Plan · Visa & entry
Visa requirements for China
China's visa system has changed substantially since 2023. Many travellers now qualify for visa-free entry that wasn't available three years ago. The headline rules below are accurate as of the verified date — confirm with your nearest Chinese embassy before booking flights.
Visa policy verified May 2026. Confirm with your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate before travel.
Standard visa categories The most common visa types issued by Chinese embassies and consulates are:
- L visa — tourist. Single, double or multiple entry. Typical validity 30–60 days per entry.
- M visa — business. For commercial and trade activities. Multi-entry common.
- Q visa — family reunion (Q1 long-term, Q2 short-term).
- Z visa — work. Issued only after a Foreign Expert work permit is approved.
- X visa — study. X1 for 180+ day programmes, X2 for shorter.
2024–2025 visa-free expansions
- 240-hour visa-free transit for travellers from 54 eligible countries connecting through 60+ Chinese ports. Onward ticket to a third country required.
- 30-day visa-free entry for ordinary passport holders from a growing list of countries (most of the EU, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and others). The list is rapidly changing.
Standard L visa application
Typical requirements: - Passport valid 6+ months beyond your stay, two blank pages. - Online application form (printed and signed). - Recent passport-style photograph. - Round-trip flight booking and hotel reservation (or invitation letter). - Proof of funds in some cases. - The fee, varying by nationality.
In most countries applications go through the China Visa Application Service Center (CVASC). Walk-in submission to embassies is no longer standard.
What does NOT require a visa
- Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR have separate rules. Many nationalities are visa-free for Hong Kong (90 days for UK, EU, US, Australia, NZ; 14–30 for others) and Macau (30–90).
- The 240-hour transit at eligible ports for eligible nationalities.
- The 30-day visa-free entry for eligible nationalities.
Common pitfalls
- Connecting flights through HK or Macau count as separate immigration crossings.
- Re-entry on a multi-entry visa requires the visa to still be valid on the entry date.
- Overstaying — even by a day — incurs fines and can lead to a ban.
- The visa is the right to apply for entry, not entry itself. Border officers can refuse entry on the day.
Verified May 2026