China has implemented a series of visa-free policies to streamline travel for foreign nationals visiting the country. These policies include transit visa-free arrangements, mutual visa exemption agreements, unilateral visa-free policy, regional visa-free entry policies. Below is an overview of the key visa-free policies available for foreign nationals entering China.
1. Visa-free transit polices
(1) 24-hour visa-free transit policy
China has implemented a 24-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals from all other countries around the world at all its accessible exit-entry ports.
Foreign nationals holding valid international travel documents and connecting tickets with confirmed seats, who intend to transit via China by international flights, ships, or trains to third countries or regions, are exempt from visa applications, provided that their stay periods in China will not exceed 24 hours and that they will remain within the corresponding ports. Those who plan to leave the ports must apply for temporary entry permits at the exit-entry border inspection authorities of the corresponding ports.
(2) 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit policy
Currently, 41 exit-entry ports (Please see the attached pictures below) in 19 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government of China have implemented the 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals from 54 countries.
54 countries: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, lreland, ltaly, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
2. Mutual Visa Exemption Agreements
China has established over 150 mutual visa exemption agreements with foreign countries, fostering closer ties and facilitating international travel.
Click here to explore the full list of countries with mutual visa exemption agreements here.
Click here to Explore details on frequently asked questions about visa-free entry to China under mutual visa exemption agreements.
3. Visa-Free Entry
China's visa-free entry policies vary from country to country. Here are the latest details regarding eligible passport categories, duration of stay, and effective dates for visa-free visits.
No |
Country |
Eligible passport categories |
Stay limits for visa-free stay |
Visa-free policy effective date |
1 |
Brunei |
Ordinary passport holders for business, tourism, family visits, exchange visits, or transit |
30 days |
Effective as of July 26, 2023 |
2 |
France |
Valid until Dec 31, 2025 |
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3 |
Germany |
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4 |
Italy |
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5 |
The Netherlands |
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6 |
Spain |
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7 |
Switzerland |
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8 |
Ireland |
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9 |
Hungary |
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10 |
Austria |
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11 |
Belgium |
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12 |
Luxembourg |
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13 |
Malaysia |
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14 |
New Zealand |
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15 |
Australia |
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16 |
Poland |
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17 |
Portugal |
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18 |
Greece |
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19 |
Cyprus |
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20 |
Slovenia |
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21 |
Slovakia |
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22 |
Norway |
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23 |
Finland |
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24 |
Denmark |
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25 |
Iceland |
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26 |
Andorra |
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27 |
Monaco |
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28 |
Liechtenstein |
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29 |
The Republic of Korea |
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30 |
Bulgaria |
Valid from Nov 30, 2024, to Dec 31, 2025 |
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31 |
Romania |
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32 |
Croatia |
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33 |
Montenegro |
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34 |
North Macedonia |
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35 |
Malta |
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36 |
Estonia |
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37 |
Latvia |
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38 |
Japan |
4. Regional Visa-Free Entry Policies
The major regional visa-free entry policies for foreign nationals in China are as follows.
Regional Visa-Free Entry Policies for Foreign Nationals
5. Persons who do not need a visa
(1) Foreigners holding valid Chinese permanent residence permits
(2) Foreigners holding valid residence permits
(3) Foreigners holding APEC business travel cards (including Virtual ABTC)
The APEC business travel card is a reciprocal multilateral visa arrangement made by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to facilitate trade and investment in this region. The card makes commercial travel for business people from the organization's various economies more convenient.
Source: National Immigration Administration; the English website of Shanghai government; the China Consular Service Website; the Official WeChat account of the Hunan Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese
Updated on Nov. 28, 2024