China has implemented a series of visa-free policies to streamline travel for foreign nationals visiting the country. These policies include visa-free transit, visa-free entry, and mutual visa exemption agreements.

Here is an overview of the visa-free policies available for foreign nationals entering China.

Visa-free travel to China: Things you need to know

Visa-free entry 

Holders of ordinary passports from 38 countries can enter China and stay for up to 30 days without a visa for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, exchange visits and transit.

Individuals who do not meet the specified purposes of visit or exceed the time limit for the visa-free policy must still apply for visas to enter China.

Below is a list of countries whose passport holders are eligible to visit China visa-free.

Visa-free transit

You can easily explore the wonders of Shanghai and many other regions across China with the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, making the most of your extended layover.

Explore details on eligible countries, required documents, and frequently asked questions about 240-hour visa-free transit in Shanghai.

Mutual visa exemption agreements

China has established over 150 mutual visa exemption agreements with foreign countries, fostering closer ties and facilitating international travel.

See the list of countries with reciprocal visa waiver agreements with China here.

Visa-free entry for cruise ship passengers

China has fully implemented a visa-free entry policy for foreign tourist groups arriving by cruise ship since May 15, 2024.

Foreign tourist groups, comprising two or more individuals, arriving by cruise ship and organized and received by China's domestic travel agencies can enter China visa-free through any coastal cruise port and stay for up to 15 days.

The tourist groups must travel together on the same cruise ship to the next port when the cruise leaves China. Tourists are allowed to travel in coastal provincial-level regions and Beijing.

The visa-free entry ports include national cruise ports located in Tianjin, Dalian in Liaoning province, Shanghai, Lianyungang in Jiangsu province, Wenzhou and Zhoushan in Zhejiang province, Xiamen in Fujian province, Qingdao in Shandong province, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, Beihai in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, and Haikou and Sanya in Hainan province.

Additionally, to support the development of the cruise tourism industry, seven cruise ports in Dalian, Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Beihai have been added as transit visa-free ports for citizens of 54 countries, facilitating tourism via cruise ships, according to the immigration administration.

This article was updated on Feb 13, 2025.

Sources: National Immigration Administration, Xinhua, China Consular Affairs, chinadaily.com.cn