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China · Entry rules

Who needs a visa for China?

Entry rules for China by nationality, for short tourist or business visits, from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation, checked .

In brief

Citizens of 79 countries and territories can visit China without a visa, most for up to 30 days. Everyone else, 119 nationalities, needs a visa.

Visa-free
79
On arrival
0
eVisa or ETA
0
Visa required
119

About 5.2 bn people (77% of the world's other nationalities by population) need a visa arranged before they travel to China: a visa, an eVisa or a visa only with another permit.

Checked 4 Nov 2026Source: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian FederationReport a change

Most commonIndiaUnited StatesHong KongPakistanVietnamSaudi ArabiaAll passports

China entry rules at a glance

GroupStayNationalitiesExamplesSource
Visa-free90 days in any 1803Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, AlbaniaNational Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
Visa-freeWithin 3 months1San MarinoNational Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
Visa-free60 days1MauritiusNational Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
Visa-free, with conditions30 days48Brazil, Japan, Germany, United KingdomNational Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
Visa-free, with conditions30 days14Ecuador, United Arab Emirates, Serbia, SingaporeNational Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
Visa-free, passport type30 days2Russia, BruneiEmbassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation
Visa-free, with conditions30 days per stay, 90 days in any 1806Thailand, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Solomon IslandsNational Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
Visa-free, passport type30 days per stay, 90 days in any 1803Uzbekistan, Malaysia, AzerbaijanEmbassy of the People's Republic of China in Malaysia
Visa-free30 days, no more than 90 days a year1BelarusNational Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
Visa requiredNot stated3Hong Kong, Macao, TaiwanNational Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
With conditions30 days61United States, Indonesia, Brazil, RussiaNational Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
With conditions6 days10Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, ThailandNational Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
Visa requiredAs granted116India, United States, Indonesia, PakistanEmbassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation

Visa-free for 90 days in any 180: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia and Albania

3 nationalities

Mutual visa exemption agreement; ordinary passports.

Source: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China, checked Citizens of these countries, who hold the appropriate passports, do not need to apply for visas in advance when traveling to China for short terms.

Visa-free (within 3 months): San Marino

1 nationality

Mutual visa exemption agreement; valid passports.

Source: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China, checked Citizens of these countries, who hold the appropriate passports, do not need to apply for visas in advance when traveling to China for short terms.

Visa-free for 60 days: Mauritius

1 nationality

Mutual visa exemption agreement; valid passports.

Source: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China, checked Citizens of these countries, who hold the appropriate passports, do not need to apply for visas in advance when traveling to China for short terms.

Visa-free for 30 days with conditions: Brazil, Japan, Germany and 45 more

48 nationalities

Ordinary passports; unilateral policy until 31 Dec 2026.

Source: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China, checked Nationals of the above countries holding ordinary passports may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visits to relatives and friends, exchange visits, or transit, for stays of up to 30 days.

Visa-free for 30 days with conditions: Ecuador, the UAE, Serbia and 11 more

14 nationalities

Mutual visa exemption agreement; ordinary passports.

Source: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China, checked Citizens of these countries, who hold the appropriate passports, do not need to apply for visas in advance when traveling to China for short terms.

Visa-free for 30 days with specific passports: Russia and Brunei

2 nationalities

Russia: ordinary passports; unilateral policy until 31 Dec 2027.

Brunei: ordinary passports; unilateral policy with no end date.

Source: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation, checked 中方决定将对俄单方面免签政策延长至2027年12月31日24时In English: China has decided to extend the unilateral visa-free policy for Russia until 24:00 on 31 December 2027.

Source: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation, checked 目前，中方对文莱持普通护照人员的免签政策未设施行期限In English: At present, the visa-free policy for Brunei ordinary passport holders has no end date.

Visa-free for 30 days per stay, 90 days in any 180 with conditions: Thailand, Kazakhstan, Georgia and 3 more

6 nationalities

Mutual visa exemption agreement; ordinary passports.

Source: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China, checked Citizens of these countries, who hold the appropriate passports, do not need to apply for visas in advance when traveling to China for short terms.

Visa-free for 30 days per stay, 90 days in any 180 with specific passports: Uzbekistan, Malaysia and Azerbaijan

3 nationalities

Malaysia: mutual visa exemption agreement in force since 17 Jul 2025; ordinary passports.

Uzbekistan: mutual visa exemption agreement in force since 1 Jun 2025; ordinary passports.

Azerbaijan: mutual visa exemption agreement in force since 16 Jul 2025; ordinary passports.

Source: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Malaysia, checked 单次停留不超过30日，且每180日累计停留不超过90日，可免办签证In English: single stays of up to 30 days, with a cumulative stay of no more than 90 days in every 180 days, are visa-exempt

Source: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Uzbekistan, checked 单次停留不超过30日，每180日累计停留不超过90日，免办签证In English: single stays of up to 30 days, no more than 90 days in every 180 days, without a visa

Source: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Azerbaijan, checked 持有效的中国普通护照和阿塞拜疆普通护照人员，在缔约另一方入境、出境或者过境，单次停留不超过30日，每180日累计停留不超过90日，免办签证。In English: Holders of valid Chinese and Azerbaijani ordinary passports may enter, leave or transit the other country without a visa for single stays of up to 30 days and no more than 90 days in every 180 days.

Visa-free for 30 days, no more than 90 days a year: Belarus

1 nationality

Mutual visa exemption agreement; ordinary passports.

Source: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China, checked Citizens of these countries, who hold the appropriate passports, do not need to apply for visas in advance when traveling to China for short terms.

Visa required: Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan

3 nationalities

Chinese citizens resident in Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan need an exit/entry permit for the Mainland (Mainland Travel Permit), not a visa.

Source: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China, checked Chinese citizens who travel between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, between the Mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region, and between the Mainland and Taiwan Region, shall apply for exit/entry permits in accordance with the law

With conditions, 30 days: the US, Indonesia, Brazil and 58 more

61 nationalities

Hainan Province only: enter through a Hainan port and stay within Hainan; ordinary passports.

Source: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China, checked Foreign nationals holding ordinary passports from 61 countries may enter and stay within the administrative region of Hainan Province for a maximum of 30 days without a visa

With conditions, 6 days: Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and 7 more

10 nationalities

ASEAN tourist groups of 2 or more organised by a travel agency registered in China, entering via Xishuangbanna (Gasa airport, Mohan rail/road ports) or Guilin airport and staying within that prefecture/city.

Source: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China, checked may enter and exit China through Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway Port, and Mohan Highway Port visa-free

Visa required: India, the US, Indonesia and 113 more

116 nationalities

Apply before you travel at an embassy or consulate of China, or the visa centre it names.

Nationalities not listed above: the official source says so in as many words.

Source: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation, checked 不符合免签条件人员仍需在入境前办妥来华签证。In English: Those who do not meet the visa-free conditions still need to obtain a Chinese visa before entry.

Where to apply

Apply only on the official site, consular.mfa.gov.cn. Look-alike sites charge extra for the same form. A visa is applied for at an embassy or consulate of China, or the visa centre it names, in the country where you live.

These rules cover ordinary passports and short visits; work, study and transit have their own rules.

Most searched passports

FAQ

Do I need a visa to visit China?

It depends on your passport: 79 nationalities are visa-free and 119 need a visa. Choose your passport above.

Do Indian citizens need a visa for China?

Yes. Indian citizens need a visa before they travel to China (Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation, checked 4 Nov 2026).

Do US citizens need a visa for China?

Yes. US citizens need a visa before they travel to China (Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation, checked 4 Nov 2026). Or Hainan Province only: enter through a Hainan port and stay within Hainan; ordinary passports. Stay: 30 days.

Can I apply for a China visa online?

Yes, where the official site offers it. Apply only at consular.mfa.gov.cn.

Sources and changes

  1. NIA: countries covered by China's unilateral visa exemption (30 days)en.nia.gov.cn · checked 4 Nov 2026
  2. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federationru.china-embassy.gov.cn · checked 4 Nov 2026
  3. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federationru.china-embassy.gov.cn · checked 4 Nov 2026
  4. National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of Chinaen.nia.gov.cn · checked 4 Nov 2026
  5. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Malaysiamy.china-embassy.gov.cn · checked 4 Nov 2026
  6. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Uzbekistanuz.china-embassy.gov.cn · checked 4 Nov 2026
  7. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Azerbaijanaz.china-embassy.gov.cn · checked 4 Nov 2026
  8. National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of Chinaen.nia.gov.cn · checked 4 Nov 2026
  9. National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of Chinaen.nia.gov.cn · checked 4 Nov 2026
  10. MFA: mutual visa exemption agreements (updated 2026-05-29)cs.mfa.gov.cn · checked 4 Nov 2026
  11. China Online Visa Application (official)consular.mfa.gov.cn · checked 4 Nov 2026
  1. All groups checked against National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China. No change since.

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