China visa requirements by country
Whether you need a visa for China depends on your passport. 58 nationalities can currently enter visa-free; others rely on the 240-hour transit rule or a tourist visa. Find your country below — every page is dated and checked against official Chinese government sources.
Know your country already? Use the visa-free checker to jump straight to your answer.
Visa-free entry (58)
These nationalities can enter China without a visa — under the 30-day unilateral program, a bilateral exemption treaty, or both. Open a country for the exact stay length, conditions and official sources.
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
Visa-free transit only (240 hours) (6)
No visa-free entry for an ordinary trip, but citizens can transit visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, entering through designated ports.
Tourist visa required (5)
A tourist (L) visa must be arranged before travelling. Open a country for what you'll need and how to apply.
Official sources
Every policy on this page was checked against these official pages. Always confirm with the source before booking.
- https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xw/fyrbt/fyrbt/202602/t20260215_11860467.html
- https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202511/04/content_WS69094ae0c6d00ca5f9a07472.html
- https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202512/03/content_WS693020c2c6d00ca5f9a07e35.html
- https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/zj/qz2021/202412/t20241217_11495647.htm
Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. Visa policies change quickly — verify with the official sources above or your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate before booking travel. Ready Set China is an independent information site: not a travel agency, not a booking agent, and not affiliated with any government.