China visa-free entry 2026: who qualifies, and how the 30 days are counted
Fifty countries can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days. The rules are simple — but the counting method and the end date catch people out.
Which passports qualify
Ordinary passport holders from 50 countries may enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit.
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| Europe (35) | Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom |
| Asia (7) | Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia |
| Americas (6) | Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, Uruguay |
| Oceania (2) | Australia, New Zealand |
Not on the list: the United States, India, the Philippines, South Africa and most of Africa. Those passports normally need a visa — but the 240-hour transit rule covers many of them.
How the 30 days are actually counted
This is the detail most guides get wrong. The clock does not start on the day you land.
- Your day 1 is 00:00 on the day after entry.
- You get 30 calendar days from there — not "one month".
- Arrive 5 November → day 1 is 6 November → you must leave by 24:00 on 5 December.
Never book a flight on what you think is "the last day" without counting. Overstaying is fined per day and can affect future entries.
What the officer will check
- Ordinary passport only. Emergency or temporary travel documents do not qualify, even from a listed country.
- A ticket out of China within 30 days. This is checked, and it is the most common reason people get pulled aside.
- Where you are staying. A hotel registers you automatically. If you stay with friends or in an Airbnb, you must register yourself — see accommodation registration.
- Purpose. Tourism, business, visiting family, exchange, or transit. Work, study and reporting need a proper visa.
- Children follow the same rules, each on their own passport.
Can I extend it inside China?
No. The visa-free entry cannot be extended, and leaving for Hong Kong or a neighbouring country does not restart the counter. If you need more than 30 days, apply for an L (tourist) or M (business) visa before you travel.
The passport checks that matter more than the visa
- Six months of validity is the widely applied rule — carry more if you can.
- One passport, one person. Do not book a family under one name.
- Keep a printed copy of your exit ticket. Phone batteries die; screenshots help.
Source: National Immigration Administration, List of Countries Covered by Unilateral Visa Exemption Policies (compiled 17 February 2026). Policy end dates and any extension are announced separately — treat your own country's embassy notice as the one that counts.
Once you're through the border
The first hour in China has its own trap: phone shops take cash but you need data to pay by phone. The cards walk you through it in the order it happens.
See the cards