Canton Fair 2026: How to Enter China for the 140th Session (Visa-Free, Transit & Invitation)

The 140th Canton Fair opens at the Pazhou complex in Guangzhou on October 15, 2026, and runs in three phases until November 4. If you are an overseas buyer deciding whether to fly in, the entry question comes first. Good news: for most buyers there are now three real paths, and two of them do not require a traditional visa.

Path 1 — 30-day unilateral visa-free entry

China's unilateral visa-free policy was extended through December 31, 2026 (24:00 Beijing time). Ordinary-passport holders of the countries on the list can enter and stay up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit — no visa application, no fee.

This is the simplest route for buyers from eligible countries: the policy is not tied to the fair, so you can also tack on a week of factory visits or sightseeing before or after the event.

Path 2 — 240-hour transit visa-free (57 countries)

The 240-hour transit visa-free policy currently covers 57 countries, including the US, Russia and the UK. The conditions are specific: you hold an ordinary passport, have a confirmed international connecting ticket dated with fixed itinerary and seat, and you are transiting through China to a third country or region. You may enter at any of 65 open ports across 24 provincial regions and stay up to 10 days.

The catch to plan around: this route requires a genuine transit itinerary — an outbound onward ticket matters. If your trip is only Guangzhou and back home, the unilateral visa-free list or the invitation route is the safer fit.

Path 3 — Official Canton Fair invitation + visa

For buyers not covered by either visa-free path, the official route is the invitation-based visa. The fair's own guidance is straightforward:

• Apply for the Canton Fair invitation online (buyer registration), which also unlocks the free entry badge (IC card) at the fair.
• Then lodge your visa application at a Chinese visa application center with: a clear passport scan, the invitation letter, flight and hotel bookings, your company's business license, an introduction letter and recent bank statements.
• Allow enough time — visa processing plus the invitation itself means starting well before the fair opens.

Which path is yours?

Before booking anything, do one 10-minute check: compare your nationality against the current unilateral visa-free list, then against the 57-country transit list. Both have been updated repeatedly in 2026, so rely on the latest official versions rather than a post you saw months ago. If neither path fits you, start the invitation route now — the fair opens October 15.

Once your entry is sorted, the practical questions take over: which phase matches your product, how to reach Pazhou, and who helps you on the ground. Our Canton Fair support page walks through exactly that, and the phase-by-phase schedule guide helps you pick your days.

Planning a China trip beyond the fair? Our free China Travel Planner at chinapie.ai/plan builds a full itinerary around your dates and interests.