China Visa-Free Entry: 50 Countries, 30 Days

Conditions

• Ordinary (not diplomatic or service) passport valid for the whole stay
• Stay of no more than 30 days per entry
• Purpose within the listed categories — work, study and journalism still require a visa
• China Digital Arrival Card completed before entry
• Registration of accommodation with the local police within 24 hours (hotels do this automatically)

The 50 countries

Grouped by region, with the date each country joined the scheme where an announcement date is on record.

Permanent mutual exemptions

Separately from the unilateral trial, China has permanent mutual visa-exemption agreements for ordinary passports with 29 countries; stays are typically 30 days, in some cases 60 or 90.

Albania · Antigua and Barbuda · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Bahamas · Barbados · Belarus · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Dominica · Ecuador · Fiji · Georgia · Grenada · Kazakhstan · Malaysia · Maldives · Mauritius · Qatar · Samoa · San Marino · Serbia · Seychelles · Singapore · Solomon Islands · Suriname · Thailand · Tonga · United Arab Emirates · Uzbekistan

Hainan

Hainan province admits ordinary-passport holders from 59 countries for up to 30 days without a visa for tourism, business, family visits, medical treatment, exhibitions and sports, provided they enter and stay within Hainan.

Before you travel

Visa-free travellers still complete the Digital Arrival Card before departure. Anyone not on the list should check the 240-hour transit scheme or the visa types.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. China Visa-Free Travel — A Complete Guide (policy table by country) — China Briefing (Dezan Shira & Associates) (retrieved 6 September 2026)
2. China extends visa-free policy for Russia until 31 December 2027 — Interfax, reporting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (retrieved 6 September 2026)
3. Visa-free entry to China extended through 2026 — Newland Chase (retrieved 6 September 2026)