China embraces further relaxation of its visa-free policy. The policies, providing a great convenience to foreign visitors.Here are the latest updates on China’s visa-free policies:
Visa-free Entry
- Eligible Countries: As of February 2025, China has unilaterally exempted 38 countries from visa requirements for ordinary passport holders. These countries include Andorra, Australia, Austria, Brunei, Bulgaria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Montenegro, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, and Switzerland.
- Purpose and Duration: People from these 38 countries can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchange visits, or transit for up to 30 days.
Visa-free Transit
- Extended Stay: Since December 17, 2024, China has extended the transit visa-free stay period from 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days).
- Eligible Countries: Citizens from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Canada, traveling from China to a third country (region), can enter visa-free through any of the 60 open ports in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), and stay within the allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers for no more than 240 hours.
Regional Visa-free Policies
- Guilin, Guangxi: ASEAN tour groups (2 or more persons, with ordinary passports), organized and hosted by domestic travel agencies, can enter and leave China without a visa through the Guilin Liangjiang International Airport border crossing. The available area is limited to the administrative area of Guilin City of Guangxi, and the stay time should not exceed 144 hours.
- Xishuangbanna, Yunnan: Starting from February 10, 2025, tour groups of 2 or more ordinary passport holders from ASEAN countries can enter and exit China without a visa via Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway Port, and Mohan Road Port, as long as they are organized by travel agencies in China and follow the “group entry and exit” arrangement. The trip is limited to the administrative region of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province only and the stay should not exceed six days.
- Hainan: From February 9, 2024, citizens of 59 countries including Spain can enter Hainan without a visa for tourism, business, visits, family reunions, medical care, exhibitions, sports competitions, etc. (except for work and study purposes), and can stay for up to 30 days.
Mutual Visa Exemption Agreements
- Number of Agreements: China has established over 150 mutual visa exemption agreements with foreign countries.