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China Visa Requirement Checker

Select your passport to see whether you need a visa to enter China, how long you can stay, and which transit-free policies apply. Policy data refreshed monthly from China's National Immigration Administration.

Last verified 2026-04-25 · Coverage: 52 nationalities

38

Visa-Free

47

Transit-Free

52

Countries Covered

How It Works

1. Select nationality

Choose your passport from 52 options.

2. Get instant status

Visa-free, transit-free, or visa required — with day caps.

3. Plan the trip

Use the rail map and our guides to plan stops and book.

Recent policy updates

transitJan 15, 2024

China extends visa-free transit to 240 hours for 54 countries

Effective January 2024, China expanded the visa-free transit policy from 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days) and added more eligible cities and ports of entry.

visaJun 1, 2024

Visa-free entry expanded to 38 countries

China extended unilateral visa-free entry (up to 30 days) to citizens of 38 countries including all EU member states, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and select ASEAN nations through December 2025.

paymentMar 1, 2024

Alipay and WeChat Pay now support foreign cards

International visitors can now link Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and Diners Club cards directly to Alipay and WeChat Pay for mobile payments across China without a Chinese bank account.

attractionJan 1, 2024

Forbidden City introduces online-only booking

Starting 2024, the Palace Museum no longer sells tickets at the gate. All visitors must book in advance through the official website or WeChat mini-program, up to 7 days ahead.

visaSep 1, 2024

China introduces e-visa and simplified application process

China launched an electronic visa system for select countries and streamlined the visa application form, reducing required documentation for tourism visas.

Data source & freshness

Policy data is compiled from China's National Immigration Administration and major embassy notices, refreshed monthly (last verified 2026-04-25). Visa rules can change with little notice — verify with the embassy or consulate of your country before travel.