China's unilateral visa-free entry policy — extended through December 31, 2026 — remains the single most consequential entry rule for short-stay visitors this year. Per China's National Immigration Administration, ordinary passport holders from dozens of listed countries may enter visa-free for stays of up to 30 days for tourism and business, and a separate 240-hour transit scheme allows even longer city-stop itineraries without a visa.
This publication reports entry rules as published by authorities and publishes information, not immigration advice; always confirm current rules with official channels or your carrier before booking.
Who qualifies, and for how long?
Per the official list maintained by the National Immigration Administration, the unilateral policy covers passport holders from dozens of countries across Europe, Asia, South America, and Oceania — including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, with Sweden added effective November 10, 2025. Under the scheme, eligible travelers may stay up to 30 days without applying for a visa, a window that comfortably covers a multi-city itinerary of Beijing, Shanghai, and beyond.
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How does the 240-hour transit rule work?
- It applies to travelers transiting to a third country, with entry at designated ports and a permitted stay of up to 240 hours — ten days.
- Per the published scheme, travelers may move within approved areas of the entry province and, since the rules were broadened, across a wider set of provinces, enabling point-to-point city itineraries rather than a single-city stop.
- Travelers must hold confirmed onward tickets to a third country and passports valid for the trip.
What does it change for a trip now?
Counting all schemes, per industry trackers China effectively offers visa-free access to passport holders from around 77 countries in 2026 — a dramatic widening from the pre-2023 rules. The practical effect for city-break planning: a first China trip no longer needs a consular visit, two to three cities fit inside the standard visa-free window, and the transit rule converts even a long connection into a short stay. Rules and country lists are adjusted by announcement, so check the National Immigration Administration's published list rather than secondhand summaries — the policy's year-end expiry, December 31, 2026, is also the deadline that matters for late-year bookings.