UNILATERAL VISA-FREE ENTRY · 30 DAYS
30-Day Visa-Free Entry: The Country List
As of 2026-09: ordinary-passport holders of 44 nationalities can enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days per visit — tourism, family visits, business meetings. This is destination entry: no onward ticket, no transit requirement, travel anywhere in the country. Different beast from the 240-hour transit — comparison table below.
THE LIST · 44 NATIONALITIES
Eligible Countries (44)
Europe (31)
- FR France 法国
- DE Germany 德国
- IT Italy 意大利
- ES Spain 西班牙
- PT Portugal 葡萄牙
- NL Netherlands 荷兰
- BE Belgium 比利时
- LU Luxembourg 卢森堡
- AT Austria 奥地利
- CH Switzerland 瑞士
- IE Ireland 爱尔兰
- IS Iceland 冰岛
- DK Denmark 丹麦
- NO Norway 挪威
- SE Sweden 瑞典
- FI Finland 芬兰
- CZ Czechia 捷克
- SK Slovakia 斯洛伐克
- HU Hungary 匈牙利
- PL Poland 波兰
- SI Slovenia 斯洛文尼亚
- GR Greece 希腊
- CY Cyprus 塞浦路斯
- MT Malta 马耳他
- HR Croatia 克罗地亚
- EE Estonia 爱沙尼亚
- LV Latvia 拉脱维亚
- LT Lithuania 立陶宛
- BG Bulgaria 保加利亚
- RO Romania 罗马尼亚
- GB United Kingdom 英国 · added 2026-02 per public reporting
Asia (10)
- JP Japan 日本
- KR South Korea 韩国
- SG Singapore 新加坡
- MY Malaysia 马来西亚
- TH Thailand 泰国
- ID Indonesia 印度尼西亚
- VN Vietnam 越南 · added 2026-08 with 240h expansion
- KG Kyrgyzstan 吉尔吉斯斯坦 · added 2026-08 (also Hainan list)
- KZ Kazakhstan 哈萨克斯坦
- BN Brunei 文莱
Oceania (2)
- AU Australia 澳大利亚
- NZ New Zealand 新西兰
Americas (1)
- CA Canada 加拿大 · added 2026-02 per public reporting
Amber chips = recently added (unverified detail). US is not on this list — Americans use the 240-hour transit or a visa.
COMPARE · TWO DIFFERENT POLICIES
30-Day Entry vs 240-Hour Transit
| Aspect | 30-day visa-free entry | 240-hour transit |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Full visa-free ENTRY for tourism/business/family visits | Visa-free TRANSIT between two different countries |
| Stay length | 30 days per entry | 10 days (240 hours), clock starts 00:00 next day |
| Onward ticket | Not required (it is your destination) | REQUIRED — confirmed ticket to a third country |
| Entry ports | Any international port | Only the 65 designated ports |
| Movement | Nationwide | Limited to permitted provinces |
| Country lists | Different list (~42 here, expanding) | 57 countries (2026-08) |
| Best for | China is your main destination | China as a long stopover between two countries |
RULES · WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO
The Fine Print
Allowed
- — Tourism, anywhere in mainland China
- — Family visits & friends
- — Business meetings, trade fairs, signings
- — Short-term exchanges & transit
Not allowed
- — Employment (any kind, incl. remote for a Chinese entity)
- — Study / enrolment
- — Journalism & reporting work
- — Routine extensions from inside China
SOURCE · OFFICIAL TEXT
What the Official Text Says
「中方决定对法国、德国、意大利、荷兰、西班牙、马来西亚等国家试行单方面免签政策……上述国家持普通护照人员来华经商、旅游观光、探亲访友和过境，免签入境停留不超过30天。」
EN · China has decided to trial unilateral visa-free entry for France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia and other listed countries… holders of ordinary passports from these countries entering for business, tourism, family visits or transit may stay visa-free for no more than 30 days.
AMBIGUOUS · WHERE THE TEXT LEAVES ROOM
What's Unclear
FAQ
Frequently Asked
Which countries can enter China visa-free for 30 days in 2026?
44 nationalities listed above — most of the EU, UK (added Feb 2026), Canada (Feb 2026), Japan, South Korea, Australia, NZ and much of ASEAN. The list has grown repeatedly since 2024; check the official MFA/NIA announcement for your passport before booking.
30-day visa-free vs 240-hour transit — which applies to me?
If China is your DESTINATION and your nationality is on the 30-day list: that, no onward ticket needed, stay anywhere. If you are TRANSITING between two different countries: 240-hour may also work and covers a different country list. Compare table above.
Do US citizens get the 30-day visa-free entry?
No — the US is NOT on the unilateral 30-day list (as of this page's check). US citizens CAN use the 240-hour transit route, or a regular visa. Verify current status before booking; the lists change.
Can I work or study on 30-day visa-free entry?
No. Permitted activities: tourism, family visits, business meetings/exchanges, transit. Employment, study and journalism require the proper visa regardless of stay length.
Can I extend the 30 days from inside China?
Generally no routine extensions for visa-free entry. If you need longer, apply for a proper visa before travelling. Overstay carries fines and future-entry risk.
How many times per year can I use it?
Public guidance suggests the 30-day policy is not for continuous back-to-back re-entries; border officers assess frequency. Serial in-out-in patterns get questioned anywhere in the world — plan accordingly.
Do I need hotel bookings or proof of funds at the border?
Not formally required, but officers can ask for your accommodation details and return/onward plans. Have your first hotel address written down (Chinese characters help) — it speeds up every checkpoint.
Is Hong Kong or Macau counted as "China" for the 30 days?
No — HK and Macau have separate immigration systems. Entering mainland from HK uses a day of visa-free stay; the 30 days apply to mainland time only.
CHANGELOG
Change History
- 译文
Page created from public reporting; full list pending verification against official announcements
DATA BACKING
Related Trackers
- → 240-hour visa-free transit tracker — the other visa-free route (57 countries, onward ticket required)
- → Paying with foreign cards — set up Alipay before you fly
- → eSIM comparison — get online the moment you land
Based on public announcements and our manual verification. Informational only — not legal, visa, or tax advice. Every page cites its official source and verification date.
Last updated: 2026-09-12 · Next re-check: 2026-09-19 · u8.fyi