Visa-Free
Policy
What is a China Visa-Free and Transit Visa-Free Tour?
To facilitate international travel, China has introduced three major visa-free policies:
1. Mutual Visa Exemption Countries
In accordance with the mutual visa exemption agreements signed between China and relevant countries, eligible foreign citizens may enjoy "a single stay of no more than 30 days, with a cumulative stay of no more than 90 days within any 180-day period."
How to understand and calculate this rule?
Official Interpretation:
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The "180-day period" is calculated individually for each traveler’s visa-free stay in China, referring to the 180 days retroactively counted back from any day of their visa-free stay.
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The "90-day period" excludes the duration of stay in China with visas, residence permits, or APEC Business Travel Cards (ABTC).
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If the cumulative visa-free stay within the 180-day retroactive period has reached 90 days upon entry, visa-free entry will not be permitted.
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If the cumulative stay is less than 90 days but the remaining allowable stay is less than 30 days, the maximum duration of this visa-free stay shall not exceed the remaining allowable period.
2. China’s Unilateral 30-Day Visa-Free Policy
Announced on November 10, 2025, this policy grants a 30-day visa-free entry to citizens of designated countries. Eligible travelers can enter and stay in mainland China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau) for a maximum of 30 days without a visa.
3. 240-Hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV) Countries
The latest 240-hour TWOV policy was announced by the National Immigration Administration of China on June 12, 2025, and took effect immediately upon announcement.
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This policy has unified and extended the previous 72-hour and 144-hour transit visa-free periods to a single 240-hour (10-day) period.
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21 new ports of entry have been added, bringing the total number of applicable ports to 60.
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Additionally, the permitted stay areas have been expanded: eligible foreign travelers can stay within designated regions across 24 provinces (including autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government).
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Foreign citizens entering China via the TWOV policy are allowed to engage in inter-provincial travel within the permitted TWOV regions of these 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities.
1
Which countries are eligible for the mutual visa exemption policy?
Under bilateral agreements, citizens of these countries can enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, with a cumulative maximum stay of 90 days within any 180-day period.
Total: 26 countries
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Europe: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, San Marino
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Asia: United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Maldives, Singapore, Thailand, Armenia
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Africa: Mauritius, Seychelles
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North America: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada
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Oceania: Fiji, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga
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South America: Suriname
Travelers can visit the entire mainland China, excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, which require separate entry permits.
2
Which countries are eligible for the 30-day visa-free policy?
This policy applies to ordinary passport holders from countries not included in the mutual visa exemption list, allowing visa-free entry for up to 30 days across mainland China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau).
Total: 48 countries
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Europe: France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Russia, Sweden
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Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
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Asia: Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain
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South America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay
Travelers can visit the entire mainland China, excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, which require separate entry permits.
3
Which countries are eligible for the 240-hour transit visa-free policy?
This policy extends the previous 72-hour and 144-hour transit periods to a unified 240 hours (10 days), allowing eligible travelers to stay and travel across designated regions in 24 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. It applies to citizens from countries not covered by the above two visa-free policies.
Total: 8 countries
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Americas: United States, Canada, Mexico
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Europe: United Kingdom, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Lithuania
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Asia: Indonesia
4
What are the requirements to be eligible for the 240-hour visa-free policy?
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Be a citizen of a country eligible for the visa-free transit policy;
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Hold a valid international travel document with at least 3 months of validity, and meet the entry requirements for the destination country (or region);
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Possess a confirmed onward ticket with a set date and seat to a third country (or region) within 240 hours, complete a temporary entry form for foreigners, and undergo border inspection and questioning by immigration authorities;
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Must not have a denial stamp from a Chinese visa authority, and must not have any record of illegal entry, illegal stay, or illegal employment within the past 5 years.
5
When does the 240-hour period begin?
If a foreigner meets the conditions for visa-free transit, the immigration authorities will process their temporary entry. The visa-free stay period starts from midnight of the day following entry. For example, if Bob completes his temporary entry procedures on July 5th at 3 PM, his stay will begin from midnight on July 6th.
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What should foreigners be aware of after entering China under the 240-hour visa-free transit policy?
During the visa-free stay, foreigners must comply with Chinese laws and regulations, and must not exceed the permitted area and duration of stay.
7
What should you do if, due to special circumstances, you are unable to leave within the stipulated time or need to stay beyond the designated area?
If you encounter emergencies or force majeure that require you to stay in China beyond the specified duration or outside the permitted area, you should proactively apply for the relevant foreigner stay permits from the exit and entry administration of the public security authority in advance.
Foreigners who exceed the specified time or area, exit from non-designated ports, or fail to register their accommodation as required during their visa-free transit period will be dealt with according to the law by the public security authority or border inspection authorities.
If you have any other questions, you can call the +86-12367 service hotline at any time.