List of Visa-Free Countries for Travel to China

As of October 2024, China offers several visa-free entry policies for foreign nationals:

Mutual Visa Exemption: China has established reciprocal visa-free agreements with multiple countries. Chinese citizens holding applicable passports can visit these countries for short-term trips without applying for a visa in advance. Similarly, passport holders from these countries can enter China visa-free. Countries in this category include Albania, Algeria, Afghanistan, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Azerbaijan, Ireland, Egypt, Ethiopia, Estonia, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Barbados, Papua New Guinea, Bahamas, Pakistan, Palestine, Bahrain, Panama, Brazil, Belarus, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Benin, Belgium, Peru, Iceland, Botswana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, North Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Denmark, Germany, Timor-Leste, Togo, Dominican Republic, Dominica, Ecuador, Eritrea, Russia, France, Fiji, the Philippines, Finland, Cape Verde, Gambia, Republic of the Congo, Grenada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Georgia, Cuba, Guyana, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Montenegro, Honduras, Ghana, Gabon, Djibouti, Kyrgyzstan, Guinea, Cambodia, Czech Republic, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Qatar, Croatia, Kuwait, Kenya, Latvia, Laos, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Norway, Palau, Romania, Serbia, Cyprus, Seychelles, São Tomé and Príncipe, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Suriname, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Brunei, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Singapore, Hungary, Syria, Jamaica, Armenia, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Italy, India, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Jordan, Vietnam, Zambia, Chad, Chile, and Central African Republic. Please note that a visa exemption is not the same as unlimited stay; travelers can generally stay for up to 30 days. For stays over 30 days, they are advised to apply for a residence permit locally as required.

Unilateral Visa-Free Policy:

• From October 15, 2024, to December 31, 2025, nationals of Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, and Slovenia holding ordinary passports can visit China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit for up to 15 days visa-free.
• From January 21, 2024, to December 31, 2025, Palestinian nationals holding ordinary passports can visit China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit for up to 15 days visa-free.
• From December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024, nationals of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia holding ordinary passports can visit China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit for up to 15 days visa-free.
• Since November 24, 2023, China has unilaterally offered visa-free entry for Malaysian ordinary passport holders.
• Since November 17, 2023, Norwegian citizens can access China’s 72/144-hour transit visa-free policy.

Transit Visa Exemption: China has implemented a 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit policy at 37 ports in cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang in Hebei, Shenyang in Liaoning, and Shanghai. Nationals from 54 countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, holding valid international travel documents and a ticket for onward travel to a third country or region can apply for visa-free transit at the port and stay in specified areas for up to 72 or 144 hours. During their stay, travelers can engage in short-term activities such as tourism, business, and visits. Eligible countries for this transit policy include:

European countries (40): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway; American countries (6): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile; Oceania countries (2): Australia, New Zealand; Asian countries (6): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.

For countries covered under China’s reciprocal or unilateral visa-free agreements, entry is permitted as per their respective terms.

Policies are subject to change; it is recommended to check relevant official channels or consult the Chinese embassy or consulate before traveling for the latest, accurate information.

For more details on specific policy content, application procedures, or other information, you can contact the National Immigration Administration of China at the service hotline 12367.