Ⅰ. Country-specific Visa Exemption

1. Mutual Visa Exemption

According to the bilateral treaties or agreements signed or reached between China and some foreign countries, citizens of these countries who meet certain requirements may enter China without visas. For specific information, please refer to the List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption Between China and Foreign Countries.

2. Unilateral Visa Exemption

For specific information, please refer to the FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China.

Ⅱ. Visa-Free Transit

1. 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit

All open exit-entry ports in China implement this policy for nationals of all other countries around the world. Foreigners transiting through China to third countries or regions may stay in China for no more than 24 hours without a visa, provided that they hold valid international travel documents and onward international flight/ship/train tickets with confirmed seats, and will not leave the restricted areas of ports. For any foreigner who does need to leave the designated restricted area, a temporary entry permit must be obtained first at the immigration inspection authority of the port concerned.

2. 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Currently, China is implementing this policy for nationals of 57 countries including Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Nationals of these countries, who need to transit through China to third countries or regions, may enter visa-free through any of the designated 65 open exit-entry ports in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and stay in the permitted areas for no more than 10 days, provided that they hold valid international travel documents and onward tickets with confirmed seats and departure dates. Foreign nationals covered by this policy may, within the designated areas, engage in activities like travel activities, business activities, visits, family reunions, etc., during their stay periods. Activities such as work, study, or news reporting still require prior approvals and appropriate visas.

(1) List of 57 Countries

Europe (40 countries): Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom

North America (2 countries): Canada, United States

South America (4 countries): Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico

Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand

Asia (9 countries): Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan

(2) Eligible Ports and Permitted Stay Areas

III. Regional Visa-Free Entry

1. 30-Day Visa-free Entry Policy for Foreign Nationals Entering Hainan Province

Foreign nationals holding ordinary passports from 61 countries may enter and stay within the administrative region of Hainan Province for a maximum of 30 days without a visa for short-term stays for purposes associated with tourism, business, visits, family visits, medical treatment, conferences and exhibitions, sports competitions, etc. The policy does not apply to those who intend to enter for working or studying. The exit-entry ports for the foreign nationals concerned include all the open ports in Hainan. The 61 countries are Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam.

2. Visa-Free Entry Policy for Foreign Tourist Groups Traveling by Cruise Ships

Any foreign tourist group consisting of two or more individuals, which is organized and received by a travel agency registered in China, may enter China without a visa by a cruise ship via one of the cruise ports in the following 13 cities: Beihai (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Dalian (Liaoning Province), Guangzhou (Guangdong Province), Haikou (Hainan Province), Lianyungang (Jiangsu Province), Qingdao (Shandong Province), Sanya (Hainan Province), Shanghai, Shenzhen (Guangdong Province), Tianjin, Wenzhou (Zhejiang Province), Xiamen (Fujian Province) and Zhoushan (Zhejiang Province). All eligible foreign tourist groups shall continue their journey to the following scheduled ports and depart China with the same cruise ship as scheduled. The tourists concerned may stay in Beijing and 11 coastal provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government (namely Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Zhejiang) for a maximum of 15 days.

3. Visa-Free Entry Policy for Tourist Groups Entering Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province from ASEAN Member States

Any tourist group (consisting of two or more individuals holding ordinary passports) from a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) may enter and exit China through Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway Port, and Mohan Highway Port visa-free, provided that the tourist group is organized and received by a travel agency registered in China. The tourists concerned shall enter and leave China as part of their tourist group, and can stay within the administrative region of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture for a maximum of 6 days.

4. Visa-Free Entry Policy for Tourist Groups Entering Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from ASEAN Member States 

Any tourist group (consisting of two or more individuals holding ordinary passports) from a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) may enter and exit China through the airport in Guilin visa-free, provided that the tourist group is organized and received by a travel agency registered in China. The tourists concerned shall enter and leave China as part of their tourist group, and can stay within the administrative region of Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region for a maximum of 6 days.

5. Visa-Free Entry Policy for Foreign Tourist Groups Traveling from Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs) to Guangdong Province 

Foreign nationals holding ordinary passports from countries with diplomatic relations with China may enter nine cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as Shantou, without a visa, provided that they will enter Hong Kong or Macao SAR first and then enter Guangdong Province as part of a tourist group organized by a travel agency registered in any of the two SARs. The foreign tourists in this case can stay for a maximum of 6 days in the following cities: Dongguan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Shantou, Shenzhen, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan and Zhuhai. The tourists concerned shall enter and exit the Chinese mainland as part of their tourist group via any of the exit-entry ports in these 10 cities.

6. Visa-Free Entry Policy for Foreign Tourist Groups Traveling from Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs) to Hainan Province

Foreign nationals holding ordinary passports from countries with diplomatic relations with China may enter Hainan Province without a visa, provided that they will enter Hong Kong or Macao SAR first and then enter Hainan Province as part of a tourist group organized by a travel agency registered in any of the two SARs. The tourists concerned shall enter and exit the Hainan Province as part of their tourist group via any of the exit-entry ports in Hainan and can stay for a maximum of 6 days.

The stay period specified in any of the aforementioned policies is calculated from 0:00 on the day after the day of entry. For the individuals who meet the requirements specified in the bilateral visa exemption agreements and the unilateral visa exemption policies of China, the relevant regulations shall prevail.

IV. Other Visa-Free Entry

1. Residence Permit Holders

Holders of valid Residence Permit for Foreigners may enter China without a visa.

Foreigners traveling to China for study, work, employment, family reunion and long-term family visits as well as resident foreign journalists must apply for a residence permit at the public security authorities after entering China. During the validity period of the residence permit, foreigners may reside in China and make multiple entries and exits without the need for a separate visa.

2. Permanent Residency

Holders of valid Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners may enter China without a visa.

3. APEC Business Travel Card Holders

Holders of valid APEC Business Travel Cards or APEC Virtual Cardholders may enter China without a visa.

V. Port Visa

According to the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, any foreign national seeking to enter China urgently for humanitarian reasons, having been invited to the country for urgent business or rush repair work, or for any other important reason, and holding materials that prove the competent department's consent on his/her application for a visa at a port, can apply for a port visa at a port visa authority authorized by the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as port visa authorities) at any of the ports designated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China for this purpose. Travel agencies organizing inbound tourism in accordance with relevant state regulations may apply at the port visa authorities for group visas.

Every foreign national applying at a port visa authority must submit a passport or any other international travel document together with the materials relevant to the purpose of the application, go through all procedures in accordance with the requirements of the port visa authority in charge, and enter China through the port where the application is made. Each visa issued by a port visa authority shall be valid for a single entry with a duration of stay that does not exceed 30 days.

For specific information, please refer to the FAQs About Port Visas and Other Related Issues.