China Visa-Free in 2026: The Complete List of Countries
China now offers visa-free entry to citizens of 50 countries — here's the full list, what's covered, how long you can stay, and the different policies explained clearly.
If you’ve been paying attention, China’s visa policy has changed dramatically since 2024. What used to be one of the most restrictive entry regimes for tourists has become one of the most welcoming — at least for citizens of certain countries. As of February 2026, citizens from 50 countries can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days.
Here’s a clear breakdown of who qualifies, under what conditions, and what you should actually know before traveling.
The 30-day unilateral visa-free policy
This is the big one. China unilaterally grants visa-free entry to ordinary passport holders from the following 50 countries. No application needed — just show up with your passport. The list below follows the official grouping published by China’s National Immigration Administration (as of 17 February 2026).
Europe (35 countries)
France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Russia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
That covers the entire EU, most of the EEA, several microstates, plus Russia and the UK. If you hold a passport from any of these countries, you can fly to China tomorrow and walk through immigration without a visa.
Note on Russia: while Russia is included in the official 35-country European list, its visa-free arrangement runs on a separate timeline — valid from 15 September 2025 to 14 September 2026, and may be renewed independently.
Oceania (2 countries)
Australia, New Zealand.
Asia (7 countries)
Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain.
Note on Brunei: Brunei’s visa-free arrangement is permanent (no expiration date), unlike the other countries on this list.
Americas (6 countries)
Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Canada.
Policy validity
For the majority of countries on this list, the policy is valid through 31 December 2026. The exceptions are Russia (until 14 September 2026) and Brunei (permanent). Canada and the UK were the most recent additions, effective from 17 February 2026.
What this policy covers
You can enter China visa-free for:
- Tourism — sightseeing, visiting attractions, exploring cities
- Business — meetings, negotiations, trade fairs (but not employment)
- Family and friends — visiting people you know in China
- Transit — passing through China to a third country
- Short-term exchanges — conferences, exhibitions, sports competitions, study tours and summer camps (30 days or less)
What it does not cover: working, studying, journalism, or any long-term stay. For those, you still need the appropriate visa from a Chinese embassy.
The rules
The policy is straightforward, but there are a few things to know:
30 days maximum per visit. This cannot be extended at the border or inside China. If you need longer, apply for a visa before you travel.
Ordinary passports only. Diplomatic, service, or emergency travel documents don’t qualify — only regular passports.
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your intended stay. Some sources recommend at least 6 months validity to be safe.
All entry ports are open. You can enter through any airport, land crossing, or seaport that’s open to international travelers — Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, and many more.
Mutual visa exemption agreements (separate from the above)
Beyond the unilateral policy, China has bilateral visa-free agreements with about 29 countries. These are permanent agreements, not temporary policies. Citizens of these countries can enter China without a visa, typically for 30 days (sometimes up to 60 or 90 days depending on the agreement).
Key countries include: Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the UAE, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mauritius, and several Caribbean and Pacific island nations.
If your country has both a bilateral agreement and is on the unilateral list, the bilateral agreement usually offers better terms (longer validity, sometimes longer stays).
The 240-hour visa-free transit policy
There’s a third policy that many people confuse with the 30-day one. The 240-hour (10-day) transit visa-free policy applies to citizens of 55 countries — including the United States, which is notably absent from the 30-day list.
The key difference: you must be transiting through China to a third country (you can’t enter and return to the same country you came from). You enter through one of the 65 designated ports across 24 provinces and can travel freely within those provinces.
This is significant because it covers countries like the US, Mexico, Ukraine, and several others not on the 30-day list. If you’re American and want to visit China, the transit policy is your visa-free option — just make sure your itinerary includes a third destination.
How this affects Nordic travelers
If you hold a passport from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, or Iceland, you’re covered by the 30-day visa-free policy. This is a dramatic change from just two years ago, when every visit required a visa application, appointment, processing time, and fees. Finnish citizens can read our dedicated Finland visa-free guide for country-specific details and tips.
Now you can book a flight to Beijing, Shanghai, or Chengdu and simply go. For a first trip, 30 days is more than enough — most visitors spend 2 to 3 weeks and see several cities comfortably. Not sure when to go? Check our best time to visit China guide to pick the right season.
Why this matters
China’s visa-free expansion is the most aggressive it has ever been. Between 2024 and 2026, the country went from one of the hardest places to visit casually to one that welcomes tourists from most of Europe, key Asia-Pacific nations, and increasingly the Americas.
The numbers reflect this: according to China’s National Immigration Administration, visa-free entries accounted for over 72% of all foreign arrivals in Q3 2025, with 7.25 million visitors entering under these policies — a 48% increase year-on-year.
Whether this continues beyond 2026 remains to be seen, but the trend is clear. If you’ve been thinking about visiting China, the door is open.
Sources
- 单方面免签国家名单 — National Immigration Administration (NIA official list, February 2026)
- List of Countries (English) — National Immigration Administration
- FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China — Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA FAQ, November 2025)
- Mutual Visa Exemption Agreements — Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA bilateral agreements list)
- Notice on Canada and UK Visa-free Policy — State Council (February 2026)
