30-Day Unilateral Visa-Free Policy
Citizens of 50 designated countries can enter mainland China without a visa for up to 30 days
Policy source: National Immigration Administration (NIA) of China
Citizens of 50 designated countries who hold an ordinary passport may enter mainland China without any visa for up to 30 calendar days. The stay is counted from 00:00 on the day after entry until 24:00 on the 30th calendar day. This policy is valid until December 31, 2026 for most countries (some have different validity periods).
⚠️ Important Notice
Czech Republic and Lithuania are NOT eligible for this 30-day unilateral visa-free policy. Citizens of these countries must apply for a tourist visa (L visa) in advance or use the240-hour transit visa-free policy if their travel plans qualify.
Example
Ms. Lea Müller, a German backpacker, flies Frankfurt → Beijing on 3 Oct 2025. Immigration stamps her passport "30-day visa-free". She must depart no later than 1 Nov 2025.
Passport Validity
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry
Entry Points
You can enter through any international port in mainland China
Stay Duration
Maximum 30 calendar days, counted from 00:00 the day after entry
Travel Purpose
Valid for tourism, business, family visits, exchange visits, and transit
Europe (35 countries)
Asia (7 countries)
Americas (6 countries)
Oceania (2 countries)
Not Eligible for 30-Day Visa-Free
The following EU member states are NOT included in the 30-day unilateral visa-free policy:
Citizens of these countries must apply for a tourist visa (L visa) or use the 240-hour transit visa-free policy if eligible.
Extended to December 31, 2026
Most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Brunei — Valid until December 31, 2026
Canada & United Kingdom
Valid: February 17, 2026 to December 31, 2026
Latin American Countries
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay — Valid: June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026
West Asian Countries
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia — Valid: June 9, 2025 to June 8, 2026
Russia
Valid: September 15, 2025 to September 14, 2026
Stay Calculation
Stay is calculated from 00:00 the day after entry. No extension beyond 30 days is permitted.
Travel Purpose
Valid for tourism, business, family visits, exchange visits, and transit. Not valid for work or study.
Restricted Areas
Some areas like Tibet require additional permits even with visa-free entry.
Multiple Entries
You can use this policy multiple times, but each stay is limited to 30 days.
1. NIA - Unilateral Visa Exemption List (48 Countries): List of Countries Covered by Unilateral Visa Exemption Policies
Updated November 2025
2. NIA - Regional Visa-Free Policies: Regional Visa-Free Entry Policies for Foreign Nationals
Hainan, Cruise, ASEAN Tourist Groups
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Policy Extension: Notice on Extending Unilateral Visa Exemption Policy (Nov 2025)
Extended to Dec 31, 2026 (Chinese)
4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Canada & UK Extension: Visa Waiver Extension for Canada and UK (Feb 2026)
Valid: Feb 17 - Dec 31, 2026
5. State Council of China: China Widens Visa-Free Access (Nov 2025)
40+ countries extended to Dec 31, 2026
6. Chinese Embassy in the United States: Visa-Free Entry FAQ (Updated Feb 2026)
Comprehensive FAQ