Visa-free entry and transit

✅ Updated May 2026

China has rapidly expanded visa-free access. Passport holders of a growing list of countries can enter visa-free for short stays (commonly up to 15-30 days) for tourism or business. Separately, the visa-free transit scheme lets eligible travelers who are transiting to a third country stay up to 240 hours (10 days) when entering through participating ports, as long as you hold an onward ticket. Hong Kong, Macau, and Hainan island have their own, more relaxed rules. Because eligibility depends on your nationality, route, and entry port, always check the current official list before relying on it.