China has recently rolled out some fantastic visa-free policies. Depending on your nationality and itinerary, you might be able to skip the embassy visit altogether!
30-Day Visa-Free Entry
Valid until December 31, 2026, citizens holding ordinary passports from a massive list of countries can enter China completely visa-free for up to 30 days. This applies to tourism, business, family visits, exchange visits, and transit.
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- Eligible Countries include: Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Sweden, Canada, and the UK.
- Note: If you do not meet the exact conditions or plan to stay longer than 30 days, you must apply for a regular visa.
24-Hour Visa-Free Transit
All open exit-entry ports in China offer a 24-hour visa-free transit policy for nationals of all countries. If you are transiting through China to a third country, you can stay for up to 24 hours without a visa. You must hold valid international travel documents and onward tickets with confirmed seats. Normally, you must stay within the restricted port area. If you need to step out, you will need to request a temporary entry permit from the port’s immigration authority.
240-Hour (10-Day) Visa-Free Transit Policy
Citizens from 55 eligible countries (including Indonesia, which was newly added in June 2025) can take advantage of a generous 240-hour visa-free transit policy. If you hold an interline ticket with confirmed dates and seats to a third country or region, you can enter China through any of the 60 open ports across 24 provinces. You are permitted to stay in designated areas for up to 10 days to enjoy tourism, business, or family visits.
Example Itineraries: Mastering the 240-Hour Transit
To use the 10-day transit rule, your route must go from Country A to China to Country B. Hong Kong and Macau count as “third regions” for this purpose, making it incredibly easy to build a creative travel route!
Example : 10-Day Greater Bay Area Tour
- Day 1: Arrive in Hong Kong (HKG) from London (LHR).
- Day 2: Take the high-speed rail from West Kowloon Station into Shenzhen or Guangzhou (this activates your 240-hour visa-free entry into Mainland China).
- Day 3 to 8: Explore the incredible sights, food, and culture of Guangdong Province.
- Day 9: Take a flight out of a mainland airport directly to Bangkok.
