Do you need a China visa?
China currently grants 30-day visa-free entry to ordinary-passport holders from 50 countries under its unilateral policy, while additional countries qualify through bilateral agreements. Eight other nationalities can use the 240-hour transit exemption but do not qualify for either 30-day category. Here is what applies to your trip, based on the passport you hold.
Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and most EU passports qualify under China's current unilateral policy. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the UAE, Qatar, Serbia, and others qualify through bilateral ordinary-passport agreements. Check the official list for your passport below.
India is not on the visa-free or transit lists, so each traveler needs an L visa. Applications open about three months before travel, and we suggest starting as soon as your window opens. If a tourist visa does not come through, we have a partner who can issue a business visa invitation as a fallback.
United States, Mexico, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Ukraine. These passports do not qualify for China's unilateral 30-day policy or an ordinary-passport bilateral waiver, but they can use the 240-hour (10-day) transit exemption when arriving from one country or region and departing to a different one. A regular tourist visa also works.
Check the lists below or your local Chinese embassy. If you need an L visa, the timeline and application guidance below apply to you.
30-day visa-free entry
There are two separate routes to 30-day visa-free entry. Do not use the transit list to determine whether a direct round trip is visa-free.
Unilateral policy: 50 countries
Europe (35): 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, and the United Kingdom.
Asia (7): Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Oceania (2): Australia and New Zealand.
Americas (6): Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and Canada.
Except for Brunei and Russia, the official FAQ says the current unilateral waivers run through December 31, 2026. Russia runs through December 31, 2027; Brunei has no stated expiry.
Bilateral ordinary-passport agreements
Additional passports qualify through reciprocal agreements rather than the 50-country unilateral policy. Examples include Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the UAE, Qatar, Belarus, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
Serbia belongs in this category, not the transit-only category. China's official agreement table shows the ordinary-passport waiver took effect on January 15, 2017.
Agreement terms and permitted stay lengths vary. Confirm your passport and trip purpose in the official bilateral-agreement table linked below.
The 240-hour (10-day) transit option
China's National Immigration Administration currently lists 57 nationalities as eligible for visa-free transit of up to 240 hours when traveling onward to a third country or region. Most also qualify for 30-day entry under another policy. The eight nationalities that rely on this transit exemption alone are the United States, Mexico, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Ukraine. The rules:
- Your flight into China departs from one country, and your onward flight leaves China for a different country or region. US → Beijing → Seoul works (then home from Seoul); so does US → Beijing → Hong Kong, since Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan count as separate regions for this policy. A short stopover on the way home does the trick.
- You will show your onward ticket at immigration and receive a temporary entry stamp.
- 240 hours equals 10 days, which fits most private program itineraries with room to spare.
See the 240-hour transit countries
Americas: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand.
Asia & Middle East: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan.
Europe: 40 countries including the UK, Ireland, all major EU states, Norway, Switzerland, Serbia, and others.
Applying for a tourist (L) visa
Group hotel bookings are often finalized later. For your visa paperwork, book your own refundable accommodation with free cancellation and use that booking confirmation. Keep it until you have replacement hotel documentation for the trip.
- When: applications open about three months before travel. Start as soon as your window opens, and no later than one month before travel.
- How long it takes: once submitted, consulates typically process in about 4 business days (express service: 2 to 3 days for a small extra fee). The full journey, including the online COVA application form, an appointment, and passport handling, realistically takes a few weeks, which is why we say start early.
- What it costs: fees vary by nationality. US citizens currently pay a reduced US$68 (normally US$140) for a 10-year multiple-entry visa when applying directly at a consulate; reduced pricing runs through Dec 31, 2026. Visa application centers (CVASC) add service fees on top. Check your local consulate's fee table.
- Do you need an agent? Usually not. If you live near a Chinese consulate or visa application center, applying yourself is straightforward: fill in the COVA form online, book an appointment, drop off your passport. Paid agents mostly earn their fee when you live far from a center and need mail-in logistics.
- What you will need: passport (6+ months validity beyond return), photos, itinerary and hotel details. Traveling on one of our private programs? We provide program confirmation documents to support your application.
• National Immigration Administration: unilateral visa-free list (50 countries, updated February 17, 2026)
• National Immigration Administration: 240-hour transit policy (57 countries, updated August 20, 2026)
• China Consular Service: unilateral visa-free FAQ
• China Consular Service: bilateral visa-waiver agreements (updated May 29, 2026)
• Your local Chinese embassy or visa application service center (CVASC)
Visa policy changes frequently. This page was last verified in August 2026 against the official sources above; always confirm your own passport's status before booking flights. Questions? Contact us.