The 30-day visa-free entry: who gets in free
Around 50 countries can now enter China for up to 30 days with no visa at all — no transit logic, no onward-ticket games. Most of Europe, the UK, Canada, Australia and more. The US is not on the list.
3 min read · 4 sections
Entry rules change often — always confirm details with the official source before you fly.
Official source: China National Immigration AdministrationThe short version
- Ordinary-passport holders of ~50 countries get 30 days visa-free for tourism, business, family visits and transit.
- Most of the EU, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and more are included — the UK and Canada were added in February 2026.
- The United States is NOT included as of July 2026. Americans: use the [240-hour transit](/en/guides/visa-free-transit) or apply for a visa.
- This is a trial policy currently set to run until December 31, 2026 — extensions have been announced before, but verify before you book.
- No onward ticket needed, no port restrictions, travel anywhere in China.
What's your visa status?
Pick your country to see whether you need a visa to enter China.
What this actually is
Since late 2023, China has been unilaterally waiving visas for ordinary-passport holders of a growing list of countries — first a handful of European nations, then expanding through 2024–2026 until it covers around 50. It's the simplest entry China has ever offered: show up with your passport, get stamped in for up to 30 days.
Unlike the 240-hour transit, there is no transit requirement — fly in from anywhere, fly home directly, move around China freely. Tourism, business visits, family visits and transit are all covered.
Who's in — and who isn't
Included (as of July 2026): most of the European Union (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and the rest), plus the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway, and a set of other countries across Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. The UK and Canada were the most recent big additions, effective February 17, 2026.
Not included: the United States is the glaring omission. If you travel on a US passport, your visa-free options are the 240-hour transit — or a standard tourist visa.
The list has only ever grown, but the policy is officially a trial running to December 31, 2026. Every previous round has been extended — but the correct move before booking anything is a two-minute check of the NIA's current list.
How entry actually works
There is no application — but a few things still matter at the border:
- Passport validity: six months beyond your entry date.
- Proof of plans: a return or onward ticket and a hotel booking are occasionally asked for. Have them on your phone.
- Arrival card + fingerprints: standard at all major airports; automated gates handle it fast.
- Registration: your hotel registers you automatically. Private stays (friends, some guesthouses) require a police-station registration within 24 hours.
- The 30 days are days in-country, counted from the day after arrival. Extensions are not part of the deal — if you need longer, apply for a proper visa.
Making a 30-day trip of it
A month changes the trip's shape completely. Xi'an stops being a two-day stopover and becomes a base: a week in the city, a few days on Mount Huashan and the outer mausoleums, then the high-speed network opens the whole country — Beijing in 4.5 hours, Chengdu in 3, Shanghai in 6. The rail guide covers how booking works for foreigners.
Our 4–5 day Xi'an itinerary handles the city itself; the rest of a 30-day trip is China-wide and beyond this site's scope — Xi'an first, though.
Questions, answered
Is the US included in China's 30-day visa-free policy?
No — as of July 2026 the United States is not on the list. UK and Canada were added in February 2026, but US passports still need either the 240-hour visa-free transit or a tourist visa.
When does the 30-day visa-free policy expire?
The trial is currently set through December 31, 2026. It has been extended every time before, but treat that as likely, not guaranteed — check the NIA page before booking.
Can I work or study on the 30-day visa-free entry?
No. It covers tourism, business visits, family visits and transit. Employment and study require the proper visa categories.
Do I need an onward or return ticket for visa-free entry?
It's not a formal requirement like the transit policy, but border officers can ask for proof of your plans. Carry a return ticket and at least your first hotel booking.
Places in this story
Mount Huashan Day Trip
Sacred for 2,000 years, infamous for one plank path — China's most dramatic granite peaks, an hour from Xi'an by bullet train.
Learn more →
Qianling Mausoleum
Since 705 AD, China's only female emperor has slept beside her husband in a tomb no one has ever opened.
Learn more →
Keep exploring
Visas & entry: do you need one?
Probably less paperwork than you fear — and two of the doors now have their own deep-dive packages: the 30-day visa-free entry (~50 countries) and the 240-hour transit (55 countries, including the US). This page is the router: work out which door is yours, then read its package.
The 240-hour visa-free transit, explained
Ten days in China without a visa, if you're just passing through — including Americans. The rules, the traps, and how to run it through Xi'an.
Money & payments: Alipay/WeChat Pay for foreigners
China runs on QR codes, and since 2023 foreigners can join in: link your Visa or Mastercard to Alipay and WeChat Pay, verify with your passport, and pay like a local. Set both apps up before you fly, carry a little cash as backup, and forget about tipping.