There are four ways into mainland China as a tourist. Work through them in order — the first one that applies to you is almost certainly the cheapest and simplest.
Skip the reading
Our China visa checker asks four questions and tells you which of the four routes applies to your passport, your trip length and your routing. Come back here for the detail once you know which one you are dealing with.
Route 1: Unilateral visa-free entry (30 days)#
Since late 2023 China has unilaterally waived visa requirements for ordinary passport holders from a growing list of countries, for stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges and transit.
Countries covered include most of the European Union (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Ireland, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Cyprus, Finland, Sweden, Denmark), plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and others. The list has grown roughly every quarter.
What it means in practice: book a flight, land, present your passport and a completed arrival card, get a stamp. No application, no fee, no invitation letter, no itinerary to submit.
What you still need:
A passport valid for at least six months An onward or return ticket (airlines check this at boarding) An address for your first night The Chinese customs/health declaration, completed online or via the airport QR code shortly before arrival Notable exclusions: The United States, Canada, India, Israel and most African nations are not currently on the unilateral list. Americans and Canadians should use Route 2.
Fingerprints and the arrival card
Nearly all foreign visitors aged 14–70 give fingerprints at immigration; there are self-service kiosks before the desks in most airports. The paper arrival card has been replaced by an online form at many ports — look for the QR code on the jet bridge and fill it in while you queue.
Route 2: 240-hour visa-free transit (10 days)#
This is the route for Americans, Canadians and other nationals not covered above — and it is far more generous than the word "transit" suggests.
The scheme: citizens of 55 countries may enter China without a visa for up to 240 hours (10 days) when transiting to a third country or region, entering and exiting through any of more than 60 designated ports across 24 provinces and municipalities.
The 55 include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, all EU and Schengen states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine and others.
The rules that matter:
Third country requirement. You must hold a confirmed onward ticket to a country or region different from the one you arrived from. New York → Beijing → Seoul qualifies. New York → Beijing → New York does not. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as separate "regions" for this purpose, which makes Beijing → Hong Kong a valid onward leg.The clock. The 240 hours start at 00:00 on the day after arrival , so you effectively get part of your arrival day plus ten full days.Geography. You may move freely within the 24 permitted provinces and municipalities — which cover essentially every destination a first-time visitor cares about, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Qingdao, Xiamen and Kunming. Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Tibet and Hainan are outside the permitted zone.Entry and exit ports must be on the designated list. Major international airports all are; some land and sea crossings are.Registration. You will be issued a temporary entry permit stamp at the port. Hotels handle police registration as usual.At check-in: tell the airline you are travelling under the 240-hour visa-free transit policy and show the onward ticket. Ground staff outside Asia are not always familiar with the scheme; having the policy name and your onward booking on screen resolves it quickly.
The most common mistake
A return ticket to your origin country does not satisfy the third-country requirement, no matter how long the gap. If you want to fly home from China, you need an actual visa — or you need to structure the trip so that you exit to a third country and fly home from there.
Route 3: Regional and special schemes#
Scheme Duration Who Hainan province 30 days 59 nationalities, arriving directly at Haikou or Sanya, for tourism Shanghai cruise ships 15 days Foreign tour groups arriving by cruise ship at Shanghai and other cruise ports Guangdong via Hong Kong/Macau 144 hours Foreign tour groups of two or more organised by a registered HK/Macau agency Guilin (Guangxi) 6 days ASEAN tour groups Xishuangbanna, Yunnan 6 days ASEAN tour groups
Hainan is the one worth knowing: it is a genuine tropical beach destination with its own 30-day visa-free entry, entirely separate from the mainland schemes.
Ad slot — mid-article
Route 4: The L tourist visa#
If none of the above applies — or if you want more than 30 days, or want to visit Tibet, Xinjiang or Hainan on the same trip as the mainland, or want to fly home directly from China — you apply for a visa.
What you need#
Passport , valid 6+ months, with at least two blank pagesCompleted online application form (COVA), printed and signedOne recent passport photo , white background, 33 × 48 mmProof of round-trip flight booking Proof of accommodation for the whole stay (hotel bookings, or an invitation letter from a Chinese host with a copy of their ID)Proof of legal residence if applying outside your country of citizenshipPrevious Chinese visas / passport copies , if you have visited beforeFingerprints , given in person at the visa centre (waived for under-14s and over-70s in most jurisdictions)How to apply#
Complete the online form at the COVA portal. Book an appointment at your local Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) — in most countries the embassy has outsourced submission to these centres. Attend in person to submit documents and give fingerprints, or use a courier/agency where your jurisdiction allows it. Collect after processing. Timing and cost#
Service Time Indicative cost Standard 4 working days US$30–140 depending on nationality Express 2–3 working days + ~US$25 Rush Next day, discretionary + ~US$40
US citizens pay a reciprocity fee that is significantly higher than most nationalities but receive a 10-year multiple-entry visa as standard. Canadians and Argentinians also commonly receive 10-year visas. Most other nationalities receive 30- or 60-day single or double entry.
Apply 4–8 weeks out
Not because processing is slow — it is usually four days — but because visa centres in London, New York, Paris and Sydney book their appointment slots out several weeks ahead, particularly from March to June.
Special permits inside China#
Being admitted to China is not the same as being allowed everywhere in China.
Tibet Autonomous Region. Foreign nationals require a Tibet Travel Permit , which cannot be applied for individually — it must be arranged by a registered Tibetan travel agency as part of a booked tour with a guide. You need it before boarding the flight or train to Lhasa. Additional Aliens' Travel Permits are needed for areas beyond Lhasa such as Everest Base Camp. Budget three weeks for the paperwork, and note that the region periodically closes to foreigners, usually around March. See our Tibet guide .
Xinjiang. No special permit for the main cities and the Southern Silk Road route, but expect frequent identity checks, security screening at the entrance to markets and stations, and restrictions in border areas.
Border areas in Yunnan, Inner Mongolia and elsewhere may need an Aliens' Travel Permit from the local Public Security Bureau.
Extending your stay#
Visa-free entries generally cannot be extended — you leave and, if eligible, you may re-enter. A visa can be extended once at a local Exit and Entry Administration office of the Public Security Bureau, ideally applied for at least seven days before expiry, with your passport, a photo, proof of accommodation and a completed form. Approval is discretionary and typically grants a further 30 days.
Overstaying is taken seriously : fines of ¥500 per day up to ¥10,000, possible detention, and a record that complicates future applications.
Registration with the police#
Every foreign visitor must be registered with the local police within 24 hours of arrival (72 hours in some rural areas).
Staying in a hotel? Done for you automatically at check-in, which is why the receptionist scans your passport.Staying in a private home or apartment? You must go to the neighbourhood police station in person with your passport, your host and proof of the address, and register yourself. Enforcement varies but the requirement does not. Note that Airbnb no longer operates domestic listings in mainland China, so this situation is less common than it used to be.Frequently asked questions#
Do I need a visa to visit China?#
It depends on your passport. More than 40 nationalities — including most of Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Brazil — currently enter visa-free for 30 days. US and Canadian citizens are not on that list but can use the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme, or apply for an L tourist visa. Always confirm with your local Chinese embassy before booking.
How does the 240-hour visa-free transit work?#
Citizens of 55 countries can stay in China for up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa if they arrive at one of 60+ designated ports and hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. The clock starts at midnight on the day after arrival, and you must stay within the 24 permitted provinces and municipalities.
Can Americans travel to China without a visa?#
Yes, via the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme, which requires an onward flight to a third country or region rather than a direct return to the US. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as third regions for this purpose. For a direct return home, a tourist visa is needed.
How much does a Chinese tourist visa cost?#
Between roughly US$30 and US$140 for the standard four-working-day service, depending on your nationality; US citizens pay the highest rate but receive a 10-year multiple-entry visa. Express and rush services add roughly US$25–40.
Do I need a permit to visit Tibet?#
Yes. Foreign nationals need a Tibet Travel Permit, which can only be obtained through a registered travel agency as part of an organised tour with a guide. Independent travel in the Tibet Autonomous Region is not permitted for foreigners, and further permits are required beyond Lhasa.
How long can I stay in China visa-free?#
Thirty days under the unilateral visa-free scheme, ten days (240 hours) under the transit scheme, and 30 days in Hainan under its separate provincial scheme. Visa-free stays generally cannot be extended.