China used to have one of the toughest tourist visa applications in the world. Travelers had to fill in a ten-page form, submit day-by-day flight and hotel bookings and provide an invitation letter, and they also had to give fingerprints in person at a Chinese Visa Application Service Center.
That's changed. To bring visitors back, China opened wide visa exemptions, and the program now runs until December 31, 2026, covering citizens of dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and the Pacific.
China's visa-free entry opens up the Great Wall in Beijing and the skyline of Shanghai, with no consulate visit needed. But China's payment apps and internet firewall take some preparation before you fly.
Here's who qualifies, how transit without visa (TWOV) works and what you'll need on the ground, as of October 2026.
China visa-free entry: eligible countries and policies
China's visa-free rules come in two types: one-sided temporary exemptions and two-way visa waiver agreements.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the National Immigration Administration set out who can visit China without a visa. Ordinary passport holders from eligible countries can enter for:
- Tourism and sightseeing
- Business meetings and trade negotiations
- Visiting family members or friends
- International transit
1. Unilateral 30-day visa exemptions (through Dec 31, 2026)
As of October 2026, ordinary passport holders from around 50 countries can stay in mainland China for up to 30 days without a visa. They include:
- Europe: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Poland and Hungary
- Since 17 February 2026: the United Kingdom and Canada
- Asia-Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea
This exemption currently runs to 31 December 2026. Check the full, current list on the National Immigration Administration site before you book.
2. Mutual 30-day bilateral visa waivers
China maintains reciprocal 30-day visa exemption treaties with select regional partners:
- Singapore: 30 days visa-free for tourism, business, and family visits.
- Thailand: 30 days visa-free per entry (maximum 90 days within any 180-day period).
- Kazakhstan & UAE: 30 days visa-free per visit.
This table sums up the main entry policies by passport group as of October 2026:
| Country / Passport Group | Visa-Free Policy | Allowed Duration | Key Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| France, Germany, Italy, Spain, etc. | Unilateral Exemption | Up to 30 Days | Ordinary passport; runs through Dec 31, 2026 |
| UK, Canada, Australia & New Zealand | Unilateral Exemption | Up to 30 Days | Tourism, business, or family visits |
| Singapore & Thailand | Mutual Exemption | Up to 30 Days | Reciprocal bilateral visa-waiver agreement |
| United States (Transit Only) | 240-Hour TWOV | Up to 240 Hours | Must hold confirmed ticket to a 3rd country |
| Other Passports (India, Philippines) | Visa Required | Per visa terms | Standard consulate sticker or group visa |
You can check your own passport on our visa checker.
The 240-hour transit without visa (TWOV) rule
Not on the 30-day list, like the United States? You can still visit visa-free under the 240-Hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV) scheme. As of August 2026, it covers citizens of 57 countries.
It lets you leave the airport and stay in designated provinces for up to ten days (240 hours) without a visa.
How the transit rule works
To qualify for 240-hour TWOV, your journey must form a true A ➔ China ➔ C international transit:
- Country A (Departure): Where your flight originates (e.g., Los Angeles, London, or Tokyo).
- Country B (China): Where you enter and stay for up to 240 hours (e.g., Shanghai or Beijing).
- Country C (Destination): An onward flight to a third sovereign country or overseas territory.
Where can you travel under 240-hour TWOV?
The 240-hour rule applies within designated areas, including:
- Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region: You can land at Beijing Capital or Daxing Airport and travel freely throughout Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei Province.
- Yangtze River Delta Region: You can land in Shanghai (Pudong or Hongqiao) and travel across Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces (including Hangzhou and Suzhou).
- Guangdong Province: You can land in Guangzhou or Shenzhen and travel across Guangdong.
- Chengdu & Xi'an: Transit zones around Chengdu and Xi'an.
Since December 2024 you can also travel between these areas during your stay, as long as you stay inside the permitted areas of the 24 provinces covered by the policy.
Cashless payments: setting up Alipay and WeChat Pay
Mainland China has transitioned to a nearly 100% cashless society. Cash and foreign cards often don't work at small restaurants, shops, taxis or metro machines.
So set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly. You'll use it for almost everything. Both apps now let tourists link foreign Visa, Mastercard and Discover cards to their wallets without a Chinese bank account:
1. Download Alipay (recommended for tourists)
- Download the international version of the Alipay app from your smartphone app store.
- Select your country code and register using your regular foreign mobile phone number.
- Tap Account > Bank Cards and add your foreign Visa or Mastercard.
- Complete identity verification by uploading a photo of your passport bio-data page.
- In China, tap Scan to scan a merchant's QR code, or tap Pay/Receive to let the cashier scan your personal barcode.
2. Transaction fees
Purchases under 200 CNY (roughly $28 USD) incur zero transaction fees on Alipay. For single transactions exceeding 200 CNY, a 3% processing fee applies. To minimize charges, break large restaurant or shopping bills into smaller payments when possible.
Beating the Great Firewall: data and connectivity
China's domestic internet operates behind the Great Firewall, a censorship system that blocks:
- All Google services (Google Maps, Gmail, Google Search, Google Drive)
- Meta platforms (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Threads)
- YouTube, Netflix, X (Twitter), and major international news outlets
On hotel Wi-Fi or a local SIM card, your phone uses Chinese networks, which block many foreign apps.
The solution: Roaming travel eSIMs
The most effective way to maintain open internet access in China is using an international travel eSIM (such as Airalo, Nomad, or Ubigi).
- Because travel eSIMs operate under international roaming agreements, all cellular traffic routes through partner servers in Hong Kong or Singapore.
- The Great Firewall is bypassed automatically. Your Google Maps, WhatsApp chats, and work emails function out-of-the-box without requiring a separate Virtual Private Network (VPN) subscription.
- Read our complete comparison in travel eSIMs explained to configure an eSIM before landing.
Hotel registration rules for foreign tourists
Chinese law requires every foreign visitor to be registered with the local police (Public Security Bureau, PSB) within 24 hours of arrival.
- Staying in licensed hotels: When you check into a standard international hotel or licensed domestic hotel, the front desk automatically scans your passport and registers your stay digitally with the local police station. You don't need to do anything further.
- Staying with friends or family: If you stay in a private apartment or Airbnb that doesn't handle police registration, you must visit the local neighborhood police station in person within 24 hours with your host, their lease or deed, and your passport to complete an Accommodation Registration Form for Foreigners.
- Failure to complete police registration can lead to fines upon exit at airport border control.
Explore municipal arrival guides and transport advice on the Beijing Municipal Government portal. Planning a trip across East Asia? Check the rules in our guide to do I need a visa for Japan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave and re-enter China multiple times under the 30-day visa waiver?
Yes. There is no official limit on the number of times you can enter China visa-free during the policy period, provided each individual visit stays within the 30-day maximum. However, attempting repeated back-to-back "visa runs" to reset the 30-day clock may trigger questioning by border officers regarding your source of income.
How is the 30-day stay calculated in China?
The duration of stay begins at 00:00 on the day after arrival. For example, if your flight lands at Shanghai Pudong at 14:00 on October 1, Day 1 officially begins at 00:00 on October 2. You must depart China before 24:00 on October 31.
Do I need to carry physical cash in China?
Carrying a small amount of Chinese Yuan (around 300 to 500 CNY) is sensible for emergencies, but you'll rarely use it. Virtually all merchants—from street food stalls to subway ticket windows—operate via Alipay or WeChat Pay. While Chinese law requires merchants to accept cash, many vendors have difficulty providing change for 100-yuan notes.
Can American or British citizens enter China completely visa-free?
British citizens can: since 17 February 2026, UK passport holders may stay up to 30 days without a visa. US citizens don't qualify for the 30-day program. They can still visit without a visa for up to 240 hours (10 days) under the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) scheme, with a confirmed ticket to a third country or territory (including Hong Kong or Macau).
