Do you need a visa for China?
China opened up faster than most guidebooks have caught up with. In 2026 there are three separate ways to enter without a visa, and whether you qualify depends on your passport — not on where you are flying from.
This page walks through the decision in the order a traveller actually faces it: what passport you hold, how long you want to stay, and where you are going.
The 30-second version
- Holding a passport from one of 50 countries (most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Canada and more) — you can stay up to 30 days with no visa, anywhere in China.
- Flying somewhere else via China with a confirmed onward ticket — you may use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit, even if your passport is not on the 30-day list.
- Only visiting Hainan island — 61 countries (88 including other agreements) can enter Hainan visa-free for 30 days.
- None of the above — you need a visa from a Chinese embassy or visa centre before you fly.
Step 1: check your passport, not your departure city
Visa-free entry follows nationality. Two people on the same flight from Frankfurt can have completely different answers depending on whether they hold German or Indian passports.
Use the checker on this site: type your country and you get a plain-English answer plus the exact date the policy currently runs to.
If your passport is not listed at all, assume you need a visa. The list is published by China’s National Immigration Administration and changes several times a year.
Step 2: check how long you are staying
| Length of stay | What usually applies |
|---|---|
| Up to 24 hours, staying inside the airport | 24-hour transit exemption at all open ports — no visa needed |
| Up to 10 days, onward to a third country | 240-hour visa-free transit (A → China → B itinerary required) |
| Up to 30 days, passport on the visa-free list | 30-day visa-free entry, nationwide |
| Up to 30 days, Hainan only | Hainan visa-free entry |
| More than 30 days, or work or study | A visa is required |
Step 3: check the calendar
The 30-day visa-free policy for 48 of the 50 countries currently runs until 31 December 2026. Russia runs until 31 December 2027 and Brunei has no end date.
That does not mean the policy will disappear on 1 January 2027 — it has been extended before — but a trip in 2027 should not be booked on the assumption it will still be there. Check again before you book.
What you still need at the border
- A passport valid for the length of your stay (six months’ validity is a common airline requirement, even where the policy itself only asks for validity during the trip).
- A return or onward ticket, and the address of your first hotel.
- For transit: a confirmed onward ticket to a third country, with dates.
- A reason that matches the policy — tourism, business meetings, visiting family, transit. Not work, study or reporting.
Visa-free does not mean guaranteed entry
Visa-free entry removes the visa application, not the border check. The officer still decides whether to admit you, and can refuse entry if your purpose of travel does not match the policy or your documents do not support your story.
In practice this is rare for ordinary tourists with a return ticket and a hotel booking. It becomes a real risk when someone arrives with a one-way ticket, no address, or an explanation that sounds like work.
Frequently asked
Can I enter China without a visa right now?+
If your passport is issued by one of the 50 visa-free countries, yes — for up to 30 days, anywhere in China, until at least 31 December 2026 (Russia until 31 December 2027, Brunei with no end date). Otherwise check whether the 240-hour transit or Hainan policy fits your trip.
Do I need a visa if I am only changing planes in China?+
If you stay inside the international transit area and do not pass immigration, no. If you want to leave the airport, you need either the 24-hour transit exemption (stay inside the port area) or the 240-hour visa-free transit with an onward ticket to a third country.
Is there a visa on arrival for China?+
There is no general visa-on-arrival scheme for tourists. China relies on visa-free entry, transit exemptions and visas issued in advance. A small number of special administrative arrangements exist, but they do not apply to ordinary leisure travellers.
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
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.
Hainan visa-free entry: 30 days on the island
Hainan is visa-free for 61 countries (88 counting other agreements) for up to 30 days. The catch: you cannot continue to mainland China on this policy.
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.