Which countries can enter China visa-free in 2026?

Fifty countries, as of October 2026, under China’s unilateral visa-free scheme. Ordinary passport holders from those countries may enter for business, tourism, visits to family or friends, exchange visits or transit, and stay up to 30 days per entry — with unlimited entries and no annual cap on total days. The United States is not on the list. The scheme is legislated through 31 December 2026 and re-confirmed every year, so check the current list before you book.

List and rules below follow Chinese embassy and consulate visa notices published between February and May 2026, as compiled from the National Immigration Administration's answers. Always confirm against the current official list before travel.

The list, by region

Unilateral visa-free countries, as published October 2026
Region	Count	Countries
Europe	35	Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Asia	7	Bahrain, Brunei, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia
Oceania	2	Australia, New Zealand
Americas	6	Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, Uruguay

Not on the list: the United States, and most other nationalities. If your passport is not above, see the L-visa route below — it works for every nationality.

The fine print that matters

30 consecutive natural days per entry, counted from the day after you enter — not from the day you land, and not per calendar year.
Unlimited entries, no annual cap on total days. The constraint that actually binds is the border pattern around frequent exits, not the day count.
Permitted purposes: business, tourism, visits to family or friends, exchange visits, and transit of no more than 30 days. Work, study and journalism are excluded.
Ordinary passports only, with validity covering the trip. Travel documents and emergency papers do not qualify.
Depart from anywhere. You may enter China from any country or region outside the mainland — you do not have to fly direct from home.
All open ports. The policy applies at every air, sea and land port open to foreigners.
Minors follow the same rules as adults.
Sports events, exhibitions and study camps within 30 days are covered — but working or studying is not, regardless of duration.

Expiry dates — read this before booking past December

Validity terms by group, as published October 2026
Group	Term	What it means for you
Brunei	No expiry term published	The only long-standing arrangement without a published end date.
Russia	Ran through 14 September 2026	Re-confirm the current status before relying on it — the term has passed as of this page’s review date.
The other 48 countries	Through 31 December 2026	Renewal is expected — the scheme has been re-confirmed annually — but treat anything beyond that date as unconfirmed until announced.

Do not promise yourself a January arrival on the strength of this page. The annual renewal has historically been announced late in the year. Book refundable, or plan the first trip before the expiry date.

If your passport is not on the list

Two routes cover everyone else, including Americans.

The L visitor visa — available to any nationality, applied for outside China. US citizens are typically issued a 10-year multiple-entry visa with 60 days per stay, at a $140 discounted fee in 2026, extendable once by 30 days inside China. Full mechanics on the stay-length page.
The Hainan 59-country scheme — a separate policy that includes the United States: 30 days per entry, with medical treatment an accepted purpose. It is restricted to Hainan province, and you must enter through one of eight designated ports. It cannot be extended into a mainland stay from inside the country.

Questions people ask before they book

Which countries can enter China visa-free in 2026?

Fifty countries as of October 2026: 35 in Europe including the United Kingdom, 7 in Asia, 2 in Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), and 6 in the Americas including Canada. Ordinary passport holders may stay up to 30 days per entry with unlimited entries. The United States is not on the list.

Is the UK on the visa-free list?

Yes. The United Kingdom is one of the 50 countries on the unilateral scheme as of October 2026, with 30 days per entry and unlimited entries.

Is Canada on the visa-free list?

Yes. Canada is one of the six American-continent countries on the list, alongside Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay.

Can I enter China from any country?

Yes. You may depart to China from any country or region outside the mainland — you do not need to fly from your home country, and the policy applies at all air, sea and land ports open to foreigners.

What happens after 31 December 2026?

The scheme is legislated through 31 December 2026 and has been re-confirmed annually since it began. Renewal is expected but not guaranteed until announced — treat any travel past that date as unconfirmed, and re-check the official list close to the time.

Go deeper

How long can a foreigner stay in China?The three routes, their exact limits, and how they stack across a year. Can I reset my China stay by going to Hong Kong?The reset routine done properly, and the pattern that gets people refused. How do I read the dates on a Chinese visa?Enter Before, Entries, Duration of Each Stay — the three fields that decide everything. Can medical treatment get me a China residence permit?The six-month treatment record that supports a one-year permit. What does it cost per month to live in China?A $950-a-month budget broken down, city by city, including the border-run cost.

One email when something changes

Visa-free country lists, stay limits and fee schedules get revised without much notice. Leave an address and we will send a short note when a rule on this page changes — and nothing else.

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