Visa exemptions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Mutual visa exemption agreements signed between China and other countries state that those eligible for visa exemption may "stay in China for no more than 90 days within any 180-day period". How should this provision be understood and how are the periods calculated?

National Immigration Administration:The provision "No more than 90 days within any 180-day period" means that the total number of days a foreign national stays in China must not exceed 90 within 180 days prior to any date. The 90-day period does not include the days spent in China under visa, residence permit and other visa documents or APEC Business Travel Card. The visa-free entry will not be granted to any foreigner whose cumulative duration of visa-free stay has reached 90 days within a 180-day period. In the case where a foreigner's cumulative duration of stay has not reached 90 days while the remaining period is less than 30 days, the visa-free stay period for the foreigner concerned for this entry shall not exceed the remaining visa-free stay period.

(Updated on June 18, 2024)

2. If a foreign national has successfully entered China under a mutual visa exemption agreement but subsequently lost his/her passport verified and stamped by a border inspection authority, can he/she leave China with an emergency travel document issued by the embassy of his/her home country in China?

National Immigration Administration:The types of documents accepted are specified in the mutual visa exemption agreements between China and other relevant countries, which in most cases, are passports. Some of these agreements also permit the use of temporary travel documents and other international travel documents. If a foreign national has lost his/her international travel document required by the corresponding mutual visa exemption agreement after entering China without a visa, he/she can leave the country with a re-issued document, provided that the document is one of those specified in the agreement and that he/she has not overstayed the visa-free stay period. However, if the visa-free stay period has expired or the new travel document is not covered by the agreement, the foreign national concerned will have to obtain a stay permit from the exit/entry administration of a public security organ, and then leave China within the period specified in the permit.

(Updated on June 18, 2024)

3. After a foreign national has entered China under a mutual visa exemption agreement, what should he/she do if he/she needs to extend his/her stay in China beyond the visa-free stay period?

National Immigration Administration:Any foreign national having entered China under a mutual visa exemption agreement must leave the country before his/her visa-free stay period expires. Those seeking to extend their stay in China due to emergencies or force majeure of other kinds must apply at the exit/entry administrations of public security organs before their visa-free stay periods expire.

(Updated on June 18, 2024)

4. For a foreign national who has entered China under a mutual visa exemption agreement, does he/she need to register his/her accommodation?

National Immigration Administration:Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that, for any foreigner staying in a hotel in China, the hotel concerned shall register his/her accommodation in accordance with the regulations on the public security administration of the hotel industry, and submit the foreigner's accommodation registration information to the public security organ in the place where the hotel is located. For any foreigner who resides or stays in a domicile that is not a hotel, he/she or the person who accommodates him/her shall, within 24 hours after the foreigner's arrival, complete the registration at the public security organ in the place of residence. According to the aforementioned regulations, foreign nationals who have entered China under mutual visa exemption agreements still need to register their accommodation.

The ARRIVAL CARD, which must be completed to enter China, provides clear information regarding accommodation registration in the "Important Notes" section in both Chinese and English. Foreign nationals shall complete accommodation registration in accordance with the information on the card and the relevant laws. The immigration management authorities and public security organs in China have streamlined the registration process, and are working to further simplify the registration and declaration procedures by utilizing the Internet and other related technologies for foreign nationals visiting China and those intending to stay in the country.

(Updated on June 18, 2024)

5. What are the other types of visa exemptions, besides visa-free entry based on mutual agreements and 24/72/144-hour visa-free entry?

(1) Holders of valid APEC business travel cards. The APEC business travel card is equivalent to a multiple-entry visa good for 5 years. The cardholder may enter China within the validity period of the travel card with a valid passport consistent with the card. The duration of each stay can be up to 60 days or 90 days.

(2) Citizens of countries that have diplomatic relations with China holding ordinary passports and on a tour to Hong Kong or Macao, and part of group tours to the Zhujiang River (Pearl River) Delta Area for a stay of less than 6 days organized by travel services registered in Hong Kong or Macao, do not need to apply for a visa. The Zhujiang River (Pearl River) Delta Area refers to the following cities: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing and Huizhou. The policies are also applicable to group travel to Shantou, with direct exit from Shantou, and provided the scope of activities does not exceed the administrative area of Shantou.

(3) Citizens of the following countries holding ordinary passports are exempt from a visa, if they travel to Hainan province in a tour group (five or more people) organized by an international travel agency registered in Hainan province and approved by the China National Tourism Administration, and also if their stay is not to exceed 15 days: the US, Malaysia, Thailand, Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Germany, the UK, France, Austria, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Japan, and Singapore. Among the listed countries, visitors from the Republic of Korea, Germany and Russia may stay for 21 days if their group includes two or more people.

(4) Citizens of Singapore and Brunei holding ordinary passports may enter China without a visa provided that they travel to China for tourism, family visit, business or transit, and intend to stay in China for no more than 15 days.

(5) Tourist groups from 10 ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines) to Guilin for a stay of no more than 6 days organized by travel services approved by the Guilin Municipal Tourism Administration do not need to apply for a visa, with direct entry/exit from Guilin Airport.

6. Can a holder of foreign permanent residence ID card enter China without a visa?

Those who hold a valid Permanent Residence Card for Aliens of the People's Republic of China may stay in China, and enjoy multiple entries and exits without a separate visa.

Frequently Asked Questions on Visa-free Entry into China

Q: Who does the visa waiver apply to?

A:Nationals of 38 countries including Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan holding valid ordinary passports can be exempted from visa requirement if entering into China for the purpose of business, tourism, family or friends visits, exchange and transit.They can stay in China for no more than 30 days without visa.

Q: Do foreign nationals eligible for a visa waiver need to make declarations toChineseembassies and consulatesin advance?

A: Foreign nationals eligible for a visa waiver do notneed to declarein advance to Chinese embassies and consulates before entering China without a visa.

Q: Will the purpose of intended stay in China be examined by Chinese border inspection authorities when entering China? How willit be done?Are other documents needed for entering Chinain addition to a passport?

A: Foreign nationalstraveling for purposesof business, tourism, family or friendsvisits，exchange and transit that meet the visa waiver requirementscan beallowedto enter China withouta visa upon examination and approvalin accordance with lawby border inspection authorities.Entry into China shall be denied by border inspection authorities in accordance with law to foreign nationalswho travel for purposes that do not meet the visa waiver requirements or who are not allowed to enter China in accordance with laws and regulations. It is recommended to take documents such as invitation letters, air tickets andreservationsof accommodationas aproof corresponding to thepurposes of entry into China. Visa waiver does not apply to those who cometoChina for work, study, journalistic or alike purposes.

Q: Is there any additional requirement for minors eligible for avisa waiver?

A: Visa waiver requirements for minors are the same as foradults.

Q: Are there any requirements on thetype and validity of entrydocuments?

A: For foreign nationals, an ordinary passport valid for at least the duration of intended stay in China is needed. Holders of travel documents ortemporary or emergency documentsother than ordinary passports are not allowed to enter into Chinawithouta visa.

Q: How to calculate the durationof stay of 30days?

A: Foreign nationals eligible for a visa waiver maystay in China continuously withoutavisa from thedate of entry to the 30th calendar day until 24:00.

Q: Does the visa waiver apply to foreign nationalswho travel fromathird country?

A: Eligible foreign nationalscan depart for China from any country or region.

Q: Does the visa waiver apply to foreign nationalswho travel by forms of transport other than aviation?

A: The visa waiver applies to all travelerscoming to China through any sea,road and air port open to foreign nationals(except where laws, regulations and bilateral arrangements specify otherwise).Forarrivalsin China by private transport, certain procedures for entry and exit ofmeans of transportshallbe processed in accordance withrelevant laws and regulations of China.

Q: Does the visa waiver apply to tour groups?

A: The visa waiver appliesto eligible foreign nationals either in tour groupsor as individuals.

Q: If the length of intended stay exceeds 30 days, can the visa waiver be extended?

A: Foreign nationals planning to stayin China for over 30 days shallapply for visascorresponding totheir purposes of stay in advance at Chineseembassies orconsulates. If they have to stay longer than 30 days for appropriate and sufficient reasons after entering China without a visa, they shallapply forstaypermitstotheexitandentry administrations of public securityauthorities of China.

Q: Does the visa waiver allow multiple entries? Is there any requirement on thelengthofintervals between each entry, or any restriction on thenumber of entrieswithout a visaortotal daysof stay?

A: Foreign nationals eligible for the visa waivercanenter Chinawithout a visa for multiple times. Currently there isno restriction onthe number of entries or total daysof stay,but those who enjoy visa-free travel to China shallnot engagein activities inconsistent with their purposes of entry.