YouChina
2026 Updated

China visa & visa-freeEntry guide 2026

China currently operates a 30-day visa-free entry scheme for ordinary passport holders from an eligible country list, for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, or transit. Eligibility depends on your specific nationality, purpose, and length of stay — always confirm with the official sources linked below before booking. Longer stays or work and study still require a visa.

Check policy pathOfficial sources

How to check your eligibility

1. Check your nationality
Eligible country list

See the latest official visa-free announcement linked below.

2. Check your purpose
Tourism, business, family or transit

Work, study, journalism, or long stays need a visa.

3. Check your stay length
Up to 30 days

Longer stays need an L visa.

4. 240-hour transit
Separate scheme

Confirmed onward ticket to a third country required.

When you need a visa

LTourist visa

Stays over 30 days, or when visa-free does not apply

30–90 days
MBusiness visa

Extended commercial activities or invitation-based visits

30–90 days
X1/X2Student visa

Long-term study or short-term language courses

180+ days / less
ZWork visa

Employment with a Chinese company

Per permit

4 steps if a visa is required

  1. 1

    Check visa-free eligibility first

    Verify your ordinary passport, stay length, and purpose meet the 30-day visa-free requirements.

  2. 2

    Choose the correct visa type

    Tourism over 30 days: L; business: M; study: X; work: Z.

  3. 3

    Prepare documents

    Passport, application form, photo, flight tickets, hotel booking, and invitation letter as required.

  4. 4

    Apply via official channels

    Check the Chinese visa application service centre or embassy for current fees, appointment slots, and processing times.

30-day visa-free vs 240-hour transit

The 30-day visa-free scheme applies to ordinary passport holders of eligible countries for short-stay visits to China.


The 240-hour transit scheme is a separate arrangement for itineraries passing through China en route to a third country. It requires an eligible nationality, an authorised port, a confirmed onward ticket, and staying within designated zones.


Policies can change — always check with the Chinese embassy, visa centre, and your airline before booking.

Official sources

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

It depends on your nationality, purpose, and length of stay. If your ordinary passport is on the current eligible country list and your stay is 30 days or less for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, or transit, the visa-free scheme may apply. Otherwise an L (tourist), M (business), X (study), or Z (work) visa applies. Verify on the official sources linked below.

When your trip qualifies under the visa-free scheme, no visa application fee is charged by Chinese authorities. Confirm your eligibility against the official list linked below before relying on this.

Travellers transiting through China to a third country with a confirmed onward ticket, holding an eligible nationality and entering through an authorised port, may qualify. Conditions and ports change — verify on the National Immigration Administration source linked below.

Treatment can vary by port and airline. Confirm with your airline and the official transit policy before booking.

Airlines and immigration commonly require at least 6 months remaining validity on entry. Check your airline’s rules and the destination requirements before booking.

Source notes — what official guides say

These notes paraphrase what Chinese government or visa-center guides currently state. They are reference notes, not guarantees — check the linked source before acting.

  • Official source

    CVASC Paris and Madrid pages both describe a process that starts with choosing the country or visa center and completing an online application form, followed by appointment booking or document submission according to the local center rules. Treat this as a process-shape note, not a replacement for each country or center checklist.

    Applies to: CVASC application flow examples from Paris and Madrid; local requirements vary by country/center

    Checked 2026-05-26

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Sources

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