Short answer
Citizens of 50 countries can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchange or transit. The policy runs until 31 December 2026 for 48 of them, until 2027 for Russia, and Brunei has no set expiry. On top of that, 57 more nationalities can use 240-hour visa-free transit.
The 50 unilateral visa-free countries (verified October 2026)
China grants unilateral visa-free entry, up to 30 days per visit, to ordinary passport holders of the following 50 countries. The stay is counted from midnight of the day after you enter.
Source: National Immigration Administration (NIA) list, as consolidated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 2026.
Europe (35 countries)
- France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg
- Poland, Slovenia, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland
- Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta
- Estonia, Latvia, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom
Asia (7 countries)
- Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain
Oceania (2 countries)
- Australia, New Zealand
Americas (6 countries)
- Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Canada
How long each policy lasts
The 50-country policy does not all expire at the same date — this is the part most travellers get wrong:
- China announced the extension to 31 December 2026 in late 2025; Russia's exemption was extended to 2027 on 20 May 2026, with Russia reciprocating for Chinese citizens on 20 July 2026.
- If you enter on 30 December, you still get 30 days — the expiry governs entry, not exit. But never plan around a policy's final weeks without re-checking, because extensions are announced only weeks in advance.
| Passport group | Policy valid until | Max stay per entry |
|---|---|---|
| Brunei | No set expiry date | 30 days |
| Russia | 31 December 2027 | 30 days |
| The other 48 countries | 31 December 2026 | 30 days |
Countries covered by mutual visa-free agreements (29 more)
Separately, China has mutual visa-waiver agreements that allow entry for ordinary passport holders of these countries (agreement terms — allowed days and purposes — vary by country, so check your specific agreement):
- Asia-Pacific: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Maldives
- Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Qatar
- Europe: San Marino, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Serbia, Albania
- Americas: Ecuador, Barbados, Bahamas, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname
- Africa & Oceania: Seychelles, Mauritius, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Solomon Islands
What you can and cannot do on a visa-free stay
- Allowed: tourism, business meetings and trade, family and friend visits, exchange visits, transit.
- Not allowed: employment, study, journalism, or anything requiring prior approval — those need a proper visa before you fly.
- Hotels register you automatically at check-in. Staying at a friend's home? Register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival.
Not on the list? Two more routes in
- 240-hour visa-free transit: citizens of 57 countries can stay up to 10 days when transiting to a third country or region — see the full 57-country list and all 65 entry ports.
- Hainan 30-day visa-free entry: 61 countries, but only within Hainan province and only through its open ports.
The rule airlines check before you board
Check-in staff — not Chinese immigration — are the first gate. They verify your passport against the current list and will deny boarding if they apply an outdated rule. Print or save the NIA announcement for your nationality and show it if challenged.
Related guides
More questions answered
Where these matter
Official sources
Policies and booking channels change — check the official channel before you rely on it.