Quick summary
China’s 30-day visa-free entry is live for ordinary-passport holders from 48 countries until 24:00 on December 31, 2026, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs page dated July 21, 2026. Russia’s waiver runs to December 31, 2027 and Brunei’s is listed with no expiry. Stays are 30 calendar days counted from the day after entry.
Since May 22, 2026 your passport needs validity only for the length of your stay, not six months beyond departure. Work, study and news coverage are excluded, and only ordinary passports qualify. Here is what to carry and what to do if 30 days is not enough.
On May 22, 2026, China dropped the requirement that passports remain valid for six months beyond departure. A passport now needs to cover only the intended stay. That removed a rule that used to stop travelers at the check-in desk. China’s 30-day visa-free entry remains open as of October 15, 2026, but most eligible countries have about eleven weeks left to use the policy as written.
The allowance has grown. Until the end of 2025, the waiver ran for 15 days and covered a shorter list of European countries; the version now in force gives 30 days and reaches 50 countries.
Who can enter China visa-free right now
Fifty countries’ ordinary-passport holders qualify, but they do not share one deadline.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notice dated July 21, 2026 puts 48 of them on a single clock. The list has changed during 2026. The UK and Canada joined in February 2026. Sweden’s window opened on November 10, 2025 and runs to December 31, 2026.
The published lists cover most of the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and the Gulf states. The United States does not appear on the embassy notices published since November 2025.
Three groups, three end dates:
| Group | Examples | Visa-free until | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48-country group | UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, most EU states | 24:00, Dec 31, 2026 | 30 days |
| Russia | Russian ordinary passports | Dec 31, 2027 | 30 days |
| Brunei | Brunei ordinary passports | No expiry listed | 30 days |
| Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, page dated July 21, 2026. | |||
The passport type matters as much as the country. Chinese Visa Application Service Center guidance dated August 26, 2026 states that diplomatic, official and service passports, and temporary or emergency travel documents, are not eligible for visa-free entry.
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What the 30-day limit allows and excludes
The allowance runs in calendar days, not from the hour you land. Arrive on November 1 and day one is November 2; the 30th day ends at midnight on December 1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Immigration Administration pages both state that counting begins the day after entry.
Multiple entries are allowed. The Beijing Municipal Government’s foreign affairs office, in guidance dated May 21, 2026, states there is no cap on the number of visa-free entries or on total days, provided each visit’s activities match a permitted purpose.
Permitted purposes are business, tourism, family and friend visits, exchanges and transit. Sports competitions, conferences, exhibitions and study tours also fall inside the waiver, with the same ceiling. Work, study and news coverage are excluded.
The waiver stops at the mainland. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan run their own immigration systems. Travelers using China only as a connection fall under a separate scheme, covered in our guide to China’s visa-free transit rules for a Europe-Cambodia stopover.
What to show after the passport rule change
The embassy notice dated May 22, 2026 sets out the new passport wording. For a traveler with five months left on a passport, a two-week trip is fine as long as the passport covers every day in China. The old test would have sent that traveler home at check-in.
Supporting documents still matter. Chinese visa service guidance dated August 26, 2026 lists an invitation letter, flight tickets and hotel reservations, aligned with the reason you give at the counter.
Medical screening is a separate condition. The UK Foreign Office’s China travel advice notes that you may be refused entry if you do not comply with medical screening on arrival, including temperature checks.
If you need more than 30 days
The waiver cannot be stretched. The Beijing foreign affairs office guidance says travelers who need longer must apply for a visa matching the purpose in advance, or request a temporary stay permit before the 30-day period expires.
The policy deadline poses a separate problem. The published pages do not say what happens to a stay already under way when that date passes. The National Immigration Administration is one source for confirming a traveler’s position.
Russia’s ordinary-passport waiver runs a full year beyond the 48-country group’s deadline. Brunei’s listing has no expiry date.
Anyone weighing a longer or repeated stay should also read how China’s exit bans work.
Act before the December 31, 2026 deadline
The useful work happens before you book, not at the airport.
- Passport first — check that it covers every day of the trip.
- Match your documents — carry an invitation letter, flight tickets and hotel reservations that line up with the purpose you will declare.
- Keep the purpose clean — business meetings, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit qualify; paid work, study and news coverage do not.
- Watch: whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs extends the 48-country waiver past December 31, 2026, and whether Russia’s 2027 date is matched for other nationalities.
Check your nationality against the National Immigration Administration or embassy page before paying for flights. For a trip that crosses the deadline, get an answer from the embassy or the National Immigration Administration before booking.
Reporting by
Questions? Answers.
Does this policy include Australia and New Zealand citizens?
Yes. Both are on the published list of countries whose ordinary-passport holders can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days until 24:00 on December 31, 2026. Your passport needs to be valid only for the length of your stay, and you should carry an onward ticket and accommodation details.
What if my trip is 31 days?
The waiver cannot be extended once you are in China. Apply for a visa matching your purpose before departure, or request a temporary stay permit before the 30-day period expires. Multiple visa-free entries are allowed with no stated cap, but the 30-day allowance applies per entry rather than as a running total.
Do I need a printed return ticket?
Chinese visa service guidance dated August 26, 2026 says travelers should carry flight tickets and hotel reservations aligned with their purpose, and entry depends on border inspection approving it. No published rule makes a paper copy a formal condition, but the documents you carry are what the officer can check.
Can I use this policy for business meetings?
Yes. Business is one of the permitted purposes, along with tourism, family and friend visits, exchanges and transit. Conferences, exhibitions, sports competitions and study tours also fall inside the waiver. Paid work, degree study and news coverage do not.
Does this policy apply to Hong Kong and Macau?
No. The waiver covers mainland China only. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan run separate immigration systems with their own rules, so an itinerary that includes them needs a second check before you book.
Will this policy be extended beyond 2026?
Not published. The 48-country extension ends at 24:00 on December 31, 2026, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs page dated July 21, 2026 gives no date beyond it. Russia’s waiver already runs to December 31, 2027, and Brunei’s listing carries no expiry date.
