China visa-free entry: which route is actually yours
China runs several different entry routes at once, each with its own country list and its own expiry date. Picking the wrong one is the only mistake on this site that can end your trip at the departure gate.
- 240-hour transit — 57 countries
- Unilateral visa-free — 50 countries
- Several routes expire 31 December 2026
Visa-free entry rules change faster than any other part of China travel planning. Several current arrangements expire on 31 December 2026. Treat everything on this page as accurate as of the date above, then confirm against the official source linked at the bottom before you buy tickets.
Sixty-second check: which route is yours
| If this is you | Route | Key condition |
|---|---|---|
| Your passport is on the 57-country list, and you are flying onward to a different country | 240-hour transit | You enter from one country and leave to a third. A round trip does not count. |
| Your passport is on the 50-country unilateral list and you want a normal visit | Unilateral visa-free | Tourism, business, visiting family, or transit up to 30 days. Expires 31 Dec 2026 for most. |
| You only want to visit Hainan | Hainan 30 days | Enter and stay within Hainan province only. |
| Everyone else, or stays longer than the limits | Regular visa | Apply at the embassy or consulate before travelling. |
240-hour visa-free transit — 57 countries
The broadest and most useful route for most travelers. It gives you up to 10 days and allows cross-province travel within the permitted areas of 24 provincial-level regions, entering through any of 65 open ports.
You must hold an onward ticket with a confirmed seat and date to a third country or region. London → Shanghai → London is not a transit. London → Shanghai → Tokyo is.
Tourism, business, visiting family, and reunions are all permitted. Work, study, and news reporting still require the appropriate visa in advance.
Europe — 40 countries
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway.
Americas — 6 countries
United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.
Oceania — 2 countries
Australia, New Zealand.
Asia — 9 countries
Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam.
Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added on 20 August 2026.
Unilateral visa-free — 50 countries
This route does not require an onward ticket to a third country. It covers tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit for stays of up to 30 days.
The current unilateral arrangements run until 31 December 2026 for most covered nationalities. Russia is extended to 31 December 2027, and Brunei has no stated end date. Canada and the United Kingdom were added on 17 February 2026 under this route. These policies have been renewed repeatedly, but do not assume they will be — check before booking travel for 2027.
The list has been expanded several times and now covers around 50 nationalities, concentrated in Europe, plus a smaller group across Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Because the list changes frequently, confirm your nationality against the official National Immigration Administration notice rather than relying on any third-party summary — including this one.
Hainan 30 days — 61 countries
If Hainan is your whole trip, this is the simplest route: enter through an open Hainan port and stay up to 30 days within Hainan province. No onward third-country ticket needed.
The restriction is real, though — you cannot use it to enter Hainan and then travel to Beijing or Shanghai on the same exemption.
Coverage
Europe (40): Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Belarus. Americas (6): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile. Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand. Asia (13): Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan.
The mistakes that get people refused
1. Booking a round trip and claiming transit
The single most common error. A return ticket to your origin country is a round trip, not a transit. Airlines catch this at check-in, before you even reach Chinese immigration.
2. Assuming 240 hours means 10 clear days
The clock starts the day after entry. Miss the deadline and you are overstaying, which affects future applications.
3. Leaving the permitted area
The 240-hour route covers 24 provincial-level regions. Cross-province travel is allowed inside that area, but not outside it.
4. Assuming last year's rules still apply
Several routes expire on 31 December 2026. Anyone booking 2027 travel on today's rules is guessing.
5. Arriving without proof of accommodation
Border officers can ask where you are staying. Have the first night's booking available offline.
6. Working on a visa-free entry
Work, study, and journalism all require a proper visa. Business meetings and site visits are fine; paid work is not.
What to have ready at the border
- Passport valid for the duration of your stay, with blank pages.
- Onward ticket with confirmed seat and date, if you are using the transit route.
- Accommodation details for at least your first night, saved offline.
- Return or onward travel plan that matches the route you are claiming.
- Offline copies of everything — do not rely on pulling up a booking email on airport Wi-Fi.
One practical note that catches people out: once you are in, almost everything runs through a phone. Getting payment working before you land is the next job — see the payment setup guide, or just run the QR test.
Official sources
Always confirm against the primary source before booking. This page reflects the position published by the National Immigration Administration as of 20 August 2026.
- National Immigration Administration — transit visa-free policy
- Shanghai municipal government — 240-hour policy in English
We are an independent traveler resource and not a government or consular authority. For a decision on your own case, contact the Chinese embassy or consulate that covers your area.