China Visa-Free Countries: The Complete 2026 List
50 countries get 30 days, no visa. 55 more get 10 days in transit. Here's the complete picture, updated for 2026.
As of 2026, ordinary passport holders of 50 countries can enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. Another 55 nationalities — most importantly the United States — can use the 240-hour transit scheme. This page lists both, and we re-verify it against the official NIA announcements.
The 30-day visa-free list
Citizens of these countries can enter visa-free for tourism, business, family visits, exchange and transit, for up to 30 days per entry, under the policy running until December 31, 2026:
- Western Europe: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Portugal, Greece, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Malta, Cyprus
- Northern Europe: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland
- Central & Eastern Europe: Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Montenegro
- Asia–Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei
- Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia
- South America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay
- North America: Canada
- Also included: Russia
A further 29 countries have mutual visa-exemption agreements with China (including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the UAE, Qatar, Kazakhstan and Serbia). If your country isn't in either group, don't stop reading — the transit scheme below probably has you covered.
The 240-hour transit list
55 nationalities can enter China visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) when transiting to a third country or region. This is the scheme that matters most for US passport holders — alongside Mexico, Ukraine, Indonesia and a few others, the US is the major nationality not on the 30-day list. The full mechanics — including the round-trip trap that catches people out — are in our 240-hour transit explainer.
What to bring even when you're visa-free
- A passport valid for the entire length of your stay
- A return or onward ticket (airlines check this at boarding)
- A hotel booking or the address where you're staying
- Proof of sufficient funds — rarely asked, but carry it
Key point
Visa-free entry is per entry, not per year — you can leave (say, a weekend in Hong Kong or Seoul) and re-enter for another 30 days. But frequent back-to-back entries may draw questions at the border.
Rather than scanning lists, get a direct answer for your passport:
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