Visa requirements
Do you need a visa for China?
Look up China visa requirements, visa-free entry, and the 240-hour transit exemption by passport country. We cover a select list for now, with more added over time; each page shows exactly when it was last checked against an official source.
Based on your location
All countries
- AustraliaVisa-free, up to 30 days
- AustriaVisa-free, up to 30 days
- BangladeshVisa required
- BelgiumVisa-free, up to 30 days
- BrazilVisa-free, up to 30 days
- CambodiaVisa required
- CanadaVisa-free, up to 30 days
- Czech RepublicVisa required
- DenmarkVisa-free, up to 30 days
- EgyptVisa required
- FinlandVisa-free, up to 30 days
- FranceVisa-free, up to 30 days
- GermanyVisa-free, up to 30 days
- GreeceVisa-free, up to 30 days
- HungaryVisa-free, up to 30 days
- IndiaVisa required
- IndonesiaVisa required
- IranVisa required
- IrelandVisa-free, up to 30 days
- ItalyVisa-free, up to 30 days
- JapanVisa-free, up to 30 days
- KazakhstanVisa-free, up to 30 days
- LaosVisa required
- MalaysiaVisa-free, up to 30 days
- MexicoVisa required
- MongoliaVisa required
- MyanmarVisa required
- NepalVisa required
- NetherlandsVisa-free, up to 30 days
- New ZealandVisa-free, up to 30 days
- NorwayVisa-free, up to 30 days
- PakistanVisa required
- PhilippinesVisa required
- PolandVisa-free, up to 30 days
- PortugalVisa-free, up to 30 days
- RomaniaVisa-free, up to 30 days
- RussiaVisa-free, up to 30 days
- SingaporeVisa-free, up to 30 days
- SlovakiaVisa-free, up to 30 days
- South AfricaVisa required
- South KoreaVisa-free, up to 30 days
- SpainVisa-free, up to 30 days
- Sri LankaVisa required
- SwedenVisa-free, up to 30 days
- SwitzerlandVisa-free, up to 30 days
- ThailandVisa-free, up to 30 days
- TurkeyVisa required
- UkraineVisa required
- United KingdomVisa-free, up to 30 days
- VietnamVisa required
Need a visa? See how to apply from the US, with documents and photo rules.
Countries with visa-free access to China
31 countries on this list currently qualify for visa-free or visa-free transit entry; tap one for the exact stay length and conditions.
Frequently asked questions
China’s unilateral exemption policy currently covers around 50 countries for stays of up to 30 days, plus several more through separate bilateral mutual-exemption treaties. Coverage changes over time, so check your specific country above.
Travelers from many countries can transit through China visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) at designated ports, provided they hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region and don’t leave the transit area. This is separate from the full 30-day exemption and available to more nationalities.
It depends entirely on your passport country: some nationalities get 30 days visa-free, some qualify only for the 240-hour transit exemption, and others need a visa for any stay. There’s no single answer, so look up your own passport country above.
Most tourist visas (L visas) are applied for online or at a Chinese Visa Application Service Center in your country, with a passport valid 6+ months beyond entry, a recent photo, and proof of travel plans (flights, accommodation). Processing is typically 4 to 10 working days.
Policy changes without notice, and this covers a limited set of countries. Always confirm with your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate before booking flights.