China visa-free entry in 2026: who qualifies, and how the 30-day rule works

Fifty countries can now enter China without a visa for up to 30 days. Here is the list logic, the dates, and what to do if you are American.

Since early 2026 China's unilateral visa-free policy covers citizens of about fifty countries, including most of the EU, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, for stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit. The UK and Canada were added on 17 February 2026. The policy is currently announced as valid to 31 December 2026 and has been extended before; check the official announcement before you fly.

What "30 days" means. Thirty days from the day after entry, one entry at a time, no visa, no registration fee. You still need a passport with at least six months' validity and you may be asked for your onward ticket and hotel booking at the border.

If you hold a US passport. The United States is not on the list. Two routes: a standard tourist (L) visa from a Chinese consulate, now simplified with no appointment needed in most cities, or the 240-hour visa-free transit, which lets you enter at any of about sixty ports and stay up to ten days in the permitted regions, provided you are travelling on to a third country or region (Hong Kong counts). The transit route works well for a Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai trip that ends in Hong Kong or Tokyo.

Where to verify. The National Immigration Administration (nia.gov.cn) and the Chinese embassy in your country publish the current list and dates. Rules change; the embassy page is the one that counts.