China
People's Republic of China
At a glance
China visa & entry requirements
Whether you need a visa for China depends on your nationality. Here’s the entry picture at a glance, with official links and a way to check the exact rule for your passport.
Short-stay tourist entry to China, across 198 nationalities in our dataset. Your own requirement depends on your passport — check it below.
Good to know
- China's unilateral visa exemption (as of the NIA's policy interpretation, updated from Ministry of Foreign Affairs information dated 2026-02-17) lets ordinary-passport holders of eligible countries enter visa-free for business, tourism, family/friend visits, exchanges or transit, for stays of up to 30 days.
- Separately, China operates a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy for eligible nationalities entering through any of 65 designated ports across 24 provincial-level regions, provided the traveller is heading to a third destination; this arrangement is extended through 2026-12-31 (per gov.cn, National Immigration Administration).
- Eligibility is nationality-specific — consult the official NIA policy page for the current country list applicable to a given passport before travel.
- Since 2025-11-20, foreign travellers can complete arrival/departure cards online in advance or use self-service kiosks at inspection points.
Been to China already?
Scratch it off and the sheet keeps the receipt — what your passport needed to get in.
Scratch China in →Do you need a visa for China?
Pick your passport and get the exact entry rule for China — visa-free, visa on arrival, e-Visa or apply in advance.
Some services are blocked in China
- Use home banking & apps that block foreign IP addresses
- Reach sites & services that may be blocked locally
- Encrypt hotel, café & airport WiFi
Big savingon 2-yr plans · price at checkout
Affiliate link · Packset may earn a commission
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your nationality. Citizens of 81 countries can currently enter China visa-free for short tourist stays, while others need a visa on arrival, an e-Visa or a visa arranged in advance. Use the visa checker to see the rule for your passport.
Fees vary by visa type and nationality. When we have indicative figures for China they’re shown above, but they’re compiled from third-party sources — always confirm the current fee on the official government site before you apply.
Start on China’s official government entry or e-Visa page (linked above when available). Check which visa type fits your trip, prepare a passport valid for your whole stay and any required documents, and apply well before you travel.
Power & plugs
China runs on 220V with plug types A, C, I. Most chargers work with a simple plug adapter.
China uses 3 incompatible socket families, but one universal adapter handles them all — you still only pack one.
Full power guide for ChinaLocation
Light & dark
Beijing swings from 9-hour winter days to 15 hours of summer light. Today the sun sets at 18:18.
Build a packing plan tailored to China, its weather and your trip.