China Visa and Visa-Free Entry: The 2026/2027 Guide

Check the current rules for your own nationality before you book. Entry requirements, visa-free allowances, permits, taxes and fees change without notice and depend on your passport, your route and your reason for travelling. This is general information, not legal, immigration, medical or financial advice — confirm your situation with the official government source or your nearest embassy or consulate before booking. Viatsy accepts no liability for decisions made on the basis of this article.

There's never been a better moment to visit China. A landmark shift in travel policy — one that removes a decades-old bureaucratic hurdle — means that passport holders from around 50 countries can now book a flight to Beijing, Shanghai, or Chengdu without setting foot in a consulate. If you've been putting off that trip to the Great Wall or the rice terraces of Yunnan, 2026 is the year to finally make it happen.

This guide cuts through the confusion and gives you everything you need to know: who qualifies for visa-free entry, what documents you'll need at the border, what happens if you need a traditional visa, and the practical things no one tells you before your first trip to mainland China.

The Big News: 30-Day Visa-Free Entry for Around 50 Nationalities

China's unilateral 30-day visa-free entry programme now covers almost all of the EU — with two exceptions — plus the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Canada. Most EU states were added in waves through 2024 and 2025, and the UK and Canada joined on 17 February 2026, bringing the total to around 50 eligible countries. China's government has confirmed the scheme runs until 23:59 on 31 December 2026, a deadline that held after the UK and Canada joined.

According to China's official government portal, the extension covers more than 40 countries including Spain; China Briefing's visa-free guide has the full, up-to-date list of all roughly 50 eligible nationalities.

Travelling in 2027? The visa-free scheme is officially a temporary measure, confirmed only until 31 December 2026. Beijing is expected to review it ahead of its 2027 immigration-law revision, and a further extension looks likely — but it has not yet been confirmed. If your trip falls in 2027, double-check the policy (or ask us) before booking non-refundable flights.

China's visa-free arrangement is a temporary unilateral policy with a published expiry date — it has been extended before, but a further extension is not guaranteed — and eligibility, the length of stay permitted and the activities permitted all differ by nationality.

What the 30-Day Visa-Free Allows

Under this programme, ordinary passport holders from eligible countries can enter mainland China for:

• Tourism — sightseeing, guided tours, independent travel
• Business — meetings, trade fairs, inspections (not employment)
• Visiting family or friends
• Transit — passing through en route to another destination

You get 30 days per visit, counted strictly from the day after entry. There's no cap on how many times you can visit per year, but border officers may question you if you're entering every month.

Which Nationalities Qualify?

All EU member states except Czechia and Lithuania are included, so Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian, Portuguese, Greek, Austrian, Polish and most other EU nationalities are covered by the scheme. Eligibility is set nationality by nationality, so check the official list for the passport you'll actually be travelling on before you book.

Spain was actually part of the very first trial group — together with France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Malaysia, per Garrigues' summary of the original announcement: Spanish citizens have been able to enter China visa-free since 1 December 2023 (initially for 15 days), and the permitted stay was extended to 30 days from 30 November 2024. China has since confirmed the policy covers Spain through the end of 2026, while reminding travellers that the 30-day limit is strictly enforced — overstays carry fines and can affect future entry. Note the scheme applies to ordinary passport holders.

What You Need at the Border (Visa-Free Travellers)

Landing in Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, or any major Chinese gateway? Here's exactly what you'll be asked for:

1. A Valid Passport

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date from China. Don't cut it close — Chinese border officials are strict about this.

2. The Online Arrival Card

Since 20 November 2025, all foreign visitors must complete China's online Arrival Card before passing immigration. Fill it in at the official National Immigration Administration portal — s.nia.gov.cn — any time before you travel; you can also use the NIA 12367 app or the WeChat/Alipay mini-programs. Have your accommodation address and onward travel details ready, and keep the confirmation QR code on your phone. If you couldn't complete it in advance, QR codes, smart kiosks, and paper fallback forms are still available at the port of arrival, and transit passengers staying under 24 hours without leaving the port area are exempt. More background is available through Koryo Tours' guide to the China Digital Arrival Card.

3. Proof of Onward Travel

Border officers will typically want to see that you're leaving China within 30 days — a return flight ticket or an onward booking to another country will suffice. Have this ready on your phone.

4. Hotel Reservation or Host Address

You'll need to provide an address for your first night. If you're staying at a hotel, they'll register you automatically. If you're staying with friends or family, your host must register you at the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) within 24 hours of your arrival — in practice, most hotels handle this entirely.

5. Vaccination and Health Documentation: The Current Position

As set out in China's entry requirements for 2026, China does not require health declarations, vaccination certificates or quarantine on arrival for ordinary tourist entry as of August 2026 — the COVID-era restrictions have been lifted. Requirements can change and can depend on your route and recent travel history, so confirm the current position for your nationality and itinerary with the official source before you travel.

If You Still Need a Visa

If your nationality isn't on the visa-free list — within the EU, that means Czech and Lithuanian passport holders — you'll need to apply for a tourist visa before travelling. The process is straightforward but requires planning ahead.

The Standard Tourist Visa (L Visa)

Apply at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) or Chinese embassy in your country. Documents typically required:

• Completed application form — generated at visaforchina.cn
• Valid passport with at least 6 months validity and two blank pages
• Passport-size photo — white background, taken within the last six months
• Round-trip flight bookings (confirmations, not necessarily tickets purchased)
• Hotel reservations or a letter of invitation from a Chinese host
• Bank statements from the last 3 months showing sufficient funds
• Travel insurance covering the duration of your stay

Processing time is 4 working days for standard service, with express (3 days) and rush (2 days) options available for a fee — though not to first-time applicants. As noted on the official visaforchina.cn FAQ, processing times can vary slightly by mission, so always confirm with the specific consulate handling your application.

Applying for a Visa (For Those Who Need One)

You apply through the CVASC or Chinese diplomatic mission that covers your country of residence, so the exact office depends on where you live. As one worked example, an applicant resident in Spain would go through:

• Chinese Embassy in Madrid — primary consulate for visa applications
• Chinese Consulate General in Barcelona — Av. Tibidabo 34, Barcelona (office hours 9:30–13:30 and 16:00–18:00)
• CVASC Barcelona — Carrer de la Diputació, 119, piso 2, open Monday–Friday 9:00–15:00

Wherever you apply, book your appointment in advance at the official scheduling system for the mission that covers you. Walk-ins are not accepted.

The 240-Hour Transit Option (Worth Knowing)

If China isn't your final destination — or if your passport doesn't qualify for the 30-day scheme — the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy is one of the best-kept secrets in Asian travel, and a genuinely useful fallback for anyone whose passport isn't covered by the 30-day scheme, Czech and Lithuanian travellers included.

It works like this: if you're flying from Country A through China to Country C, you can exit the airport, explore Chinese cities, and continue your journey — all without a visa — for up to 10 days. The policy is open to citizens of around 55 countries and, according to China Briefing's comprehensive visa-free guide, entry and exit are allowed through 65 designated ports across 24 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, including Beijing Capital and Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Chengdu Tianfu, and Kunming Changshui.

Key rules: your route must genuinely be A → China → C (not a return to the same country — though Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count as third destinations). You must arrive and depart through designated ports, and the clock starts at midnight on the day after arrival.

This is a fantastic way to add a week in Shanghai or Chengdu to a broader Asia itinerary — say, en route to Japan or Vietnam.

Customs: What You Can and Can't Bring

Chinese customs at major airports is efficient but thorough. Know the limits:

• Cash: Declare anything over CNY 20,000 (roughly €2,600)
• Alcohol: More than 1,500ml above 12% ABV must be declared
• Tobacco: More than 400 cigarettes must be declared
• Electronics and valuables: Items worth over CNY 5,000 (about €650) can be declared on exit to avoid import duty concerns
• No fresh produce, meat, or animal products from outside China

Practical: Surviving China as a First-Time Visitor

Getting the entry right is only half the battle. China operates on a completely different digital infrastructure from most of the rest of the world, and unprepared travellers get caught out every day. Here's what to sort before you fly.

Payments: Go Digital or Struggle

China is overwhelmingly cashless — according to YellowBirdTour's payment guide for 2026, around 90% of daily transactions now use QR code payments. Street food stalls, subway machines, small restaurants — most now prefer WeChat Pay or Alipay over cash.

The good news: both apps accept international credit cards linked to foreign bank accounts. Set up Alipay before you leave (it's marginally more foreigner-friendly to configure). Note that transactions under CNY 200 are fee-free; a 3% surcharge applies above that. Keep a small amount of RMB cash for rural areas and older markets.

Internet: Install a VPN Before You Leave

Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, and most Western platforms are blocked in mainland China. Install two VPN apps on your phone before departure — you won't be able to download them once you're in the country. An international eSIM is also worth considering: it lets your data run through your home network, which often bypasses blocks naturally.

WeChat (for messaging locals and scanning QR codes) and Maps.me or Apple Maps (which still works with offline maps) are essential.

Mobile Data

Your home SIM card will roam in China, but speeds and reliability vary by carrier. A local SIM from China Mobile or an international eSIM from providers like Airalo or Holafly gives you faster, more reliable connectivity throughout your trip.

How Long Should You Stay?

The 30-day visa-free window is generous — and well-matched to the kind of trip China deserves.

A first-time trip to China typically combines the Golden Triangle of Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai — the imperial capital, the Silk Road terminus, and the modern mega-city — over 10–14 days. If you're looking for a structured way to experience this classic route, China's Golden Triangle is a great place to start. That leaves plenty of your 30 days to extend into Chengdu (giant pandas, Sichuan cuisine), Guilin (karst mountains), or Yunnan (ancient towns, ethnic diversity, and some of the world's most spectacular highland scenery). If Yunnan's remote landscapes are calling, the 10-day Hunan itinerary covering Zhangjiajie, Furong Town, and Fenghuang offers a vivid sense of what China's interior has to offer beyond the well-trodden east coast.

For those who want expert guidance navigating all of this, Viatsy's Chasing Clouds in China tour covers Yunnan's highlights with local experts who know the region deeply — from Lijiang's cobbled old town to the remote valleys near the Tibetan plateau.

Quick Reference: China Entry 2026

The Bottom Line

For travellers holding a passport the scheme covers, the paperwork barrier to China has essentially disappeared — at least through 31 December 2026. A valid passport, the online Arrival Card, and a return ticket are the core documents for a visa-free entry into one of the world's most extraordinary countries. What was once a complex consulate appointment and weeks of waiting is now a non-issue. Just remember the caveats: eligibility depends on the passport you hold, so confirm the current rules for your own nationality against the official Chinese source, and the visa-free policy has not yet been confirmed for 2027 — so if you're planning a trip beyond 2026, check the latest rules before you commit to flights.

The real work is the trip planning — which cities to combine, which seasons to avoid, which experiences are worth the extra effort. That's where working with people who know China deeply makes the difference. Whether you're after the iconic cities of the east or the wilder edges of Yunnan and Sichuan, the door is open. It just takes someone to push it. If you're weighing up China against other destinations in the region, our guide to Yunnan Province — China's most extraordinary region is worth a read before you decide.

Planning your first trip to China? Viatsy's travel specialists are based in Barcelona and design tailor-made itineraries across mainland China, Hong Kong, and the wider region. Get in touch to start building your trip.

General information only, verified August 2026 — not legal, immigration, medical or financial advice. Entry rules, permits, taxes and prices change without notice; confirm with official sources for your own nationality before booking. Viatsy accepts no liability for reliance on this article.