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Visa-Free

China Visa Free Travel Guide 2026: 240-Hour Transit & 30-Day Entry

Select the country or region that issued your ordinary passport. This checks the 30-day visa-free entry and 240-hour transit lists; Malaysia's separate bilateral agreement appears as its own result.

Check policies for your passport

ByChina Travel Checklists Editorial Team

Can you visit China without a visa in 2026?

Yes, if your passport and travel plans qualify. The 240-hour transit policy covers nationals of 55 countries — you must fly on to a different country, use one of 65 designated ports, and stay within the permitted area. Separately, 50 countriesare on the MFA's unilateral 30-day visa-free list for business, tourism, family visits or transit. Malaysia is not in that count — it has a separate bilateral agreement (up to 30 days per visit, 90 days in any 180-day period). Check the expiry date and passport-validity rule for your country before booking. The border officer makes the final call.

Official sources: NIA 240-hour policy · MFA 30-day FAQ · Malaysia bilateral FAQ. Policy checked July 23, 2026.

This page covers two common visa-free options for entering China:

  • 240-hour visa-free transit: Requires holding a confirmed onward ticket to a country or region different from where you arrived
  • 30-day visa-free policy: Does not require a transit ticket

When using the 240-hour transit policy, you must have a confirmed onward ticket to a different country. The 30-day visa-free policy doesn't need an onward ticket.

Other visa exemptions exist too, including bilateral agreements. The lists below cover only these two options.

Travel Route Strategy

Example:

  • 240-hour visa-free transit: A → Mainland China → B, where A and B must be different countries or regions
  • 30-day visa-free: No third-country transit route is required; enter and leave through ports open to foreign nationals

Planning a second entry

Hong Kong and Macao count as separate regions when checking your route. Each entry needs to meet the policy conditions on its own.

Route example: Tokyo → Mainland China → Hong Kong → Mainland China → Tokyo

Re-entry isn't guaranteed — border officers will want to see a real reason for coming back. Each entry is checked on its own.Note: Check Hong Kong and Macao entry policies for your nationality.

240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Effective June 12, 2025 (including Indonesia). Nationals from 55 countriesmay use China's 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy when their route, documents, port and permitted travel area meet the official rules. NIA policy

Europe (40 countries):

Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Other Regions:

Americas (6): Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, United States

Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand

Asia (7): Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Singapore, United Arab Emirates

30-Day Visa-Free

China now lets citizens from 50 countries visit without a visa for up to 30 days — for business, tourism, family visits, or transit. You just need an ordinary passport. MFA FAQ

Eligible Countries (50 total):

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Uruguay

Official Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs — unilateral visa-free policy FAQ

Country-specific notices: UK and Canada addition · Russia extension through 31 December 2027

The current MFA FAQ states no end date for Brunei, extends Russia through 31 December 2027, and schedules the other 48 unilateral waivers through 31 December 2026.

Malaysia: Malaysian ordinary-passport holders are covered separately by a bilateral agreement for up to 30 days per visit and 90 days in any 180-day period, with at least six months of passport validity. Official bilateral agreement FAQ.

Important Notes:

  • For 30-day visa-free entry, use an ordinary passport valid for at least your stay
  • For 240-hour transit, carry a valid international travel document and a confirmed onward ticket with a seat and departure date
  • Always double-check current visa policies before travel — they can change
  • Keep proof of onward travel when using transit policies
  • The 240-hour policy is available through 65 designated ports in 24 provincial-level regions; remain within the permitted area

Visa-Free Travel FAQ

What is the difference between China's 240-hour transit and 30-day visa-free entry?

The 240-hour policy is transit-only: you must fly on to a different country or region (not back home) and stay within the permitted area. The 30-day policy is actual visa-free entry — no onward ticket needed, and you can travel freely across China.

Does a round trip qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit?

No. A round trip like Japan–China–Japan does not qualify because your origin and destination are the same. A route like Japan–China–Hong Kong may work, as long as your ports, documents and travel area meet the rules. Final admission is always up to the border officer.

Does my passport need six months of validity for 30-day entry?

It depends on your policy. The 30-day unilateral waiver only requires your passport to be valid for your stay — no fixed six-month rule. But Malaysia's bilateral agreement does require at least six months. Check the rule for your passport.

Is Malaysia included in China's 50-country unilateral list?

No. Malaysia has its own bilateral agreement: up to 30 days per visit, 90 days max in any 180-day rolling period, and your passport must be valid for at least six months.

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Last updated: August 4, 2026