China’s Visa-Free Travel Policy Extended to December 2026: What it means for you
China has extended it’s 30-day unilateral visa-free entry policy until 31 December 2026, meaning for the passport holders of these 45 countries, as well as newly-added Sweden, it’s the perfect time to travel this vast and vibrant country in 2026. Here we breakdown the main takeaways from these policy changes and what it might mean for you.
Disclaimer: For most countries these visa policies are valid until the end of 2026. Please check updates to this policy at the Chinese National Immigration Administration Website and your visa requirements through the Chinese Visa Application Website BEFORE you book a trip, as these policies are constantly changing. You can also discuss these policies at your nearest Chinese Embassy. This article is accurate as of 4th November 2025 and is meant as a helpful guide to the current visa policies – so please double check before you book a trip!
Visa-free 30-day travel to China for 46 countries
Ordinary passport holders of 46 countries are eligible to enter China for business, leisure, visiting friends and family and/or transit for up to 30 days thanks to China’s ever-changing unilateral visa policy. These 46 countries include:
Europe: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden (from 10th November 2025) and Switzerland.
Asia: South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.
South America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay
So what does this mean for you? It means now is the easiest time to take that China trip you’ve been dreaming about! This policy is due to end on December 31st 2026 so make the most of it while you can!
Are these the only countries that can enter China visa-free?
Currently, there are already full visa exemptions for 26 other countries to enter China, as listed below:
Europe: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, San Marino
Africa: Mauritius, Seychelles
Asia: Thailand, Singapore, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the UAE, Qatar, Armenia, Georgia, Brunei, Malaysia
Oceania: Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands
North America: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Bahamas
South America: Suriname
This means ordinary passport holders of these 26 countries can enter China for up to 30 days indefinitely (but this could change at any time, so again, please check the official websites for more details!)
Consider a 10-day Visa Free Transit
Even if your country is not listed above, all hope is not lost – Thanks to China’s visa-free transit policy (upgraded last year from 144 hours to 240 hours aka 10 days), ordinary passport holders from 55 countries can enter a specific region of China for up to 10 days. These countries include:
Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, and Belarus
Asia: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Indonesia
Oceania: Australia and New Zealand
North America: the United States, Canada and Mexico
South America: Brazil, Argentina, and Chile
The rules for this visa-free policy are a little more complicated; you must be transiting through China and not returning to the country you entered from, and you are restricted to one of twenty-four regions (so you can, for example, travel to Beijing and explore this region, but cannot travel from Beijing to Shanghai, crossing regional borders). For more information on this policy, check the official NIA website here. For stays longer than a 10-day transit, you must have a visa for the purpose of your visit.
As a final reminder, always check the visa rules related to your country and passport at the official websites and make sure you apply for a visa if needed before your trip!