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Visa to China

Visa to China

Entry options by passport, summarised from immigration and Hainan government notices.

Stay is counted from 00:00 on the day after you enter. Work, study, and news reporting still need a visa arranged before travel. If a mutual exemption or another visa-free policy also applies, that policy is the one to follow. A separate route exists for cruise groups (up to 15 days, leaving on the same ship) and for tour groups of two or more arranged in Hong Kong or Macao (up to 6 days in Hainan).

Passport or region

United States

Visa type: Hainan 30-day visa-free entry for ordinary passports. A 240-hour visa-free transit is a separate, shorter option. The August 2026 Hainan government list of nationwide unilateral visa-free countries does not include the United States.
Length of stay: Up to 30 days, and only inside Hainan Province. The count starts at 00:00 on the day after entry. The 240-hour transit is not an extra 30 days. It is a different stay, up to 240 hours, inside the designated transit area.
Who it applies to: Tourism, business and trade, visits, family, medical treatment, exhibitions, and sports. Not work, study, or news reporting. This 30-day waiver does not by itself let you continue into other provinces. For the 240-hour transit you need a confirmed connecting ticket onward to a third country or region. In Hainan the listed transit ports are Haikou Meilan and Sanya Phoenix.
Documents: A valid ordinary passport. Enter and leave through an open port in Hainan. An airline may ask for a return or onward ticket. If the trip includes work, study, or news reporting, get the visa before you fly.
Official source: National Immigration Administration, 20 August 2026. Hainan provincial government, updated 20 August 2026.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

United Kingdom

Visa type: China’s unilateral visa-free entry, through any open port in the country.
Length of stay: Up to 30 days, counted from 00:00 on the day after entry.
Who it applies to: Ordinary passports, for commercial activities, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, visits and exchanges, and transit. Work, study, and news reporting need a visa before travel. The United Kingdom is also on the Hainan 61-country list. The nationwide unilateral policy is the one that covers travel beyond Hainan.
Documents: A valid ordinary passport. The officer may ask why you are traveling. Carry the booking that matches the trip.
Official source: Hainan provincial government summary of unilateral visa-free entry, updated 20 August 2026. National Immigration Administration, 20 August 2026, on how the stay is counted.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

Russia

Visa type: China’s unilateral visa-free entry, through any open port in the country.
Length of stay: Up to 30 days, counted from 00:00 on the day after entry.
Who it applies to: Ordinary passports, for commercial activities, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, visits and exchanges, and transit. Work, study, and news reporting need a visa before travel. Russia is also on the Hainan 61-country list. The nationwide unilateral policy is the one that covers travel beyond Hainan.
Documents: A valid ordinary passport. The officer may ask why you are traveling. Carry the booking that matches the trip.
Official source: Hainan provincial government summary of unilateral visa-free entry, updated 20 August 2026. National Immigration Administration, 20 August 2026, on how the stay is counted.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

Japan

Visa type: China’s unilateral visa-free entry, through any open port in the country.
Length of stay: Up to 30 days, counted from 00:00 on the day after entry.
Who it applies to: Ordinary passports, for commercial activities, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, visits and exchanges, and transit. Work, study, and news reporting need a visa before travel. Japan is also on the Hainan 61-country list. The nationwide unilateral policy is the one that covers travel beyond Hainan.
Documents: A valid ordinary passport. The officer may ask why you are traveling. Carry the booking that matches the trip.
Official source: Hainan provincial government summary of unilateral visa-free entry, updated 20 August 2026. National Immigration Administration, 20 August 2026, on how the stay is counted.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

South Korea

Visa type: China’s unilateral visa-free entry, through any open port in the country.
Length of stay: Up to 30 days, counted from 00:00 on the day after entry.
Who it applies to: Ordinary passports, for commercial activities, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, visits and exchanges, and transit. Work, study, and news reporting need a visa before travel. The Republic of Korea is also on the Hainan 61-country list. The nationwide unilateral policy is the one that covers travel beyond Hainan.
Documents: A valid ordinary passport. The officer may ask why you are traveling. Carry the booking that matches the trip.
Official source: Hainan provincial government summary of unilateral visa-free entry, updated 20 August 2026. National Immigration Administration, 20 August 2026, on how the stay is counted.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

United Arab Emirates

Visa type: Mutual visa exemption for ordinary passports. Entry is through any open port in China.
Length of stay: The Foreign Ministry list, updated 29 May 2026, says a stay under these agreements is generally no more than 30 days. A longer stay follows the agreement itself, not this page.
Who it applies to: Short visits covered by the agreement with the United Arab Emirates. Work, study, and residence need a visa. The UAE is also on the Hainan 30-day list. When the mutual agreement applies, follow the agreement.
Documents: A valid ordinary passport. Carry tickets or hotel bookings if an officer asks for them.
Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs mutual visa-exemption list, updated 29 May 2026. Hainan provincial government, updated 20 August 2026.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

Germany

Visa type: China’s unilateral visa-free entry, through any open port in the country.
Length of stay: Up to 30 days, counted from 00:00 on the day after entry.
Who it applies to: Ordinary passports, for commercial activities, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, visits and exchanges, and transit. Work, study, and news reporting need a visa before travel. Germany is also on the Hainan 61-country list. The nationwide unilateral policy is the one that covers travel beyond Hainan.
Documents: A valid ordinary passport. The officer may ask why you are traveling. Carry the booking that matches the trip.
Official source: Hainan provincial government summary of unilateral visa-free entry, updated 20 August 2026. National Immigration Administration, 20 August 2026, on how the stay is counted.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

France

Visa type: China’s unilateral visa-free entry, through any open port in the country.
Length of stay: Up to 30 days, counted from 00:00 on the day after entry.
Who it applies to: Ordinary passports, for commercial activities, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, visits and exchanges, and transit. Work, study, and news reporting need a visa before travel. France is also on the Hainan 61-country list. The nationwide unilateral policy is the one that covers travel beyond Hainan.
Documents: A valid ordinary passport. The officer may ask why you are traveling. Carry the booking that matches the trip.
Official source: Hainan provincial government summary of unilateral visa-free entry, updated 20 August 2026. National Immigration Administration, 20 August 2026, on how the stay is counted.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

Australia

Visa type: China’s unilateral visa-free entry, through any open port in the country.
Length of stay: Up to 30 days, counted from 00:00 on the day after entry.
Who it applies to: Ordinary passports, for commercial activities, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, visits and exchanges, and transit. Work, study, and news reporting need a visa before travel. Australia is also on the Hainan 61-country list. The nationwide unilateral policy is the one that covers travel beyond Hainan.
Documents: A valid ordinary passport. The officer may ask why you are traveling. Carry the booking that matches the trip.
Official source: Hainan provincial government summary of unilateral visa-free entry, updated 20 August 2026. National Immigration Administration, 20 August 2026, on how the stay is counted.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

Singapore

Visa type: Mutual visa exemption for ordinary passports. Entry is through any open port in China.
Length of stay: The Foreign Ministry list, updated 29 May 2026, says a stay under these agreements is generally no more than 30 days. A longer stay follows the agreement itself, not this page.
Who it applies to: Short visits covered by the China-Singapore agreement. Work, study, and residence need a visa. Singapore is also on the Hainan 30-day list. When the mutual agreement applies, follow the agreement.
Documents: A valid ordinary passport. Carry tickets or hotel bookings if an officer asks for them.
Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs mutual visa-exemption list, updated 29 May 2026. Hainan provincial government, updated 20 August 2026.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

Malaysia

Visa type: Mutual visa exemption for ordinary passports, in force since 17 July 2025.
Length of stay: One stay of no more than 30 days, and no more than 90 days in total in any 180-day period. The 30 days run from 00:00 on the day after entry until 24:00 on the 30th day. Days stayed before 17 July 2025 are not counted in the 90.
Who it applies to: Malaysian ordinary passports with at least six months of validity, for leisure, family visits, business, exchanges, private affairs, medical treatment, and international-transport crew. Not for residence, work, study, or news reporting.
Documents: The passport above. The Chinese embassy suggests carrying an invitation, tickets, or hotel bookings that match the purpose, in case the officer asks.
Official source: Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, FAQ on the mutual agreement, 1 August 2025.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

Thailand

Visa type: Mutual visa exemption for ordinary passports. The agreement took effect on 1 March 2024.
Length of stay: The published terms of the agreement are one stay of no more than 30 days, and no more than 90 days in total in any 180 days. The Foreign Ministry list also states that agreement stays are generally no more than 30 days.
Who it applies to: Short visits covered by the agreement. Work, study, news reporting, and residence need a visa before entry. Thailand is also on the Hainan 30-day list. When the mutual agreement applies, follow the agreement.
Documents: A valid ordinary passport, and plans that match the visit.
Official source: Notice on the China-Thailand ordinary-passport agreement, effective 1 March 2024. Ministry of Foreign Affairs list, updated 29 May 2026.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

Official notices used for this page

This is a travel summary, not a visa decision or legal advice. Border officers apply the rule in force on the day you arrive. Read the official notices before you fly.