Arrive China
Most visitors enter China one of three ways: 240-hour visa-free transit, a 30-day visa-free stay, or a full visa. Which one is yours comes down to your passport and your tickets — not how long you wish you could stay.
The three routes
- 240-hour visa-free transit — for 57 nationalities flying through China to a third country.
- 30-day visa-free stay — for roughly 50 nationalities, no onward ticket needed.
- Full visa — for everyone else, or if you're staying longer or working.
Route 1 — 240-hour visa-free transit
China lets citizens of 57 countries transit for up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa. The catch is the word transit: you must be flying on to a third country or region, with a confirmed ticket.
- Your passport is one of the 57 covered nationalities.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country — you can't fly straight back home.
- Enter and leave through one of the 65 eligible ports (major airports and some land/sea ports).
- Stay ≤ 240 hours. You can move between cities rather than staying in one, but confirm the latest rules before you go.
This is the easiest route for a stopover trip: land in Shanghai, spend a week, fly on to Japan. No application, no fee.
Eligible countries (57) — as of August 2026
Europe (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.
Americas (6): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.
Asia (9): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam.
Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand.
Source: National Immigration Administration — Visa-Free Transit Policies
The 65 entry & exit ports
Airports — Beijing Capital & Daxing, Tianjin Binhai, Shanghai Pudong & Hongqiao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Jieyang, Chengdu Shuangliu & Tianfu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Yiwu, Xi'an, Kunming, Lijiang, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Wuyishan, Qingdao, Jinan, Yantai, Weihai, Nanjing, Wuxi, Yangzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Zhangjiajie, Zhengzhou, Shenyang, Dalian, Harbin, Sanya, Haikou, Nanning, Guilin, Beihai, Guiyang, Taiyuan, Shijiazhuang, Hefei, Huangshan, Nanchang.
Seaports — Shanghai, Tianjin, Qingdao, Dalian, Xiamen, Shenzhen Shekou, Guangzhou Nansha, Qinhuangdao, Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Beihai, Zhongshan, Pazhou Ferry Terminal (Guangzhou).
Railway & land ports — Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, Mohan (China–Laos railway), Hengqin, Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge Zhuhai Port.
Source: National Immigration Administration — Visa-Free Transit Policies
Route 2 — 30-day visa-free stay
China unilaterally grants a 30-day visa-free stay to citizens of 50 countries — no onward ticket, no third country, just arrive and stay up to 30 days. This has been extended several times. For most of the 50 countries it runs through the end of 2026; Russia's visa-free stay runs through the end of 2027, and Brunei has no expiry date.
- You don't need a transit ticket — a round trip to China is fine.
- It's for tourism, business and family visits, not work or study.
- It generally can't be extended inside the country — plan your 30 days and leave.
Eligible countries (50) — as of February 2026
Europe (35): Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
Asia (7): Bahrain, Brunei, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, South Korea, Saudi Arabia.
Americas (6): Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, Uruguay.
Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand.
Source: National Immigration Administration — Unilateral Visa-Free Policy
Route 3 — Full visa
You need an actual visa if your nationality isn't on either list, you're staying past the free period, or you're coming to work, study or stay long-term. The common tourist type is the L visa.
- Apply at a Chinese embassy, consulate or visa centre in your home country.
- Allow 2–4 weeks for processing.
- You'll typically need passport photos, a filled form, and flight/hotel details.
Answer three questions
- Is your passport one of the 57 transit nationalities? If yes and you're flying on to a third country, you're on Route 1.
- Is your country on the ~50-country visa-free list? If yes and you're staying 30 days or fewer, you're on Route 2.
- Staying longer, working, or not on either list? Then it's Route 3 — start the visa application now.
Answer six questions and get a straight verdict — visa-free, visa-free with conditions, or visa required — plus which of the 65 ports you can use.
| Route | Who | How long | Onward ticket? | Extendable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 240h transit | 57 nationalities | 10 days | Yes — third country | No |
| 30-day visa-free | ~50 nationalities | 30 days | No | No |
| Full visa | Everyone | Up to 90 days+ | No | Sometimes |
Before you fly
- Confirm your passport is valid for 6+ months past your stay.
- Screenshot your visa or visa-free eligibility — a spotty connection at the counter is the wrong time to look it up.
- If on the 240h transit, keep your onward ticket saved offline.
- Print or save your hotel booking — immigration sometimes asks where you'll stay.
The bottom line
For most short trips by visa-free nationalities, you need nothing but a valid passport. Confirm your country's list, keep your tickets and hotel address saved offline, and the visa question is settled before you board.