
Read next
Do you need a visa for China?
Short answer: most travellers from Europe, Australia, Japan, Korea and Brazil do not need a visa for a trip of up to 30 days in 2026. Here is how to check in under a minute.
Which countries can enter China visa-free in 2026?
The full 2026 list: 50 countries with 30-day visa-free entry, 57 countries eligible for 240-hour transit, and 61 countries for Hainan. Check your passport against all three.
China’s 240-hour visa-free transit, explained
Ten days in China without a visa, if your itinerary is A → China → B. Here are the exact rules on tickets, ports, stay areas and what counts as transit.
This guide is compiled from publications by China’s National Immigration Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese visa application centres. Entry decisions rest with the border inspection authority. Confirm your own case with your airline and the nearest Chinese embassy before booking.