Official sourcesChina visa & visa-freeOfficial sources
When something matters — a flight, a hotel, an immigration officer — you should be able to check it against the government that issued it. These are the agencies whose announcements YouChina cites for visa and visa-free guidance.
Government & policy sources
Visa-free policy & announcements
- 240小时过境免签 — stay period calculation start timeEmbassy of the People's Republic of China in Canada (content sourced from the National Immigration Administration) · Official text: "不超过240小时，自入境次日零时起算，不得超时限停留。" — the 240-hour stay period is calculated from 0:00 (midnight) on the day after entry, not from the moment of immigration clearance. Same wording confirmed on the Chinese Consulate-General in Montreal FAQ page (https://montreal.china-consulate.gov.cn/zjfw/lszj/fhqz/cjwd2/202505/t20250530_11637915.htm). · Reviewed 2026-07-10
- China expands 240-hour visa-free transit policyThe State Council of the People's Republic of China · Reviewed 2026-05-18
- Visa-free entry to China — eligible nationalities (latest update)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China · Use this as a hub. Specific country lists update frequently; cite the announcement page each time. · Reviewed 2026-05-18
- Frequently Asked Questions on Visa-free Entry into China (Updated February, 2026)Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America · Official FAQ lists ordinary-passport visa-free countries, permitted purposes, 30-day calculation, non-eligible purposes, and document guidance. Re-check before publishing full country lists. · Reviewed 2026-06-06
- National Immigration Administration of China — entry & exit policy hubNational Immigration Administration (国家移民管理局) · Chinese-language hub (zh, not en). English unilateral visa-free country list is at nia-visa-free-unilateral-countries-en. English transit notice is at nia-240h-transit-65-ports-2025. · Reviewed 2026-05-22
- NIA — Unilateral visa-free countries and regions (English)National Immigration Administration (国家移民管理局) · NIA English page listing countries granted unilateral 30-day visa-free access. Fisher web-verified 2026-06-08. Use as deep-page source for 30-day unilateral visa-free content. Country list updates; confirm page date before citing specific country names. · Reviewed 2026-06-08
- National Immigration Administration notice — 240-hour transit expanded to 65 portsNational Immigration Administration (国家移民管理局) · Official NIA notice says the 240-hour visa-free transit policy covers 65 ports in 24 provincial-level regions from 2025-11-05; verify the current port/stay-area list before travel. · Reviewed 2026-06-06
- Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors — Article 59 (alcohol/tobacco sales to minors)National People's Congress of China (全国人大) · Article 59 prohibits selling alcohol or tobacco to minors (under 18) and requires ID checks when age is unclear; also bars smoking/drinking in venues where minors congregate. Establishes 18 as the operative national age threshold; venue-level ID-check enforcement varies. · Reviewed 2026-07-10
- China travel advice — local laws and customsUK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) · Official UK travel guidance. Flags that online services including VPNs are subject to Chinese cybersecurity licensing law, and points to drone-regulation detail on the safety-and-security page. · Reviewed 2026-07-10
- China travel advice — safety and security (drones, photography, sensitive areas)UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) · States drone import, possession and use are strictly regulated and advises contacting the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) before arrival. Also flags heightened scrutiny for photography near military or sensitive sites. · Reviewed 2026-07-10
- State Council General Office notice on 2026 public holiday arrangements (国务院办公厅关于2026年部分节假日安排的通知)General Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China · Official 2026 holiday calendar, published 2025-11-04: New Year Jan 1-3, Spring Festival Feb 15-23 (9 days), Qingming Apr 4-6, Labor Day May 1-5, Dragon Boat Jun 19-21, Mid-Autumn Sep 25-27, National Day Oct 1-7 (7 days). Covers 2026 only — re-check yearly. · Reviewed 2026-07-10
Visa application channels
Policies can change without notice. Verify with the Chinese embassy in your country and your airline before booking. Some links open external sites in a new tab.