Quick check
Three questions to find your route
For short visits on an ordinary passport, for tourism or business.
- 1
Have you confirmed eligibility for the 30-day unilateral exemption?
Check nationality, purpose and entry date. Mutual agreements and regional exemptions have separate terms; this tool only suggests a next step.
Four ways to enter China
Check them in order — the first one you qualify for is your route.
Why we don’t list the countries
The visa-free lists have changed often. To avoid outdated information, check the official links on each card.
If you need a visa
Start at least a month ahead — more before peak season and public holidays.
- 1
Fill in the form
Enter the current online system from the embassy or visa centre responsible for your residence, then complete, upload or print the required materials. Workflows vary by office.
Keep the application reference and required confirmation
- 2
Book a slot
Check whether your office requires online review, an appointment or direct submission, and attend as instructed. Appointment requirements are not identical everywhere.
Confirm the office and attendance requirements
- 3
Gather documents
Passport (validity and blank pages as the office requires), photo, and an itinerary or invitation.
- 4
Submit & collect
Check your office’s current notice for fingerprint exemptions by visa category, duration, fees and collection. A notice for one category or country does not apply to every application.
Check name, type, entries and length of stay
Before border control
Whichever way you enter, keep these three within reach.
- PassportThe same one you booked with
- Onward ticketKey for visa-free and transit
- First night’s stayHotel name, address and booking
Foreign nationals need an arrival card. Filling it in online beforehand saves time:
- Online: the NIA website, the NIA 12367 app, or the WeChat or Alipay mini programs.
- Or fill it in on arrival, on a kiosk or on paper.
- Not needed for e-channel users, group visas or 24-hour direct transit.
Keep an offline copy
You may not have data the moment you land. Screenshot your tickets, hotel booking and arrival card, or print them.
Common questions
Visa-free entry vs. 240-hour transit — what’s the difference?
Eligible unilateral entry normally allows up to 30 days without a third-destination route. Mutual agreements vary in stay and cumulative limits. The 240-hour transit route requires a third country or region and specified ports and areas.
Can I visit Hong Kong or Macau and come back?
Hong Kong and Macau have their own entry rules. To re-enter the mainland you must qualify again under visa-free entry or another route.
Can I extend a visa-free stay in China?
In special cases you can ask the local exit-entry administration, but don’t plan on it. If you need longer, apply for a visa in advance.
Does Hainan have its own visa-free policy?
Yes. At review, Hainan’s policy covers ordinary passports from 61 countries for qualifying stays up to 30 days within Hainan. Confirm required formalities with exit-entry authorities before travelling elsewhere on the mainland; regional permission is not nationwide permission.
What might border officers ask?
Typically your purpose, how long you’ll stay and where. Answer plainly and have your return ticket and hotel booking ready.
Read next
Sources
- Regional exemptions (Hainan: 61 countries)National Immigration Administration · 2026-08-20
- Extension of the unilateral visa-free policyMFA Consular Department · 2025-11-03
- 240-hour visa-free transit policyNational Immigration Administration · 2026-08-20
- Arrival cards and transit conditionsNational Immigration Administration · 2025-11-03
- China Online Visa ApplicationMinistry of Foreign Affairs
- Chinese Visa Application Service CenterVisa centre
Sources support the relevant rules, last reviewed 3 Oct 2026. Routes, budgets and practical suggestions are editorial guidance, not official guarantees. Recheck rules and service availability before travelling.