China entry rules
Do you need a visa for China?
Check your passport against China’s visa-free, mutual-exemption and 240-hour transit rules, and against Hong Kong’s and Macao’s own entry rules. Every answer shows how long you can stay, when the rule ends and the official notice it comes from.
Last updated· checked against official notices
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Which rule applies, how long you can stay, when the rule ends, the key conditions and the official notice it comes from.
Named cities only in these provinces
- Shanxi: Taiyuan and Datong only source
- Heilongjiang: Harbin only source
- Jiangxi: Nanchang and Jingdezhen only source
- Guangxi: 12 cities: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi, Laibin source
- Sichuan: 11 cities: Chengdu, Deyang, Leshan, Luzhou, Meishan, Neijiang, Suining, Ya'an, Yibin, Zigong, Ziyang source
- Yunnan: 9 cities and prefectures: Kunming, Lijiang, Yuxi, Pu'er, Chuxiong, Dali, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, Wenshan source
- Foreign nationals on visa-free transit may travel across provinces within the permitted areas of the 24 provinces. nia.gov.cn
- The visa-free stay is counted from 00:00 on the day after the day of entry. en.nia.gov.cn
Use the arrow keys to move between countries in alphabetical order and Enter to open one.
- No visa-free entry listed
- China (destination)
Other entry routes
Separate schemes with their own conditions, not covered by the checker above.
Hainan: 30 days visa-free for 61 countries
Ordinary-passport holders from 61 listed countries may enter through any open port in Hainan and stay up to 30 days within Hainan Province, for short stays such as tourism, business, visits, family visits, medical treatment, conferences and exhibitions or sports competitions. Not for work or study.
Cruise tour groups: 15 days
A foreign tour group of two or more people, organised and received by a travel agency registered in China, may arrive by cruise ship at a cruise port in one of 13 cities. The group continues to the scheduled ports and leaves China on the same ship, and may stay up to 15 days in Beijing and 11 coastal provinces.
ASEAN tour groups into Guilin: 6 days
A tour group of two or more people from an ASEAN member state, all holding ordinary passports and organised and received by a travel agency registered in China, may enter and leave through the airport in Guilin. The group enters and leaves together and may stay up to 6 days within Guilin.
ASEAN tour groups into Xishuangbanna: 6 days
A tour group of two or more people from an ASEAN member state, all holding ordinary passports and organised and received by a travel agency registered in China, may enter and leave through Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport or the Mohan railway and highway ports. The group enters and leaves together and may stay up to 6 days within Xishuangbanna.
Foreign tour groups from Hong Kong or Macao into Guangdong: 6 days
Ordinary-passport holders from countries with diplomatic relations with China who first enter Hong Kong or Macao may join a tour group organised by a travel agency registered in either SAR and visit Dongguan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Shantou, Shenzhen, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan and Zhuhai for up to 6 days, entering and leaving with the group through ports in these cities.
Foreign tour groups from Hong Kong or Macao into Hainan: 6 days
Ordinary-passport holders from countries with diplomatic relations with China who first enter Hong Kong or Macao may join a tour group organised by a travel agency registered in either SAR, enter Hainan and stay up to 6 days, entering and leaving with the group through ports in Hainan.
This checker is a planning aid, not legal advice. Rules change, and airlines and border officers make the final decision at check-in and on arrival. Before you fly, read the official notice linked on your answer.
Common questions about China visa-free entry
How many countries qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit?
57 countries. Ordinary passports from 57 countries, including the United States, qualify under the National Immigration Administration (NIA) announcement of 20 August 2026, which added Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam. It is a separate list from the 50-country 30-day waiver.
Is a US passport eligible?
For 240-hour transit, yes: the United States is on the 57-country list. For the 30-day unilateral visa-free waiver, no: the United States is not on its 50-country list. A US traveller enters on transit, which means a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region.
What is the difference between 240-hour transit and 30-day visa-free?
240-hour transit is for 57 passports, lasts up to 10 days, stays inside 24 permitted areas and needs a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. The 30-day waiver is for 50 passports, covers the whole mainland for up to 30 days per entry and needs no onward ticket. If you qualify for both, the 30-day waiver is the simpler entry.
Which ports can I use for 240-hour transit?
There are 65 designated entry ports in 24 provincial-level regions. Check that your entry port is on the NIA list before you book: if it is not, 240-hour transit does not apply at that crossing.
What documents do I need to show?
A passport from an eligible country valid for at least three months, a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region with your name, seat and date, proof of accommodation, a printed or offline copy of the official policy, and an arrival card if your port uses one.
Does an onward ticket to Hong Kong or Macao count?
Usually, yes. Hong Kong and Macao are commonly treated as separate regions under the “third country or region” wording, but no official page we have found states it outright, so confirm your routing with the airline or the port before you book. A ticket back to the place you came from does not count.
Related tools and guides
- Arrival card prepPrepare your China arrival card answers before you fly.
- AI trip plannerDescribe your trip and get a first draft route.
- 240-hour transit guideRules, ports, the 10-day clock and the documents to carry.
- 30-day visa-free guideThe 50-country unilateral list, and how it differs from transit.