China allows nationals of 57 countries to stay visa-free for up to 10 days while transiting to a third destination. Eligible nationalities, requirements, 65 authorized ports of entry, permitted travel areas and how the stay is calculated: VisasNews explains how China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy works.
Starting September 15, 2026, Chinese authorities will be able to ban foreign nationals from entering the country for one to five years if they submit false documents or make false statements when applying for a visa or seeking entry at the border.
Starting June 15, 2026, Cambodia is rolling out its pilot visa-waiver program for Chinese nationals. Valid through October 15, 2026, the measure allows multiple entries and stays of up to 14 days, but travelers must still complete the “Cambodia e-Arrival” card.
The Uruguayan government has announced the start of a process that would allow Chinese citizens to enter Uruguay without a visa. The measure, which has not yet taken effect, comes in response to China’s visa exemption for Uruguayan nationals introduced in 2025.
China is extending until December 31, 2027, its visa-free entry policy for Russian nationals holding ordinary passports.
Brazil will grant a visitor visa exemption to Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports for stays of up to 30 days.
For a long time lagging behind in the digitalization of visas, China is now entering a new phase. In a set of measures released on March 20, Beijing for the first time refers to the introduction of an electronic visa, while continuing to expand its visa-free policies and streamline entry procedures.
Starting February 17, 2026, holders of ordinary passports from Canada and the United Kingdom will be able to stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa. This decision, now officially confirmed by the Chinese government, will remain in effect through December 31, 2026.
During UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China, Beijing indicated that it is considering granting visa-free entry for British citizens traveling for short stays.
According to the National Immigration Administration, more than 30 million foreign nationals entered China without a visa in 2025, amid a strong recovery in cross-border travel and the modernization of entry procedures, notably marked by the gradual rollout of a digital arrival card.
While on an official visit to Beijing, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canadian citizens will soon be able to enter China without a visa.
Visa fees for travel to China will continue to benefit from a reduced rate until December 31, 2026, in accordance with a decision recently confirmed by the Chinese authorities.
Chinese authorities have announced the extension, through December 31, 2026, of the fingerprint collection waiver for short-term visa applications. This measure, echoed by numerous Chinese embassies and visa centers abroad, is part of the ongoing easing of entry requirements introduced since the reopening of the country’s borders.
China officially launches today its new digital arrival card for foreign travelers. This procedure, previously completed through a paper form handed out on planes or upon arrival, can now be filled out online before entering Chinese territory. Learn how this digital arrival card works and how to complete it.
Starting November 20, 2025, China will introduce an online arrival card allowing foreign travelers to fill out their entry information before arriving in the country.
