China Panorama
China Panorama
Visa CheckBest TimeTheme ParksTradeStatus PageAbout UsNewsletter
Last verified: Aug 2026

China Visa-Free Entry: Check by Nationality

Choose a nationality – we'll show you whether visa-free or transit-free entry to China is possible, for how long, and since when. Once your visa status is confirmed, add it to your pre-trip checklist alongside the other steps.

50 unilaterally visa-free · 6 mutually visa-free · 12 240-hour transit only · 68 countries in the database · Last verified: 2026-07-30

12 Nationalities in Detail

Every country below has its own deep-dive page — what the rule means specifically for that nationality, arrival card, registration duty, and sources.

🇺🇸 United States

240-hour transit only, 10 days

Full details for US citizens →

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Visa-free (unilateral), 30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026 · Only added to the list on 17 Feb 2026.

Full details for UK citizens →

🇨🇦 Canada

Visa-free (unilateral), 30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026 · Only added to the list on 17 Feb 2026.

Full details for Canadian citizens →

🇦🇺 Australia

Visa-free (unilateral), 30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details for Australian citizens →

🇫🇷 France

Visa-free (unilateral), 30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details for French citizens →

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Visa-free (unilateral), 30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details for Dutch citizens →

🇲🇾 Malaysia

Visa-free (unilateral), 30 days · valid until indefinite · Permanent mutual agreement since 17 Jul 2025. Max. 90 days per 180 days.

Full details for Malaysian citizens →

🇸🇬 Singapore

Visa-free (unilateral), 30 days · valid until indefinite · Mutual visa agreement since 9 Feb 2024, indefinite.

Full details for Singaporean citizens →

🇧🇷 Brazil

Visa-free (unilateral), 30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details for Brazilian citizens →

🇯🇵 Japan

Visa-free (unilateral), 30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details for Japanese citizens →

🇰🇷 South Korea

Visa-free (unilateral), 30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details for South Korean citizens →

🇮🇳 India

Not on the visa-free or transit-free list

Full details for Indian citizens →

China 240-Hour Transit: 10 Days Without a Visa

US passport holders (and anyone else without full visa-free eligibility) can still enter China without a visa under the 240-hour transit rule – but only to pass through to a third country, with a confirmed onward ticket, for a maximum of 10 days (240 hours). It doesn't cover a regular stay for tourism or business. Even for a short transit stop, it's worth checking health and medication requirements beforehand, the same as for a full visa-free stay.

Currently 12 nationalities in our database with 240-hour transit only (as of 2026-07-30):

Czechia · Lithuania · Ukraine · Serbia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Albania · Belarus · United States · Mexico · United Arab Emirates · Qatar · Indonesia

China's Digital Arrival Card

Since 20 Nov 2025, fillable in advance online or via QR-code scan; a paper form on arrival is still possible too. Last verified: 2026-07-30. Airlines may also ask about your onward arrangements before boarding a direct flight to China.

All Countries by Region

Europe (42)

Albania240-hour transit only

10 days · valid until indefinite

AndorraVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

AustriaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Belarus240-hour transit only

10 days · valid until indefinite

BelgiumVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Bosnia and Herzegovina240-hour transit only

10 days · valid until indefinite

BulgariaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

CroatiaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

CyprusVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Czechia240-hour transit only

10 days · valid until indefinite

DenmarkVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

EstoniaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

FinlandVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

FranceVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details →
GermanyVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

GreeceVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

HungaryVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

IcelandVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

IrelandVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

ItalyVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

LatviaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

LiechtensteinVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Lithuania240-hour transit only

10 days · valid until indefinite

LuxembourgVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

MaltaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

MonacoVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

MontenegroVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

NetherlandsVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details →
North MacedoniaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

NorwayVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

PolandVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

PortugalVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

RomaniaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

RussiaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 14 Sept 2026

Serbia240-hour transit only

10 days · valid until indefinite

SlovakiaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

SloveniaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

SpainVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

SwedenVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

SwitzerlandVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Ukraine240-hour transit only

10 days · valid until indefinite

United KingdomVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details →

Americas (9)

ArgentinaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

BrazilVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details →
CanadaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details →
ChileVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

EcuadorVisa-free (mutual)

90 days · valid until indefinite

Mexico240-hour transit only

10 days · valid until indefinite

PeruVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

United States240-hour transit only

10 days · valid until indefinite

Full details →
UruguayVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Asia-Pacific (7)

BruneiVisa-free

30 days · valid until indefinite

Indonesia240-hour transit only

10 days · valid until indefinite

JapanVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details →
MalaysiaVisa-free (mutual)

30 days · valid until indefinite

Full details →
SingaporeVisa-free (mutual)

30 days · valid until indefinite

Full details →
South KoreaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details →
ThailandVisa-free (mutual)

30 days · valid until indefinite

Middle East (6)

BahrainVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

KuwaitVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

OmanVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Qatar240-hour transit only

10 days · valid until indefinite

Saudi ArabiaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

United Arab Emirates240-hour transit only

10 days · valid until indefinite

Oceania (2)

AustraliaVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Full details →
New ZealandVisa-free

30 days · valid until 31 Dec 2026

Africa (2)

MauritiusVisa-free (mutual)

60 days · valid until indefinite

SeychellesVisa-free (mutual)

30 days · valid until indefinite

All 68 countries below are backed by official Chinese sources (embassy, NIA, MFA). Countries not listed here need a regular visa to the best of our current knowledge – but that isn't a fully, negatively verified dataset, just the inverse conclusion from the absence of a listing. If a country isn't listed, please double-check with an official source as well.

FAQ

Who is this visa checker for?

For anyone who wants to check whether their nationality can enter China visa-free – for example for a travel companion, family abroad, or yourself if you hold a passport other than German.

What if my country doesn't appear in the list?

Then we currently have no confirmation of visa-free or transit-free entry – as a rule, that means a regular visa is required. Our database covers 68 countries, but it isn't a fully, negatively verified dataset of all roughly 195 countries in the world. If in doubt, please also check with the relevant Chinese embassy.

What's the difference between "visa-free" and "240-hour transit only"?

Visa-free entry (unilateral or mutual) allows business, tourism, visiting relatives/friends, exchanges, and transit for up to 30–90 days. The 240-hour transit rule only allows passing through to a third country for a maximum of 10 days, with a confirmed onward ticket – not a regular stay.

Is this data just as relevant for German citizens?

Yes – Germany is included in the list as "visa-free" (unilateral, 30 days). Detailed information specifically for German passports is on our page about visa-free entry for Germans.

Sources

All information in this visa checker is based on the following official sources (accessed: 2026-07-30):

Related:Visa-free entry: the details for German citizens → ·When embassies & visa centers close for holidays → ·Pre-Trip Checklist →