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China Visa-Free Countries: The Full 2026 List

The short answer: As of August 2026, ordinary-passport holders from 50 countries can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchange visits, and transit. For 48 of those countries the trial runs until December 31, 2026. Russia is visa-free until December 31, 2027 (extended May 2026). Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand sit on separate mutual visa-free agreements, not this unilateral 50. The US is *not* on this list — use the 240-hour transit or a visa.

The 50-Country Unilateral Visa-Free List

Source: National Immigration Administration English notice compiled from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of 17 February 2026. Stay is counted from 00:00 the day after entry. Confirm yours at en.nia.gov.cn before you fly.

Europe (35 countries)

Andorra · Austria · Belgium · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Luxembourg · Malta · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · North Macedonia · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russian Federation · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · United Kingdom

Oceania (2 countries)

Australia · New Zealand

Asia (7 countries)

Bahrain · Brunei · Japan · Kuwait · Oman · South Korea · Saudi Arabia

Americas (6 countries)

Argentina · Brazil · Canada · Chile · Peru · Uruguay

Mutual Visa-Free Agreements (Separate Policy)

Country	Since	Duration
Singapore	Feb 9, 2024	30 days
Thailand	Mar 1, 2024	30 days
Malaysia	Dec 1, 2023 (permanent mutual agreement signed 2026)	30 days
Brunei	No expiry	15 days

Policy Timeline (Key Dates)

Dec 2023 – Dec 2024: first wave — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Malaysia added;
Nov 30, 2024: South Korea and Japan added;
Dec 17, 2024: 240-hour transit expanded to 65 ports;
Sep 2025: Russia added (original trial to 14 Sep 2026);
Feb 17, 2026: United Kingdom and Canada added — the two newest entries on the 50-country list;
May 20, 2026: China extended visa-free entry for Russian ordinary passports to 31 December 2027;
Current expiry: 31 December 2026 for the rest of the unilateral 50; Russia to 31 December 2027.

What the 30-Day Visa-Free Policy Covers

Purposes: tourism, business, family/friend visits, exchange visits, transit;
Duration: up to 30 days per entry;
Requirements: valid ordinary passport (6+ months recommended), proof of onward travel and accommodation may be requested at the border;
Not covered: work, study, journalism — these require proper visas.

If Your Country Is NOT on the List

United States: use the 240-hour visa-free transit (A → China → C routing) or apply for a 10-year L visa;
India / Vietnam: tourist (L) visa required — apply at your nearest Chinese visa center;
Everyone else: check nia.gov.cn or your local Chinese embassy.

FAQ

Can I enter multiple times on the 30-day policy?

The policy applies per entry; repeated entries are generally fine within the validity window.

Can I extend beyond 30 days inside China?

Limited extension possible for justified cases - don't plan a trip around it.

Will the policy be extended past Dec 31, 2026?

China has extended it repeatedly since 2023; re-check before booking 2027 travel.

Do children qualify?

Yes, with their own passports.

Is Hong Kong/Macau included?

Separate entry rules apply; they count as third regions for transit.

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