China – Visa Guide

If you have decided to travel to China for tourism or business purposes, the first thing you’re probably going to look into is whether you need a visa or not. In this comprehensive guide, we will address all your questions regarding the Chinese visa procedures.

Do You Need a Visa for China?

The People’s Republic of China has varying visa policies based on your nationality and the duration of your stay. Unless your country has a mutual visa-free agreement, you will need to obtain a visa for China.

General Information about China Visas

Depending on the purpose of your visit, you can acquire one of the sixteen types of visas available. Below, we have listed the most relevant China visa types for touring, for business trips, or for transit:

Visas are obtained from Chinese embassies or consulates. Before departing on a long trip to East Asia, ensure that you apply for your Chinese visa in your country of citizenship or residency, as visas are only issued to citizens and legal residents of the countries where they are accredited.

Obtaining a visa is a straightforward process, provided you follow the correct steps and gather all necessary documents, making for a seamless experience. To simplify this procedure, you can divide it into 6 distinct steps:

• Choosing the appropriate Chinese visa type for your application
• Compiling the necessary documents
• Filing the visa application form
• Paying the China visa application fee and submitting the documents to the embassy or consulate
• Scheduling an in-person interview
• Attending the interview

After you have chosen the appropriate visa type and applied for it through the China Online Visa Application website, the next step is to schedule an in-person interview at your local Chinese embassy or consulate.

It is essential to have all relevant documentation printed and prepared before your interview. Book your flight and accommodation in advance to ensure you have your flight tickets, including the return ticket, as well as hotel reservations for the duration of your stay, readily available upon arrival. In addition to these requirements, you will need to provide a copy of the submitted application form, a detailed itinerary, and two visa photos, as well as a photocopy of the data and photo pages of your passport.

Those who have previously held a Chinese visa need to bring the passport that contains the most recent one, as well as photocopies of their data and photo pages.

Please note: Be prepared to have your fingerprints taken both before you receive your visa and upon arrival at the Chinese border.

Visas can be categorised as short-term or long-term, with the former typically valid for 3 or 6 months, while the latter may be valid for 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, or 10 years. The number of entries permitted per visa can also be predetermined, with mainly 3 kinds: single entry (01), double entry (02), and multiple entry (M). The allowed length of stay can vary, with options such as 30, 60, or 90 days per visit.

Visa processing times can range from four business days to ten or more days, depending on whether you apply for express visa processing. To be on the safer side, we recommend applying at least one month before your departure.

List of China Visa-free Countries

Many foreigners holding an ordinary passport can travel to China visa-free. The requirements vary depending on the terms of bilateral agreements between countries.

Visa-free regime by duration: up to 30 days - The duration of stay shall be calculated from 00:00 on the day following the day of entry:

Nationals of the following countries holding a valid ordinary passport can be exempted from the visa requirements if entering China for business, tourism, family or friend visits, exchange, or transit:

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay (visa-free policy valid until May 31, 2026)

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia (visa-free policy valid until June 8, 2026)

Please note: The cumulative maximum stay is limited to 90 days within every 180 days for the following countries:

Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

30 days for each entry, up to 90 days for each calendar year:

• Belarus

Up to 60 days in China:

• Mauritius

Up to 90 days in China:

• San Marino

No limitation on the duration of stay:

• Bangladesh: ordinary passports marked with "government affairs" or "free of charge".
• Laos: ordinary passport with official visas.

Group travel documents – No limitation on the duration of stay:

• Azerbaijan

Visa-free Group tours – Duration depending on the tours:

• The Russian Federation

Please note: the information provided above is subject to change. It is advisable to verify with the relevant government authorities before your trip.

24-hour Visa-free Transit Policy

A visa-free regime can also be applied to transit, although the time limit is stricter.

The 24-hour transit rule applies to all international citizens, provided that the travellers possess all valid travel documents, including a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry and an onward ticket with a seat booked within 24 hours to a third country. China should be a stop between your travel from nation A to nation B and not part of a round trip. You will also need to show a visa for the third nation you plan to travel to, if required.

Travellers must remain within the designated territory of the airport, train station, or seaport and may only leave the area with a temporary entry permit issued by the relevant authorities.

240-hour Visa-free Transit Policy

Transit without a visa (TWOV) is available for citizens of 55 countries for up to 10 days, as long as they meet certain criteria. These countries are:

Since most citizens of these countries already enjoy a regular visa-free regime with China, the 240-hour TWOV does not provide additional benefits in this case.

This 240-hour visa-free policy is valid for visitors who hold the arrival card for foreigners in transit that is filled out upon arrival in China and who enter from one of 47 airports and 13 seaports in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) across the country, as well as by train from the Mohan Railway Port in Yunnan on the border of Laos and China. The point of departure must also be one of these designated locations. The duration of the 240 hours begins at midnight on the day of your arrival, and you can visit all the TWOV cities freely, without needing a visa. Before or when the time limit is up, you may travel to a third country. In this case, the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Taiwan, are treated as separate entities.

Visa-free Policy in Hong Kong and Macau

Hong Kong and Macau (Macao) are Special Administrative Regions (SARs) of China, but they maintain separate immigration and visa policies from mainland China. Many travellers can visit Hong Kong or Macau without a visa for short-term stays, typically ranging from 7 to 180 days. Still, this doesn’t mean you can freely travel between these regions and mainland China.

If you want to visit cities like Beijing or Shanghai after stopping in Hong Kong or Macau, you will need a separate Chinese visa. Similarly, a visa for mainland China will not grant you entry into Hong Kong or Macau. Consider them as different jurisdictions on your journey, each with its own entry requirements. This distinction underscores the “one country, two systems” rule, which shapes the unique administrative frameworks of these regions. For detailed information, please read our Hong Kong visa guide and our Macau visa guide.

6-day Pearl River Delta Visa Exemption Policy

Tourists heading to southern China may be eligible to take advantage of a special visa-free policy for a visit to the Zhujiang River, known as the Pearl River Delta (PRD) area, which includes the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou.

Under this policy, travellers from any foreign country with established diplomatic relations with China can visit the PRD for up to 144 hours (6 days) without a Chinese visa, provided they are part of an organised group tour arranged by an approved Chinese travel agency. This rule is particularly advantageous for those who plan to visit several places in the region and want to explore the dynamic cities of southern China without the inconvenience of applying for a visa.

To qualify for this exemption, travellers must meet a few key conditions:

• You must enter and exit through designated ports and remain within the region during your stay.
• You must possess a valid passport issued by a foreign country with which China maintains diplomatic relations.
• You must have already arrived in Hong Kong or Macau.
• You must be a part of a tourist group organised by a travel agency registered in Hong Kong or Macau.
• You must intend to visit one of the 10 cities in the Pearl River Delta exclusively.

The policies also apply to group travel to Shantou, as long as the journey begins and ends there and the activities remain within the administrative boundaries of the city.

6-day Visa Exemption for ASEAN Group Tours to Guilin

Guilin, famous for its characteristic karst topography and scenic Li River, offers a special visa-free policy for group tours from ASEAN countries. Under this regime, citizens from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, who are travelling in an organised group tour approved by a registered Chinese travel agency, can visit Guilin without a Chinese visa for up to 6 days.

This policy facilitates Southeast Asian tourists to enjoy a short stay in one of China’s most gorgeous destinations. The main condition of this rule is that tourists must enter and exit through the Guilin Liangjiang International Airport and must strictly adhere to the city limits during their visit.

15-day Visa-free Policy for Cruise Groups

Tourists who plan on arriving by a cruise ship can enjoy up to 15 days of visa-free access to China, provided they meet the following conditions:

• Travel must be by cruise ship.
• Arrival must be at the nationwide cruise ship ports mentioned below.
• The group must consist of at least 2 passengers.
• The trip must be approved by a Chinese domestic registered travel agency.
• Passengers must depart on the same vessel to the next port of call.
• The stay must not exceed 15 days.

This is a perfect opportunity for cruise passengers who wish to explore, for example, Shanghai and the nearby coastal provinces like Fujian, Hainan, Jiangsu, and others briefly, without going through the regular visa application process.

The ports concerned by this visa exemption are Tianjin; Dalian in Liaoning Province; Shanghai; Lianyungang in Jiangsu Province; Wenzhou and Zhoushan in Zhejiang Province; Xiamen in Fujian Province; Qingdao in Shandong Province; Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong Province; Beihai in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; and Haikou and Sanya in Hainan Province.

The 55 eligible countries are Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Hainan's 30-day Visa-free Policy

China’s tropical island province of Hainan has a special 30-day visa-free policy for citizens holding an ordinary passport from one of the following 59 countries: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

If you need to extend your stay in Hainan or travel to other parts of mainland China, you may apply for an extension at the Exit-Entry Administrative Authorities of Hainan province. You can apply at the local public security organ in Haikou, Sanya, Danzhou, Yangpu, Wenchang, Qionghai, or Chengmai. If you are staying elsewhere, you can submit your application to the Exit-Entry Service Window at the Hainan Government Affairs Service Centre for application.

If you are a part of a study tour, cultural exchange programme, or other relevant activity, you will need a letter of certification issued by the inviting or receiving entity to get an extension permit. As for regular tourists, you will be asked for a travel itinerary. If you are travelling with a group, you will need to submit a letter of certification from the travel agency that arranged the tour.

APEC Business Travel Cardholders

Individuals with a valid APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC), with "CHN" listed on the back of the card as one of the visa-free APEC economies, except those that were issued in Canada, the United States of America, and Taiwan (known as Chinese Taipei), are eligible to visit mainland China visa-free for up to 60 days for each entry, as long as they don’t work in China. If your ABTC was issued in Hong Kong, you can only benefit from this exemption rule as a non-Chinese citizen.

The 19 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

Canada and the United States are transitional members of the ABTC scheme.

Holders of Aliens’ Residence Permits

Foreign nationals who hold a valid residence permit or a permanent residence card for China are exempt from visa requirements for the duration of their validity. In simple terms, if you have residency, you can enter, exit, and travel freely within mainland China without requiring additional visas. All you need are your passport and permit for hotel check-ins, train or flight bookings, and at the border crossings. This exemption applies to work (Z), study (X), or family (S, Q) visas. As long as you have valid documentation, you may enjoy multiple entries and unlimited travel across China, with no need for further visa applications or transit restrictions during that period.

Restricted Regions

It is important to note that there are several exceptions to the aforementioned rules. You might need special permits and book guided tours to enter specific regions or areas under military control.

Tibet Autonomous Region:

The Tibet Autonomous Region requires separate documentation for entry. For general travel in this area, a Tibet Travel Permit issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) is sufficient. However, travelling outside of Lhasa and Nagqu, for instance, to Shigatse (Mount Everest), Tsedang (Samye Monastery), or Nyingchi (Basum Tso), will call for an Alien Travel Permit (which is a residence permit). Additionally, Military Area Travel Permits are issued by the military office in Lhasa for the following destinations: Ngari (Mount Kailash), Nyingchi, and Chamdo.

Parts of Xinjiang:

Some regions also have seasonal restrictions. For instance, due to the heavy snow and icy roads, the Duku Highway in the Xinjiang area is closed from late autumn to early summer. If you want to travel the Karakoram Highway (the road from Kashgar to Pakistan) or to visit the ancient desert ruins in southern Xinjiang, you will need a China travel permit.

International Border Regions:

Near the borders of India and Myanmar, as well as some islands, tourists may require a separate border pass or permit.

As a general guideline, it is necessary to join a group tour. We recommend booking your tour through reputable travel agencies and checking the restricted areas for you to apply in advance for a permit.

Useful Tips

Check Visa Requirements Early

If you need a visa, start the application process in advance – preferably at least 1 month before your planned travel. Visa requirements and processing times can vary based on your country of origin and the type of visa you request.

Know Which Visa You Need

Identify the appropriate visa category based on the purpose of your visit.

Gather the Necessary Documents

Common documents required for a visa application include:

1. A valid passport with at least 6 months of validity and blank visa pages.
2. A completed visa application form.
3. Recent passport-sized photos.
4. A travel itinerary, including flight and hotel bookings.
5. An invitation letter, if applicable (business, family visit, etc.).
6. Proof of financial means or employment, if requested.

Adhere to Photo and Form Requirements

Submitting incorrect photos and forms is a common cause of visa application rejections. Ensure your photos meet the requirements, and double-check your application form before submission.

Be Prepared for an Interview

If an interview or additional documentation is required, be honest and clear about your travel intentions and submit all materials within the specified timeframe.

Register Upon Arrival in China

Accommodation registration is one of the more specific formalities you have to complete shortly after arrival in China. Those staying at a hotel need to provide their passport for registration at the front desk, while those who are staying elsewhere, along with the person they are staying with, must register their residence within 24 hours of their entry into the country at the local police station. An online self-service registration by scanning a QR code is an alternative method available for registration.

Travellers who register for the first time at the police station must provide certain documents, including an original passport, one photo that meets the standards set by the public security department of mainland China, a lease contract (if not staying with friends or family), and any other relevant paperwork (such as a travel visa, work certificate, or a birth certificate for a foreign baby born in China).

For a registration renewal, authorities may require individuals to present their passport and other supporting documents. If a visa or entry information is in a different passport or APEC card, it is required to bring it as well. Accommodation registration must be renewed each time a traveller re-enters mainland China.

The expiration date of the registration corresponds to the validity period of the residence or other permits issued by the public security department of China. If an individual has a visa issued overseas, the registration expiration date will be the latest entry date plus the duration of each stay.

The Arrival Card, which you will fill out upon entering China, provides clear information about this requirement in both Chinese and English. To make this process easier for foreign nationals, the government has streamlined the registration process and is incorporating online platforms for this procedure.

Keep Copies of All Documents

Retain copies of your application, passport pages, and any submitted documents for future reference.

Check for Visa Extensions or Multiple Entries

If you plan to stay in China for an extended period or travel in and out multiple times, apply for the appropriate visa type or enquire about extension options upon your initial arrival.

Consult Official Sources

For the most up-to-date information and a more detailed list of requirements, always refer to the official Chinese embassy or consulate website in your country.

Consider Advantour Professional Service

To feel comfortable for your trip to China, consider booking a tour with Advantour:

• 8 days in China
• 10 days in China
• 12 days in China