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Do you need a visa for China?
Find the entry route that may fit your passport, purpose and trip—then see exactly what still needs checking.
There is no single answer for every traveller. Most short trips fall into one of four paths.
Check my route ↓Start with four facts.
This first version gives a broad route, not a border decision. A detailed itinerary check will be added inside this same tool.
Complete all four fields to see your likely route.
Need a more precise itinerary check?
The detailed version will ask for your immediate origin and destination, connecting stops, entry and exit ports, Mainland cities, transport mode and exact dates. For now, use the 240-hour section below to check those details manually.
Four routes, four different tests.
Visa-free entry and visa-free transit are not interchangeable. Start with the route that matches your trip, then verify its conditions.
30-day visa-free entry
Eligible ordinary passports visiting for an approved short-stay purpose.
No third destination is required.Read route ↓02240-hour visa-free transit
Eligible travellers continuing through Mainland China to a different country or region.
Route, port, time and permitted area all matter.Read route ↓0324-hour direct transit
Short international connections through an open Chinese port.
Staying airside is different from entering the city.Read route ↓04A visa before travel
Trips that do not meet a visa-free route—or involve work, study or journalism.
Requirements depend on purpose and application jurisdiction.Read route ↓Check the country inside the correct policy.
Compare the current 30-day ordinary-passport list, mutual agreements and the 57-country transit list without mixing their conditions.
For eligible passports, this is usually the simplest route.
Eligible ordinary-passport holders may currently enter for up to 30 days for tourism, business, visits, exchange or transit without making an advance declaration to a Chinese embassy or consulate.
What should I verify?
- Your ordinary passport appears on the current unilateral or mutual visa-exemption list.
- Your purpose and length of stay match the policy.
- You can show evidence consistent with your trip, such as flight and accommodation bookings.
The route—not just the number of days—decides whether it may work.
The core pattern is travel from one country or region, through Mainland China, to a different country or region. An eligible passport, designated ports, permitted stay areas and confirmed onward travel are also required.
A and B must be different countries or regions. Your nationality, home country and final destination do not replace the immediate stops in this test.
South Korea → Shanghai → Hong KongThird-region structure is present. Passport, ports, time and permitted areas still need checking.
United States → Beijing → United StatesThe two sides are the same. Ordinary visa-free entry may still apply to an eligible passport.
Beijing → Guangzhou → train to Hong KongCheck every city, both ports, the permitted areas and the confirmed rail ticket.
Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and airport layovers
These can count as regions distinct from Mainland China in a transit route. But an airside connection may change the immediate origin or destination used in the A→Mainland→B test. Map every flight segment, not only the headline itinerary.
Different entry and exit cities
Using two cities is not automatically disqualifying, but both ports and all places visited must fall within the current designated route and permitted areas. A city having an international airport is not enough by itself.
Flights, trains, buses and separate tickets
The official policy requires onward travel to a third country or region with confirmed arrangements, departure date and seat. Separate tickets may still create airline check-in friction. Rail, sea or road journeys also require an eligible exit port and suitable proof.
How the 240 hours are counted
The National Immigration Administration states that the period begins at 00:00 on the day after entry. Plan with margin and re-check if a departure changes.
A short connection does not always mean a day in the city.
The policy generally covers travel to a third country or region through an open port within 24 hours while remaining in the restricted port area. Leaving that area requires a temporary entry permit from the port authority.
Use a visa when the visa-free paths do not fit.
A visa is the likely next step when your passport, purpose, stay length or route does not meet a visa-free policy. Work, long-term study and journalism require the appropriate visa rather than a tourist or transit workaround.
A separate step-by-step Tourist Visa Application Guide will cover forms, bookings, review status, passport submission and jurisdiction-specific documents.
Turn the route into one clear evidence pack.
The separate document guide identifies what is required, recommended or conditional for each of the four routes above—and shows how to keep the critical evidence available offline.
Build the document pack for your route →Questions that change the answer.
These are based on recurring itinerary questions from travellers. Policy answers are tied back to official sources, not community replies.
Is 30-day visa-free entry the same as 240-hour transit?
No. Ordinary visa-free entry does not require a third destination. The 240-hour policy is a transit route and depends on your complete itinerary, passport, ports and permitted stay area.
Do Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as a different destination?
For transit-route analysis they can count as regions distinct from Mainland China. A route such as Hong Kong → Mainland China → Hong Kong does not create two different sides of the transit, while Hong Kong → Mainland China → Thailand may.
Can I enter in one city and leave from another?
Sometimes, but not simply because both cities have international airports. Both ports and all places you visit must fall within the currently permitted route and stay areas.
Can inbound and outbound tickets be booked separately?
The official rule focuses on confirmed onward travel with a date and seat, not one booking reference. Separate tickets can still create airline check-in friction, so carry the complete itinerary and current official policy.
When does the 240-hour period begin?
The National Immigration Administration states that the period is calculated from 00:00 on the day after entry. Always check that the scheduled departure remains within the permitted period.
Who makes the final decision?
Airlines decide whether to carry a passenger, while Chinese border authorities decide admission and temporary entry based on the actual documents and itinerary.
Rules change. Check the source again before you fly.
Last reviewed: 25 September 2026
National Immigration Administration ↗Foreign Ministry visa-free FAQ ↗Mutual visa-exemption agreements ↗Prepare the proof for this route.
Build one evidence pack for airline check-in, border inspection and the first accommodation.
Open the Documents Guide →