- Home
- Visa requirements
- China
- United States passport
China visa for American citizens
United States 
China United States passport holders need a visa for China, and it can be applied for online as an e-Visa.
Yes, an e-Visa is required
- Entry requirement
- e-Visa
- Maximum stay
- Set by the visa
- Apply before travel
- Yes
- Last updated
- February 2026
Before you travel
Checked November 2026At 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
What United States passport holders need to do
- Apply on the destination's official e-Visa portal.
- Upload a passport scan and a photo, then pay the fee online.
- Save or print the approved e-Visa and present it at the border.
United States is one of 3 passports in the “e-visa” group for China. See the full China visa requirements for every passport.
Easier alternatives in Asia for United States passport holders
China is one of 21 destinations in the “e-visa” group for the United States passport, which ranks #10 worldwide with a mobility score of 158. Of 50 destinations in Asia, 37 need no visa arranged in advance; the easiest are listed below.
| Destination | Requirement | Max stay |
|---|---|---|
 Armenia | Visa-free | 180 days |
 Brunei | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Georgia | Visa-free | 360 days |
 Hong Kong | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Israel | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Japan | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Kazakhstan | Visa-free | 30 days |
 Kyrgyzstan | Visa-free | 60 days |
 Macau | Visa-free | 30 days |
 Malaysia | Visa-free | – |
 Mongolia | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Palestine | Visa-free | – |
Frequently asked questions
Do American citizens need a visa for China?
United States passport holders need a visa for China, and it can be applied for online as an e-Visa.
Can American citizens apply for China visa online?
Yes. United States passport holders are eligible for an e-Visa to China, so the application can be completed online without visiting an embassy.
Do China citizens need a visa for the United States?
China passport holders need to obtain a visa from an embassy, consulate or visa centre before travelling to the United States.
China visa requirements for other passports
Data last updated February 2026. This page covers short visits such as tourism. Rules can change at short notice and differ for work, study or long stays. Confirm with the embassy or official immigration website of China before you book.