Visa-Free Entry to China 2026: 30-Day & 240-Hour Transit Guide for Foreigners
China visa-free entry in 2026: 30-day policy for 50+ countries, 240-hour transit rules, required documents and common mistakes for foreign travelers.
Key takeaway
Since February 2026, citizens of over 50 countries — including the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and most of Europe — can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days. If your country isn't on that list (like the US), you can use the 240-hour transit visa-free scheme as long as you're flying to a third country. Both require a passport valid 6+ months, confirmed onward ticket, hotel booking, and completion of the CDAC Digital Arrival Card within 72 hours before landing.
How the rules work
One-sentence answer: Since February 2026, citizens of over 50 countries — including the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and most of Europe — can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days. If your country isn't on that list (like the US), you can still use the 240-hour transit visa-free scheme as long as you're flying to a third country.
The Two Visa-Free Tracks (Don't Mix Them Up)
China runs two completely separate visa-free programs in 2026. Picking the wrong one gets you turned away at the airport. Here's how they differ:
| 30-Day Visa-Free | 240-Hour Transit | |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Citizens of ~50 countries (EU, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, Korea, etc.) | Citizens of 55 countries (includes US, plus all 30-day countries) |
| How long | Up to 30 days | Up to 240 hours (10 days) |
| Onward ticket | Return to home country is fine | Must be a third country — cannot return to origin |
| Where you can go | All of mainland China | Only within designated provinces connected to your entry port |
| Valid until | December 31, 2026 | No announced end date |
| Best for | A full trip to China | A China stopover on a multi-country trip |
Decision Tree: Which One Should You Use?
- Is your passport from a 30-day country? → Use the 30-day scheme. It's simpler, no onward-country rule, covers all of China.
- Is your passport NOT on the 30-day list (e.g., US, India, Brazil)? → Use the 240-hour transit scheme. Book a flight that goes Home → China → Different Country.
- Are you from a 30-day country but want to stay longer than 30 days? → Apply for a regular tourist visa (L visa) instead.
30-Day Visa-Free: Full Country List
These countries have unilateral 30-day visa-free access to China. You can fly directly to any Chinese city, no onward-to-third-country requirement.
Europe (29 countries): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand
Asia (11): Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Arab Emirates
Americas & Others: United Kingdom, Canada (both added February 17, 2026)
What you need:
- Ordinary passport valid 6+ months
- Confirmed return or onward ticket
- Hotel booking or accommodation address
- Completed CDAC (Digital Arrival Card) — see our e-Arrival Card guide
You do NOT need: an invitation letter, a visa application, or proof of funds (though having a bank statement doesn't hurt).
Extension: Can I Stay Longer?
No. The 30-day visa-free entry cannot be extended inside China. If you need more time, you must leave and re-enter (which resets the 30-day counter, but border officers may question frequent resets) or apply for a regular tourist visa before your trip.
240-Hour Transit Visa-Free: How It Actually Works
This policy covers 55 nationalities — including the US, India, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, and all 30-day countries. The key rule you cannot break:
Your flight path must be: Country A → China → Country C (not Country A → China → Country A).
Examples of valid routes:
- ✅ New York → Shanghai → Tokyo
- ✅ London → Beijing → Hong Kong (HK counts as a third region)
- ✅ Sydney → Guangzhou → Bangkok
Examples of INVALID routes:
- ❌ New York → Shanghai → New York (return to origin)
- ❌ London → Beijing → London (same country)
- ❌ Paris → Shanghai (no onward ticket at all)
Eligible Entry Ports
You must enter through one of 60+ designated ports across 24 provinces. Major ones include:
- Beijing: Capital International (PEK), Daxing (PKX)
- Shanghai: Pudong (PVG), Hongqiao (SHA)
- Guangzhou: Baiyun (CAN)
- Shenzhen: Bao'an (SZX)
- Chengdu: Tianfu (TFU)
- Xi'an: Xianyang (XIY)
- Kunming: Changshui (KMG)
Stay Limits and Movement
Once you clear immigration under the 240-hour scheme:
- You can move freely within the province of your entry port
- You can cross into neighboring provinces that are part of the 24-province zone
- You must leave mainland China before the 240-hour window expires
- Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count as "third regions" — flying China → HK and then home is valid
Required Documents for Both Schemes
Whichever track you use, bring these:
- Passport — valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date, with at least one blank page
- Onward/return flight confirmation — printed or on your phone. For transit: must show third-country destination
- Accommodation details — hotel name and address (for the CDAC form). If staying with a friend, their address and phone number
- CDAC confirmation QR code — fill the Digital Arrival Card online within 72 hours of landing. Save the QR code — you'll scan it at immigration
What Happens at Immigration
- Disembark and follow signs to "Foreigners / International Arrivals"
- Scan your CDAC QR code at a kiosk (or fill a paper form if you didn't do it online)
- Queue for passport control. Have your passport, onward ticket, and accommodation info ready
- Fingerprints and photo — all foreigners are fingerprinted on entry (standard since 2017)
- Officer asks basic questions: "How long will you stay?" "Where are you staying?" Answer clearly.
- Entry stamp — check the date before leaving the counter
After immigration, pick up your bags and you're through. Read our First Day in China guide for what to do next.
What If Your Country Isn't on Either List?
If your passport is from India, most African countries, most South American countries, or others not covered by either scheme, you need a regular Chinese tourist visa (L visa). Apply at your nearest Chinese embassy or visa application center. Processing takes 4-10 business days, so plan ahead — don't book flights until you have the visa.
How to do it
Check which visa-free track applies to your passport — 30-day or 240-hour transit
If 240-hour transit: book flights as Home → China → Different Country (not a round trip)
Ensure your passport has 6+ months validity and at least one blank page
Book accommodation and save the address for the CDAC form
Fill the CDAC Digital Arrival Card online within 72 hours of your flight (save the QR code)
At immigration: present passport, onward ticket, accommodation info, and scan CDAC QR code
Watch for
Booking a round trip (London → Beijing → London) on the 240-hour transit scheme → It won't work. Use 30-day visa-free or get a visa.
Not filling the CDAC before landing → You can do it at the airport but queues are long and terminals may not be available. Fill it online 72h before.
Passport expiring in less than 6 months → Chinese immigration strictly enforces this. Airlines may deny boarding.
Assuming all airports are transit ports → Only 60+ designated ports across 24 provinces participate in the 240-hour scheme. Check before booking.
Mixing the two schemes without a clear plan → Entering on 30-day, leaving to HK, then trying to re-enter on 240-hour transit may look suspicious. Have your full itinerary ready.
Counting the entry day as Day 0 → The 240-hour clock starts at 00:00 on the day AFTER arrival. But don't cut it close — plan to leave a day early.