Before you apply for a China visa, check if you need one. China shifted to a visa-free-first strategy from 2023 onwards. More than 50 countries now qualify for 30-day visa-free entry. Dozens more qualify for the 240-hour transit policy. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains the authoritative current list. Check it before booking anything.
Check whether you need a China Visa?
Check your entry option
Your Entry Options at a Glance
| Policy | Stay | Who Qualifies | Key Condition |
| 30-Day Visa-Free | 30 days | 50+ countries: all EU members, UK (see note), Australia, NZ, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and others | Ordinary passport. Tourism or business only. |
| 240-Hour Transit Visa-Free | 10 days | 55+ countries including USA, UK, Canada, Russia, Mexico | Must be transiting to a third country. Stay within the designated city region. |
| Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free | 30 days | 59 countries (broader list than mainland policy) | Enter and stay in Hainan province only. Entry via Haikou or Sanya airports. |
| COVA Visa Application | Up to 60 days per stay | All nationalities. Required for those not covered by visa-free policies. | Apply online. US 10-year L visa: $185. |
Note on the UK: UK passport holders qualify for 30-day visa-free entry under the mutual exemption agreement confirmed in 2024. Always verify your specific nationality on the MFA website before booking, as the policy updates regularly.
Option 1: 30-Day Visa-Free Entry
If your country is on the list, this is the cleanest entry option. No application. No fee. No appointment. You show up at any Chinese international airport, port, or land crossing with a valid passport and fly straight through immigration. Full country list, the exact conditions, and what documents you need at the border: China 30-Day Visa-Free: Full Country List and Conditions.
The small print that matters
- Duration calculation: the 30-day clock starts at 00:00 the day after entry. Enter on the 1st, your first counted day is the 2nd.
- Entry ports: any open international port works. Air, sea, or land.
- Purpose: tourism and business are covered. Study and work are not.
- Overstay: fines start at ¥500 per day. Entry bans for repeated or long overstays.
- If your country is not on the list: the transit policy may apply. See below.
Option 2: 240-Hour Transit Visa-Free
This is the main option for US, Canadian, and other nationalities not on the 30-day visa-free list. Up to 10 days in a Chinese city, free of charge, as long as you are transiting to a third country. Full step-by-step process, eligible cities, and route examples: 240-Hour Transit Visa-Free: Step-by-Step Guide.
The A to B to C logic
This is where most travelers get it wrong. Your itinerary must go from one country (A), through China (B), to a different country or region (C). C cannot be the same as A, even with only a 2-hour stay in China. Important: Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count as separate regions for this purpose. A valid route: London to Beijing to Hong Kong. An invalid route: London to Beijing to London.
- Point A (Start): Where you fly from.
- Point B (China): Your transit stop (must be within a permitted zone).
- Point C (End): A different country or region from Point A.
- Valid Route: London (A) -> Beijing (B) -> Hong Kong (C) -> London.
- Invalid Route: London (A) -> Beijing (B) -> London (A). (Even if you only stay 2 hours, this requires a visa).
City regions covered
| Cluster | Entry Ports | Where You Can Stay |
| Beijing and surrounds | Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Tianjin port | Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province |
| Yangtze River Delta | Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Hongqiao, Nanjing, Hangzhou | Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang provinces |
| Pearl River Delta | Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen airports and ports | Guangdong province |
| Western China | Chengdu Tianfu, Chengdu Shuangliu, Chongqing | Sichuan and Chongqing |
| Other designated cities | Xi’an, Harbin, Kunming, Qingdao, and others | Within that city’s administrative area |
You must enter and exit through designated ports in the same city region. You cannot enter in Shanghai and exit in Beijing under this policy. For the full eligible city list and all transit policy variations (including the 24-hour airside rule and the Hainan 30-day option): All China Transit Visa-Free Policies Compared.
Option 3: COVA Visa Application (USA, UK, Canada)
If the transit policy does not work for your itinerary, or if you want to stay longer than 10 days without the transit constraint, apply for a tourist visa (L visa) through the China Online Visa Application system. For US citizens, the standard product is the 10-year multiple-entry L visa at $185. It allows unlimited entries of up to 60 days each.
Full guide including the step-by-step COVA process, document checklist, and the 2026 fingerprint waiver: 10-Year China Visa for US Citizens.
The official portal
Apply only at the official government portal: consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA. Avoid clone sites that charge extra processing fees. Standard processing takes 4 business days at a Chinese consulate. Express (2 to 3 days) and rush (1 day) options are available for higher fees.
2026 fingerprint waiver
The temporary biometric fingerprint waiver has been extended through December 31, 2026, for all short-term visas (L, M, Q2, S2) with stays under 180 days. You may still need to visit a visa center to submit your physical passport, but the fingerprinting step is frequently skipped. Confirm the current requirement with your specific consulate before your appointment.
The Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free
Hainan province offers a separate and more generous visa-free policy than the mainland. Citizens of 59 countries can enter and stay on the island for up to 30 days, visa-free. The eligible country list is broader than the mainland 30-day policy and includes the USA, UK, and Canada.
- Entry ports: Haikou Meilan (HAK) or Sanya Phoenix (SYX) international airports, and Hainan seaports.
- Stay area: Hainan province only. You cannot travel to the mainland without applying for a separate visa locally.
- Purpose: tourism, business, transit.
- Duration: 30 days. Cannot be extended inside China.
Cruise Ship Entry (15 Days)
Foreign tour groups arriving at Chinese cruise ports (Shanghai, Dalian, Tianjin, and others) can stay up to 15 days if the tour is handled by a registered Chinese travel agency. This applies to the whole group, not individual independent travelers. The agency handles the paperwork. If you are on a cruise calling at a Chinese port, confirm with your cruise line whether this applies to your itinerary.
The E-Arrival Card
China replaced its paper arrival card with a digital system in November 2025. You complete it on your phone before boarding, not on the plane with a pen. It takes 5 minutes. Do it at home before you leave for the airport. Full process and exactly what information you need: China Digital Arrival Card: Step-by-Step.
The 24-Hour Police Registration Rule
Every foreigner staying overnight in China must register their accommodation with the local police within 24 hours of arrival. At a hotel, this happens automatically when you check in. They scan your passport and file electronically. If you are staying with a friend or in an unregistered Airbnb, you and your host must register in person at the nearest police station with a foreign affairs desk. Bring your passport. The fine for non-registration is ¥2,000 per occurrence.
Pre-Departure Checklist
The practical things to sort before you leave home:
| Task | Why | Guide |
| Complete the E-Arrival Card | Required since Nov 2025. Do it before boarding, not on the plane. | E-Arrival Card guide |
| Set up Alipay | Without it, you cannot pay at most restaurants, transport, or shops. Takes 20 minutes. Must be done before arrival. | Alipay setup guide |
| Install and test your VPN | Google, WhatsApp, Instagram blocked in China. VPN must be installed before landing. | VPN guide |
| Download offline maps (Amap) | Google Maps is inaccurate in China. Download Amap with offline city maps. | Essential apps guide |
| Save your hotel address in Chinese | Show to taxi drivers. Screenshot from hotel website. | Apps guide |
| Confirm passport validity | Minimum 6 months validity beyond your departure date from China. At least 2 blank visa pages. | |
| Check customs limits | Declare cash over $5,000 USD or ¥20,000 RMB at Chinese customs. |
Frequently Asked Questions
For the full packing list including what to bring for different seasons and cities: China Packing List. For the safety overview including scam awareness: Is China Safe for Tourists?.