Can I Visit China Without a Visa?
Who can use China's 30-day visa-free entry, how 240-hour transit works, and what to do if the airline won't let you board.
Short answer
Citizens of more than 40 countries, including most of Europe, the UK, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, can visit mainland China for up to 30 days without a visa. That policy currently runs until 31 December 2026. If your country isn't on that list (the US isn't), you may still qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit, which allows up to 10 days if you fly in from one country and on to a different one.
- Topic
- 签证 Visa & entry
- Reading time
- 4 min
- Last checked
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China has two separate ways to visit without a visa. Which one you can use depends on your passport and your route.
30-day visa-free entry
If your passport is on the list, you can stay in mainland China for up to 30 days for tourism, business, visiting family or friends, exchanges or transit. You don’t need to apply for anything in advance. You show your passport at immigration.
The list covers more than 40 countries. In Europe it includes France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Portugal, Greece and the UK, among others. In Latin America it includes Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. Mexico, Colombia and the United States are not on it.
The current period ends on 31 December 2026. Countries have been added and the end date has been pushed back several times, but nothing about 2027 had been announced when this guide was last checked.
The 30 days apply to mainland China only. Hong Kong and Macao have their own entry rules.
240-hour visa-free transit
This works for citizens of 57 countries, including the US, Mexico and most of Europe. You can spend up to 240 hours, or 10 days, in China as long as you arrive from one country and leave for a different one.
What you need:
- A passport from an eligible country
- A confirmed onward ticket, dated within the 10 days, to a third country or region
- Arrival through one of the 65 ports that take part, which include the main airports in Beijing and Shanghai
Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as third regions. So New York to Shanghai to Hong Kong works, and so does London to Beijing to Seoul. New York to Shanghai to New York does not. Neither does Tokyo to Shanghai to Tokyo, even if your trip started somewhere else.
The clock starts at midnight after the day you arrive. If you land at 1 pm on 20 April, your 240 hours begin at 00:00 on 21 April. You can travel between the provinces covered by the policy, but not everywhere in China, so check that the cities you plan to visit are included.
At immigration you go to the lane for visa-free transit, show your passport and onward ticket, and an officer stamps you in.
If the airline won’t let you board
This happens more often than it should. Check-in staff outside Asia aren’t always familiar with the transit rules, and some airline systems flag passengers flying to China without a visa. There are reports from travelers flying from the US of being told at the counter that the policy doesn’t apply to them, even with a valid onward ticket.
To avoid it:
- Print your onward booking and keep it with your passport.
- Save the official National Immigration Administration page on 240-hour transit on your phone, so staff can see the rules.
- If the agent still says no, politely ask for a supervisor. Supervisors can often override the system.
- Allow extra time at check-in, and consider an airline that flies to China often.
Which one applies to you
| Your situation | What to use |
|---|---|
| Passport on the 30-day list, trip up to 30 days | 30-day visa-free entry |
| Passport not on the 30-day list, flying in from one country and out to another, stay up to 10 days | 240-hour transit |
| Round trip from your home country, passport not on the 30-day list | A tourist visa |
| Staying longer than 30 days, working or studying | A visa for that purpose |
Rules for each passport change from time to time. Before you book, check the National Immigration Administration website or the Chinese embassy in your country.
Common questions
Will the 30-day visa-free policy continue in 2027?
It is confirmed until 31 December 2026. No extension had been announced when this guide was last checked. If you're travelling in 2027, check the National Immigration Administration website before you book.
Does Hong Kong count as a third country for 240-hour transit?
Yes. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as separate regions, so a trip such as London to Beijing to Hong Kong qualifies.
Can I fly into China and back to the same country on 240-hour transit?
No. A round trip like Los Angeles to Shanghai to Los Angeles doesn't qualify, and neither does Tokyo to Shanghai to Tokyo. The onward flight has to go to a different country or region.
Can I work or study on visa-free entry?
No. Both policies cover tourism, business meetings, visiting family and friends, and transit. Work, study and journalism need the right visa.
Sources we checked
- 240-hour visa-free transit (National Immigration Administration, Aug 2026)
- China extends unilateral visa-free policy for over 40 countries (gov.cn, Nov 2025)
- China's visa-free policies: latest updates (China Briefing)
- 240-hour visa-free transit: how the stay is counted (China Discovery)
- Do Americans need a visa for China in 2026? (Jetpac, Aug 2026)