Visa & entry
Start here, before booking anything. Your passport, the purpose of your visit, and your flight plan determine how you can enter China.
A little preparation goes a long way. Save your bookings and your hotel’s Chinese address before departure.
Start with your passport
Find your entry route
Eligibility depends on your nationality, passport type, purpose, and current policy. Check the official list and permitted stay before booking — do not assume every passport qualifies.
Check official entry rulesThe three entry routes, at a glance
- Visa-free entry: eligible ordinary-passport holders can visit for the permitted duration, often up to 30 days. The current country list and expiry dates must be checked with official sources.
- Visa-free transit (240 hours / 10 days): open to more nationalities, including the United States, but only if you hold a ticket onward to a third country or region and arrive at an approved airport.
- Regular tourist visa (L visa): everyone else applies at a Chinese embassy, consulate or visa centre before travelling.
Rules change often. Confirm your own passport on the National Immigration Administration website or your nearest Chinese embassy before booking.
Official visa application portalA little extra confidence
Border questions, answered
Does visa-free entry apply to my passport?
Check the National Immigration Administration and the Chinese embassy serving your residence. Eligibility can depend on ordinary versus other passport types and your purpose of travel.
Is Hong Kong the same entry area?
No. Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau have separate entry rules. A visit to Hong Kong or Macau can count as leaving the mainland; check whether you can re-enter.
Can I rely on this page as proof of eligibility?
No. This is a preparation guide, not an eligibility decision. Confirm with the embassy, immigration authority, and your airline before departure.
If you use the 240-hour transit route
- Your onward ticket must go to a different country or region than the one you flew in from. Hong Kong, Macau, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore and Tokyo are easy options.
- The clock starts at midnight after you land, so your arrival day does not count.
- You must enter and leave through approved ports, and you stay inside the permitted provinces.
Have these ready at the border
- Passport valid for at least 6 more months, with a blank page.
- Hotel address for your first night, written down.
- Return or onward flight confirmation on your phone and on paper.
- The arrival card, filled in on the plane or at the electronic kiosk.
After you arrive
Every visitor must be registered with the local police within 24 hours. Hotels do this for you automatically. If you stay in a private home or apartment, you and your host go to the neighbourhood police station together and register there.
Information only, not legal advice. Entry rules, prices, app access, and features can change. Confirm details with the official provider before you travel.
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