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China visa requirements (2026)

Of 198 passports, 67 can travel to China without arranging a visa in advance. 3 can apply online for an e-Visa and 128 need a visa from an embassy or visa centre.

Who can visit China: passports by requirement

How to enter China: official routes

Checked November 2026
Official route

L (tourist) visa, applied for at a Chinese embassy/consulate or its authorised visa application centre

Fee
Varies by nationality and number of entries (set by each Chinese embassy)
Processing
Set by the embassy or consulate where you apply
Official site →

At the border

  • Ordinary passport holders of 50 countries (unilateral visa-free list as of 17 February 2026, including most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Brazil and several Gulf states) can stay up to 30 days visa-free for tourism, business, visits, exchanges or transit.
  • Nationals of 57 countries can use 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit through 65 designated ports, but only with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region and only within the permitted areas.
  • Anyone may transit for up to 24 hours without a visa if they stay inside the port's restricted area.
  • Regional schemes exist, such as a 30-day visa-free stay in Hainan for 61 nationalities.
  • Foreign arrivals fill in an arrival card; NIA offers an online arrival card form (s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/).
  • Visa-free stay does not allow work, study or news reporting; the day count starts at midnight after the day of entry.

Recent changes

  • February 2026: NIA published an updated list of 50 countries covered by the unilateral 30-day visa-free policy.
  • August 2026: NIA republished the 240-hour transit policy covering 57 countries and 65 ports, plus the regional visa-free policies.

Official source: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA) · Not yet confirmed officially: End date of the unilateral 30-day visa-free policy (not stated on the NIA list page), consularVisa.fee and processing: depend on nationality and embassy; not confirmed on an official page, Passport validity rule for visa applications (commonly 6 months, not confirmed on a page read), Whether the online arrival card is mandatory or optional (the NIA page content could not be read), Official online visa application system (COVA) availability: page returned an error

Do I need a visa for China?

Entry requirement Choose a passport and a destination.

Popular passports

PassportRequirementStay
United States e-Visa –
United Kingdom Visa required –
India Visa required –
Philippines Visa required –
Nigeria Visa required –
Pakistan Visa required –
Canada Visa required –
Australia Visa-free 30 d
Germany Visa-free 30 d
France Visa-free 30 d

Access by passport region

Passports that enter visa-free, with a visa on arrival or an eTA.

RegionPassports
Europe 37/46
Asia 16/49
Africa 2/54
North America 5/23
South America 2/12
Oceania 5/14

Passports that can enter China visa-free

67 passports

Passports eligible for China e-Visa

3 passports

Passports that need a visa for China

128 passports

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit China?

It depends on your passport. 67 passports can enter China visa-free, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 need an eTA, 3 can apply for an e-Visa online and 128 need a visa from an embassy or visa centre.

Which countries can enter China without a visa?

67 passports can enter China visa-free, including Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados and others.

Does China offer an e-Visa?

Yes. Holders of 3 passports can apply for a visa to China online.

Holding a China passport? See where the China passport can travel visa-free.

Data last updated February 2026. Rules can change at short notice and may differ by purpose of travel. Confirm with the embassy or official immigration website of China before you book.