This article summarizes recent changes to China's visa policies for foreign tourists. If you're planning a trip to China, please take note of the following updates.
3 newly added countries: Sweden, Canada, United Kingdom
China's unilateral visa-free policy now covers 50 countries and regions:
Stay policy: Citizens of these countries can enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchange visits, or transit.
China has extended its unilateral visa-free policy for Russian citizens until December 31, 2027.
- Eligibility: Russian citizens with ordinary passports
- Stay duration: No more than 30 days per entry
- Purpose: Tourism, business, family visits, exchange visits, transit, etc.
- Brunei: No time limit (permanent visa-free)
- Russia: Until December 31, 2027
- Other 48 countries: Until December 31, 2026 (extension to be determined)
According to official data, visa-free tourist arrivals to China increased by 59.4% year-on-year during the 2026 Dragon Boat Festival holiday, showing the policy's strong and growing impact.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Immigration Administration have recently launched a special campaign to regulate overseas visa operations. Visa review standards have been tightened across the board:
- Regulated agencies: Dynamic black-and-white lists for overseas visa agencies
- Cross-verification: Random checks on hotel bookings, flight itineraries, and invitation letters for authenticity
- Data integration: Violation records (illegal residence, unauthorized work, etc.) synced in real-time across borders
- Tiered review: 100% face-to-face interviews required for high-risk applicants
- Visa refusal rates may increase, especially for applicants with previous violations
- Processing times may be longer — apply early
- Submit genuine materials: Fake hotel bookings or flight itineraries can lead to refusal and affect future applications
The following policies remain in effect for travelers visiting China in 2026:
- Short-term visa applicants (stay under 180 days) are exempt from fingerprint collection
- Valid until December 31, 2026
- Citizens of multiple countries enjoy reduced visa fees
- Valid until December 31, 2026
- Citizens of 55 countries can stay in China visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) when transiting
- Available at over 65 ports of entry
- Confirm visa-free eligibility before departure: Check the latest visa-free list on the website of Chinese embassies or consulates in your country
- Allow sufficient processing time: Visa reviews have tightened — apply at least 1 month before departure
- Ensure genuine documents: Hotel bookings, flight tickets, and itineraries must be real and valid to avoid refusal
- Watch for policy expiration: Most visa-free policies and优惠 expire at the end of 2026. If traveling in 2027, check for updates closer to your trip
- UK and Canadian travelers: You can now visit China without a visa — plan your trip and enjoy the convenience
This information is compiled from official public sources and is for reference only. For the most accurate and up-to-date visa policies, please refer to the latest announcements from Chinese embassies or consulates in your country.
