China’s entry policy has become significantly more visitor-friendly since 2023, with several visa-free programs expanded and new bilateral agreements coming into force. The result is that visitors from many countries now have multiple options for entering China without a pre-arranged visa — from transit exemptions to extended visa-free stays on Hainan Island.
This guide covers all the current options as of 2026. Note that China’s entry policy changes regularly — always verify current requirements with the official Chinese Embassy website or the AQSIQ/National Immigration Administration website before travel.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
- Option 1: Hainan Island 30-Day Visa-Free (The Most Useful Program)
- Option 2: 144-Hour Transit Visa Exemption
- Option 3: 72-Hour Transit Exemption
- Option 4: 15-Day Visa-Free Bilateral Agreements
- Option 5: Port Visa on Arrival
- 2026 Policy Changes: What’s New
- Which Option Is Right for You?
- Important Warnings
Option 1: Hainan Island 30-Day Visa-Free (The Most Useful Program)
Hainan Island’s visa-free policy is China’s most generous entry option for international visitors: citizens of 59 qualifying nationalities can enter Hainan Province without any visa for up to 30 days.
Who qualifies (59 nationalities as of 2026): Most Western European countries, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and most of Southeast Asia and South America. The full list includes: All EU member states, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, and others.
The critical condition: This is Hainan Island only. You cannot leave Hainan to visit other parts of mainland China under this exemption. If you want to travel to the mainland, you need a separate visa before departure. You can fly into Hainan, spend up to 30 days on the island, and fly out to an international destination — but you cannot take the ferry or fly to Guangzhou, Shanghai, or any other mainland destination without a visa.
How to use it:
- Book a round-trip or onward international flight that shows you leaving from Hainan to a non-mainland destination (e.g., Hong Kong, Thailand, your home country)
- At arrival at Sanya Phoenix (SYX) or Haikou Meilan (HAK) airport, fill out the port entry form and present your passport to the immigration officer
- You receive a 30-day stamp valid only for Hainan Province
Can you extend? The 30-day stay can be extended once at a local Public Security Bureau for an additional 30 days, giving a maximum 60-day Hainan stay.
Best used for: A purely beach holiday in Sanya, or a combination of Hainan beach time with onward travel to Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, or home.
Option 2: 144-Hour Transit Visa Exemption
The 144-hour (6-day) transit visa exemption is available at specific ports to citizens of most nationalities (not all — check the current list).
How it works:
- You must have a confirmed onward flight departing China within 144 hours (6 days) of arrival
- You must be transiting between two international destinations (entering from one country, departing to a different country — or same country in some cases)
- You must stay within the designated city or province
Active ports for 144-hour transit (as of 2026):
- Beijing (via Beijing Capital International Airport)
- Shanghai (via Pudong or Hongqiao airports)
- Guangzhou (via Baiyun International Airport)
- Chengdu (via Tianfu International Airport)
- Xi’an (via Xianyang International Airport)
- Chongqing, Qingdao, Wuhan, and several other major cities
Geographic restriction: You must stay within the designated zone for each port. For Beijing, this typically includes Beijing city and nearby areas. For Shanghai, it covers Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. Check the specific zone for the port you’re using.
What you need to show:
- Passport
- Confirmed onward international flight ticket (departing within 144 hours from a listed port)
- Completed landing card
Who this suits: Travellers on a round-the-world trip or an Asia itinerary who want a 6-day China component without the visa application process. Hong Kong → Shanghai (6 days) → Tokyo, for example, is entirely manageable under the 144-hour exemption.
Option 3: 72-Hour Transit Exemption
Similar to the 144-hour version but for 3 days, available at a wider range of ports and applicable to a slightly broader list of nationalities. Less useful as a standalone China experience but works for short city stopovers.
Active 72-hour ports include: Most international airports in China not covered by the 144-hour list.
Option 4: 15-Day Visa-Free Bilateral Agreements
China has signed bilateral visa-free agreements with a growing number of countries, allowing stays of up to 15 days without a pre-arranged visa.
Countries with 15-day visa-free agreements (as of 2026): The list has been expanding. As of late 2025, agreements are in place with the following nationalities for visa-free entry: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Georgia, and others (the list is expanding — check current status).
How it works: Citizens of qualifying countries can enter China at any international port for stays up to 15 days without a prior visa. This is for tourism, transit, or business. Extensions are not available under this program; you must leave by day 15.
Important: Some nationalities that have 15-day visa-free status are also eligible for 144-hour transit — the 15-day visa-free is more useful as it allows more flexibility (multiple cities, any exit point).
Option 5: Port Visa on Arrival
China does offer visas on arrival at specific ports for citizens of a small number of countries, primarily from countries that have reciprocal visa-on-arrival agreements with China. This is not a universal option — it applies to a very limited number of nationalities.
For most international visitors, visas on arrival at Chinese ports are not available — the above programs (Hainan visa-free, 144-hour transit, bilateral 15-day) are the “no-visa” entry options.
2026 Policy Changes: What’s New
China has been significantly liberalising its entry policy since 2023:
- The 144-hour transit exemption has been extended to additional ports (Chengdu Tianfu Airport added in 2024)
- Multiple new bilateral 15-day visa-free agreements were signed in 2024-2025
- The Hainan 30-day policy was reaffirmed and the qualifying nationality list extended
The trend is toward more openness. Check the National Immigration Administration website (nia.gov.cn) or the Chinese Embassy in your country for the current list of qualifying nationalities, as it has been updated multiple times in the past two years.
Which Option Is Right for You?
| Situation | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Going to Hainan for a beach holiday only | Hainan 30-day visa-free |
| Short visit to one or two cities as part of a longer Asia trip | 144-hour transit exemption |
| Want to travel freely through China for up to 15 days | 15-day bilateral visa-free (if your nationality qualifies) |
| Longer stay or complex itinerary | Apply for a standard L tourist visa |
| Want to include Tibet | Standard L visa + Tibet Travel Permit (visa-free programs do not cover Tibet) |
Important Warnings
Tibet is not covered by any visa-free program. You need a standard tourist visa plus a Tibet Travel Permit to visit the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Register at accommodation. Even under visa-free programs, foreign visitors must be registered with the local police bureau. Your hotel does this automatically; if staying with a private host, they must register you within 24 hours.
Keep your onward ticket. Under transit exemptions, immigration officers will check your onward booking. Have it available on your phone or printed.