Notice on Further Adjusting the Visa and Entry Policies for Foreigners Entering China - Updated on March 14, 2023:
In order to further facilitate the entry and exit of Chinese and foreign personnel, it has been decided to make the following adjustments to the visa and entry policies for foreigners entering China, effective from 00:00 March 15, 2023 Beijing time:
1. The entry function of visas which were issued before March 28, 2020 and still valid will be restored.
2. Overseas visa offices will resume issuing various types of visas (including Tourist Visa) for foreigners to travel to China, with specific requirements detailed in the visa application guidelines of Chinese embassies or consulates.
3. Port visa offices will resume issuing various types of port visas for lawful purposes.
4. The policies of visa-free entry for Hainan, Shanghai International cruise arrival, Guangdong for Tourist group entry of foreigners from Hong Kong, Macau, and ASEAN tourist groups entering Guilin, Guangxi will be restored.
China Discovery will keep focusing on the updates of the latest Chinese visa and entry policy! You can also call 86 010 12367 (Official telephone number of China National Immigration Administration) to check further information. Welcome to join in our Facebook Groups to catch up with the latest news!
Invitation letter is a vital document for Chinese visa application. If you travel with us, we will not only create a valuable tour for you, but also provide you an invitation letter if you request, which will help you obtain your visa successfully. Start customizing your tour in China now!
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Which countries can travel to China without visa?
Like other countries in the world, China offers different visa free policies for international visitors in different situations. Currently, there are more than 10 Chinese Visa Exemption cases, which have specific requirements of nationality, port of entry, place and duration of stay, etc. So, read the following China Visa free countries to see if you are the lucky person who don’t need a visa to visit China.
Except visa free entry to mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau also give visiting convenience to lots of citizens (holders of ordinary passports). Certainly, all the no-visa stay in China needs necessary qualification and have strict regulations.
Various type of visa-free rules are implemented in China for international visitors, who visit China through specific ways of transportation, ports of entry and holding different nationality of passport.
According to unilateral agreement signed between China and the 3 countries, citizens from Singapore, Brunei and Japan are allowed to enter via all open ports, stay in mainland China for up to 15 days.
Two requirements: 1.) visitor must hold ordinary passport; 2.) the purpose of visiting China is for tourism, business, family visit or transit.
Now, China carried out 3 major transit visa exemption policies, including 24-Hour, 72-Hour and 144-Hour visa-free transit.
*24-Hour Direct Visa-free Transit: it is valid for foreigners from any country with connecting (flight, cruise, train) tickets to a third country/region within 24 hours, and applies to any ports opened for foreigners. (Notes: Visitors can only stay inside the airport, for no more than 24 hours. Individual airport in China has own restrictions of nationality and stay period.)
*72-Hour & 144-Hour Visa-free Transit: it is valid for citizens of appointed 53 countries to visa-free transit in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin, Chengdu, etc. Applicants must hold connecting transportation tickets to onward destinations within 72/144 hours. (Notes: Visitors can only enter from certain ports, and stay in specific administrative area as stated.) Know more about China 144-Hour Visa-free Transit / China 72-Hour Visa-free Transit.
Country List of the 53 Countries:
European Countries (39)
a. European Countries under Schengen Visa Agreement (25): Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Monaco.
b. Other European Countries (14): Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, and Belarus.
American Countries (6): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and the Republic of Chile.
Oceania Countries (2): Australia and New Zealand.
Asia Countries (6): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
Top Recommended China Visa-free Transit Tours:
Except the 72-Hour Visa-free Transit for transit passengers from 53 countries, Guilin also offers 144-Hour Visa-free Entry to group tourists from ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations). All group tour members have to enter and exit from Guilin Liangjian Airport, and stay in administrative area of Guilin for not exceeding 6 days. If you want to use this visa-free convenience, you should contact an authorized travel agency in China to arrange such a group tour.
10 ASEAN Member States: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam.
Top Recommended Guilin Tours:
A. If you hold ordinary passport from any country that established diplomatic relationship with China, you can travel to the Pearl River Delta (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Huizhou) without a Chinese Visa, for no more than 6 days. Other requirements are : 1.) you already in Hong Kong or Macau; 2.) your trip is organized by a travel agency legally registered in Hong Kong or Macau.
B. The 6-Day visa-free rule still applies to above mentioned tour group, who enter and exit from Shantou, and only stay in administrative in Shantou.
Top Recommended Peal River Dealta Tours:
Since May 1, 2018, citizens from 59 countries are visa exempted to travel to Hainan Island (Haikou, Sanya...) from any open ports in Hainan, for no more than 30 days. Meanwhile, they must report current travel information (including passport, round-trip tickets, hotel reservation and itinerary in Hainan) to a local travel agency 48 hours before arrival.
59 Hainan Visa-free Countries:
Europe (40 Countries): Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom;
America (6 countries): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile;
Asia (11 countries): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar;
Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand.
Top Recommended Hainan Tours:
>> 4 Days Sanya Beach Resort Tour
>> 4 Days Sanya Relaxing Holiday with Circular-island High Speed Train Experience
Cruise ship visitors holding any foreign ordinary passport may visit Shanghai, Beijing and other costal provincial-level cities for no more than 15 days.
The requirements includes:
1.) travel tour group with at least 2 members;
2.) enter from cruise terminals in Shanghai;
3.) organized and received by travel agency legally organized in China;
4.) the movement area is limited in specific regions, Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, Hainan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Liaoning, Shangdong.
Popular Shanghai Tours: 2 Days Classic Shanghai City Tour / 3 Days Best Shanghai Tour with Half-day Cycling
Popular Beijing Tours: 2 Days Beijing Layover Highlights Tour /3 Days Beijing Essential Short Stay Tour
China has executed two-way visa free agreement with 18 foreign countries, which permits qualified visitors to visit China without a visa for a certain period. Please read permitted duration of stay and more useful tips on Mutual Visa Exemption. Get more information of China Mutual Visa Exemption: Countries List & Duration of Stay >>
18 China Mutual Visa-free Countries: San Marino, Mauritius, Seychelles, Bahamas, Fiji, Grenada, Ecuador, Tango, Serbia, Barbados, United Arab Emirates, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Qatar, Armenia, Maldives and Dominica.
*APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Holders: the holders can enjoy multiple-entry business visit to (mainland) China for up to 60 days each entry during 5 years.
21 APEC Economies: Australia, Brunei, Chile, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, plus China, Hong Kong, Taiwan.
*Holders of People’s Republic of China Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card & Residence Permit: the holders can enjoy multiple-entry business visit to (mainland) China for up to 60 days each entry.
With the two valid certificates, foreigners can stay in China, and enter & exit multiple times without applying a Chinese Visa. The Permanent ID Card means you are a permanent resident in China. If you’ve obtained China D/Z/J1/J2/S1/X1 Visa, you should apply for a Residence Permit from the local Public Security Bureau within 30 days upon arrival.
*Residents of Amur Oblast, Russia can enjoy one day visa-free visit to Heihe in Heilongjiang Province, Northeastern China.
*Russians (with at least 2 members totally) can have 15-day visa-free visit to Suifenhe, Heilongjiang Province.
*Kazakhstan citizens can visit Tacheng of Xinjiang visa free for 3 days.
Hong Kong provide visa waiver program for tourists and transit visitors from 170 foreign countries/regions , for a stay not exceeding permitted duration, from 7 days, 14 days, 30 days, 90 days and 180 days at most. That means, once your nationality is on the Visa-free list of Hong Kong, you can simply bring your passport, enter and stay in Hong Kong visa free within certain days.
Please note that, Indians need to make a pre-arrival registration to enjoy 14-days visa-free visiting in Hong Kong. Besides, if you visit Hong Kong for other purposes (like for business, work, study...), or want to stay longer than allowed time when travelling, a visa/entry permit is required before arrival. Does UK citizen need visa for Hong Kong? Find answers in the following list.
Hong Kong Visa-free Period:
| Nationality | Visa-free Duration | Nationality | Visa-free Duration | Nationality | Visa-free Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Britain | 180 days | U.S.A. | 90 days | Australia | 90 days |
| Canada | 90 days | New Zealand | 90 days | France | 90 days |
| Germany | 90 days | Malaysia | 90 days | Philippines | 14 days |
Tips: We only list part of the Hong Kong visa free countries. You can check more details and guide information in Hong Kong SAR Visa.
Popular Hong Kong Tours:
Nationals from 79 countries (including U.S.A, UK, Australia, etc) are allowed to enter Macau SAR without applying a visa, if the visiting purpose is for travel or business. Under the visa exemption policy, foreigners may stay in Macau for 14 days, 90 days, 3 months, 6 months, and up to 1 year according to different identity.
Macau Visa-free Period:
| Nationality | Visa-free Duration | Nationality | Visa-free Duration | Nationality | Visa-free Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Britain | 6 months | U.S.A. | 30 days | Australia | 30 days |
| Canada | 30 days | New Zealand | 90 days | Singapore | 30 days |
| India | 30 days | Malaysia | 30 days | Philippines | 30 days |
Tips: Visit the Macau SAR Visa to get more useful visa (entry permit) guide and instruction for your trip to Macau.
Popular Macau Tours: 2 Days Hong Kong & Macau Highlights Tour
China Discovery is a professional and experienced travel companion who offers high-value and worry-free tours for you. To fulfill your dream tour to China, we not only design ideal itinerary covering sightseeing, dining, transfer and hotel, but also will provide you Invitation Letter and useful guide about 72-Hour Visa-free Transit, 144-Hour Visa-free Transit and other types of Chinese Visas to help you obtain Chinese Visa, even customize a China Visa-free Tour in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Hangzhou and more available destinations if you meet relevant visa requirements.
Popular China Visa-free Tours:
If you are interested in China visa-free tour, we could also customize a China Visa-free Tour in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Hangzhou and more available destinations if you meet relevant visa requirements.
Top 3 tours chosen by most customers to explore in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.
Guilin-Yangshuo
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