中国指南 · 9 min read · Reviewed 21 October 2026
China visa-free entry: the 30-day and 240-hour routes
Most first-time visitors do not need a traditional visa. They need to know which of three routes their passport and itinerary actually qualify for.
Three routes into China without a visa三种免签方式
Visa-free entry is not one policy; it is several overlapping ones. The route that applies depends on your passport, your itinerary and how you arrive. Check the National Immigration Administration (NIA) list before booking, because the eligible-nationality list is revised without much notice.
| Route | Who it fits | Maximum stay | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilateral visa-free | Passports on the current NIA list | Up to 30 days | Tourism, family or business visit |
| 240-hour transit | Travellers transiting to a third country | 240 hours / 10 days | A → China → B, with an onward ticket |
| Regional schemes | Hainan, and some border areas | Varies | Restricted region and sometimes a tour booking |
| L visa | Everyone else | 30–90 days per stay | Apply at a visa centre before travel |
The 30-day unilateral list30 天单方面免签
A list of about 50 nationalities can enter China for up to 30 days without a visa for tourism, family visits and business visits. The clock starts on the day you enter and is counted in calendar days, not 24-hour blocks. A 30-day allowance is not 720 hours of sightseeing; it is 30 dates on a calendar.
You still need a passport valid for the usual period, an onward or return ticket, and a hotel address. Immigration may ask where you are staying. Hotels register foreign guests automatically; if you stay in a private home, you must register at a police station within 24 hours.
240-hour transit: the rule people get wrong240 小时过境免签
The 240-hour (10-day) transit scheme is available at 65 ports across China. The core condition is that you must be travelling from country A to country B, with China in between. If you fly home to the same country you arrived from, the transit route does not apply.
The clock is counted from 00:00 on the day after you enter, not from the hour your plane lands. That gives you slightly more usable time than the raw number suggests, but it also means a late-night arrival does not buy an extra day.
- Book an onward ticket to a different country than the one you arrived from.
- Carry the confirmed onward booking — a reservation screenshot is usually enough, but a ticket is safer.
- Enter at one of the 65 participating ports; not every small border crossing qualifies.
- Stay within the permitted area for your entry port. Some transit permissions are region-limited.
- Leave before the 240-hour window closes; overstaying is a fine and can trigger an entry ban.
| Itinerary | Qualifies? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| London → Shanghai → Tokyo | Yes | A → China → B |
| London → Shanghai → London | No | Returns to the same country |
| New York → Beijing → Seoul | Yes | A → China → B |
| Sydney → Guangzhou → Sydney | No | Same-country return |
If you need a visa: the L route需要办签证
If neither visa-free route applies, apply for an L (tourist) visa at a China Visa Application Service Centre in your country. Allow 4–10 working days, and more in peak season. The application needs your passport, a photo, an itinerary and usually proof of accommodation and a return ticket.
Apply in your country of residence, not the country you happen to be visiting. A visa issued elsewhere is possible but adds complexity and time you probably do not have.
- Book an appointment at the CVASC that covers your jurisdiction.
- Complete the online form and print it; the form is long, so do it in one sitting.
- Bring a passport photo that meets the current specification, not an old one.
- Include flight and hotel bookings that match your stated dates.
- Collect the passport on the date given; do not book flights that leave before it.
On arrival and during your stay入境与停留
Immigration may ask for your hotel address, onward ticket and the purpose of your visit. Carry a printed copy of the hotel address in Chinese — it is also the single most useful thing to show a taxi driver.
Hotels register foreign guests automatically. If you stay in a private home or a homestay, the host must register you at a local police station within 24 hours. Keep the registration slip; you may be asked for it at a police check or when buying a ticket.
Questions people ask
- Can I extend a visa-free stay in China?
- Generally no. Visa-free entry is for a fixed period and cannot normally be extended in-country. If you need longer, apply for the appropriate visa before you travel.
- Does the 240-hour transit clock start on arrival?
- It starts at 00:00 on the day after you enter, not at the hour your flight lands. Count calendar days, not 24-hour blocks.
- Can I leave the transit area and travel around China?
- Yes, within the area permitted for your entry port. Some transit permissions are limited to a city or region, so check the NIA rules for the port you are using.
- Do I need a visa if I am only changing flights in China?
- If you stay in the international transit area and do not pass immigration, you generally do not need a visa. If you leave the airport, the 240-hour transit or another entry route applies.
Official sources
Related practical guides
- Visa & entry — Whether you need a visa for China, and the three routes that get most travellers in without one.
- Safety — Violent crime against visitors is rare in China. The real risks are traffic, scams and altitude.
- Money & costs — What a day actually costs, where the money goes, and how to budget by tier.
- eSIM & connectivity — How to get online in China without losing access to Google, WhatsApp and Instagram.