Travel Tips
● While planning a trip to China, the visa topic always comes first and seriously. Please check with Chinese embassies in your countries or the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) that serves your residence area for your visa application details at your earliest convenience.
● We have compiled resources to assist international attendees in the process of obtaining a visa, and while we make every attempt to keep this page up-to-date, please note that regulations may change. To avoid any travel delays and disruptions, we recommend that all travelers read and follow the instructions in the guidance issued by the official websites of Chinese embassies in your countries carefully.
● International attendees can make payments via Alipay or WeChat by linking your international credit or debit cards. Once the cards are successfully linked, you can use Alipay or WeChat Pay to make payments to merchants across various sectors, including dining, shopping, transportation, and accommodation. This convenient and seamless payment method enables you to “pay like a local” in China, without the need to carry cash or open a Chinese bank account.
The Visa Exemption Policy for International Visitors to China
The People's Republic of China has implemented a comprehensive visa exemption policy for foreign nationals, which encompasses the following specific provisions:
● Visa Exemption by Nationality
Holders of ordinary passports from designated countries are eligible for visa-free entry under the following conditions:
- - 90-day visa exemption: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, San Marino
- - 60-day visa exemption: Mauritius
- - 30-day visa exemption: Seychelles, Bahamas, Fiji, Grenada, Tonga, Serbia, Barbados, United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Qatar, Suriname, Dominica, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Ecuador, Antigua and Barbuda, Singapore, Thailand, Georgia, Brunei
● Pilot Visa Exemption Program
From November 30, 2024, to December 31, 2025, the Chinese government will implement a unilateral visa exemption policy for nationals of 37 countries, permitting a maximum stay of 30 days. The eligible countries include:
South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Luxembourg, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia
● Transit Visa Exemption Policy
The transit visa exemption policy is structured as follows:
- 240-hour visa exemption: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Norway, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Singapore, Brunei, South Korea, Japan
- 24-hour visa exemption: Generally applicable to all nationalities, with the exception of transits through Urumqi Diwopu International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, where visa requirements may apply
● Port Visa Arrangement
Nationals of specific countries may enter China through the port visa mechanism, which requires prior application to the port visa authority and subsequent approval.
These policy measures are designed to facilitate international exchanges, tourism development, and business activities in China. It is important to note that visa exemption policies are subject to periodic review and adjustment. Travelers are advised to consult the latest official information prior to their visit to China.
Foreign nationals whose purposes of visiting China, including but not limited to business engagements, tourism activities, family visits, exchange programs, or transit arrangements, and who comply with the visa exemption policy provisions, may enter China upon lawful inspection and authorization by the Chinese border control authorities. It is advisable to carry supporting documentation such as invitation letters, confirmed flight itineraries, hotel reservations, and other relevant materials corresponding to the stated purpose of the visit. Notably, individuals intending to enter China for work, academic studies, or journalistic activities are excluded from the visa exemption scheme. For comprehensive details, kindly refer to the official portal of the Consular Affairs Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China: http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/