30-day visa-free entry

What the 30-day visa-free entry covers

Citizens of listed countries holding ordinary passports can enter mainland China for stays of up to 30 days, for tourism, business, family visit or transit. No visa required. Onward ticket helpful but not strictly required at most ports.

Eligible countries (verified May 2026)

Europe: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic.

Asia–Pacific: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea.

Americas: (under expansion — confirm)

The list adds new countries every few months. The official source is the National Immigration Administration (NIA) website.

What you can and cannot do

• Tourism, business meetings, family visits, transit — all fine.
• Working, studying, journalism — require a different visa.
• The 30 days are counted from the day after arrival.

Hotel registration

Whether you stay in a hotel or with friends, you must be registered with the local police within 24 hours. Hotels do this automatically. If staying in a private flat, register at the local police station.

Re-entry

You can re-enter under the same scheme repeatedly, but Border Control may question the pattern. For longer or more complex stays, get a proper L or M visa.