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Which countries can enter China visa-free?

Reviewed by China Travel Prep editorial teamReviewed Aug 13, 2026

Check the official facts your entry path depends on

Use your passport category, stay length, and onward route to open the relevant official rule and document checklist. This is not an eligibility decision.

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The 30-day visa-free list: 50 countries

The NIA list, compiled from Ministry of Foreign Affairs releases as of 2026-02-17, covers ordinary-passport holders of:

Europe (35): Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Oceania (2): Australia and New Zealand.
Asia (7): Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, the Republic of Korea, and Saudi Arabia.
Americas (6): Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay.

Eligible purposes are business, tourism, visits to relatives and friends, exchange visits, and transit, for stays of up to 30 days. The stay is counted from 00:00 on the day following the date of entry.

The 240-hour transit list: 55 countries

The transit policy is a separate rule with its own conditions: a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, entry through one of the 65 designated ports, a stay within the permitted areas of no more than 10 days, and no work, study, or news reporting without the appropriate visa.

Europe (40): Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
North America (2): Canada and the United States.
South America (4): Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico.
Oceania (2): Australia and New Zealand.
Asia (7): Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.

A country on the transit list is not automatically on the 30-day list—the United States is one example. Treat the two lists as separate policies.

Confirm your exact case before relying on a list

Passport and purpose: confirm your ordinary-passport country appears on the current official list and that your purpose fits the policy (business, tourism, family visits, exchange, or transit).
Stay length: the 30-day exemption does not extend beyond 30 days, and the transit stay is capped at 10 days inside the permitted areas.
Route and ports: for transit, verify the exact entry port, permitted area, and onward destination against the current NIA port material. For the 30-day list, confirm the policy is still in force on your travel dates.
Documents: keep the travel document, onward arrangements where required, and accommodation details consistent with the policy you rely on.

Check the 240-hour transit route against the official conditions Review which identity document to carry in China

Limits and sources

Both country lists and the stay rules are time-sensitive. The NIA compilation for the 30-day list is dated 2026-02-17; re-open the linked official pages before booking or travel.
The immigration inspection authority at the port of entry makes the final admission decision. This page is a reference summary, not legal advice, an eligibility decision, or an entry guarantee.

Countries can be added or removed and policy dates extended or ended by official notice. Never present a saved copy of this page as current proof.

Common questions

Is the United States on China's visa-free list?

It is on the 240-hour transit list, not the 30-day unilateral exemption list. A US ordinary-passport holder may use visa-free transit only under the transit policy's exact route, port, stay-area, onward-ticket, and timing conditions.

Does the 30-day exemption cover every travel purpose?

No. The official list describes business, tourism, visits to relatives and friends, exchange visits, and transit. Work, study, news reporting, and longer stays still require the appropriate visa or permit.

How are the 30 days counted?

The NIA states the stay is calculated from 00:00 on the day following the date of entry, up to 30 days. Confirm the current wording on the official page for your travel dates.

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