Visa and entry
Many passports get 30 days visa-free. Check yours.
- 30 days visa-free for Spain, most of Europe, the UK, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, currently until 31 December 2026.
- Mexican, Colombian and US passports need a visa. Mexican and US passports can use the 240-hour transit if you fly on to a third country.
- The arrival card can be filled in online before you fly, on the immigration website or in Alipay.
- Your passport must be valid for the whole stay. With 6 months left you avoid trouble with the airline.
- Your hotel registers your stay. If you sleep in a private home, you must register at the police station within 24 hours.
Last checked October 2026 against official sources.
Questions about visa and entry
Which passports get 30 days visa-free?
Most of the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. It covers tourism, business and family visits, currently until 31 December 2026. What counts is your passport, not where you live.
How are the 30 days counted?
From the day after you arrive. If you land on 1 April, the count starts on the 2nd and you can stay until 1 May. You can enter more than once, and each entry gives you up to 30 days.
How does the 240-hour transit work?
If your passport is on the list, like the US or Mexico, you can stay up to 10 days visa-free when you arrive from one country and leave for a different one. For example, fly from home into Beijing and leave from Shanghai to Hong Kong, Seoul or Tokyo. You need that onward ticket booked.
How long must my passport be valid?
For visa-free entry it must be valid for your whole stay, but we suggest at least 6 months. The 240-hour transit needs at least 3 months. Every traveller, babies included, needs their own passport.
What if my passport is not on the list?
Apply for a tourist visa (L) at the Chinese visa centre or consulate in your country. You fill in the form online and bring your passport, a photo, flights and hotels. Allow at least a month. If you fly on to a third country, check first whether the 240-hour transit works for you.
Do I need to fill in an arrival card?
Yes. Since November 2025 you can do it online before you fly, for free, on the Chinese immigration website or in the NIA 12367 mini program inside Alipay or WeChat. Otherwise, you fill it in at the airport.