China has broadened its 15-day visa-free policy for citizens of certain countries to include an additional 6 European nations. As of March 14, 2024, nationals of Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Switzerland will be able to enter mainland China without a visa for short trips. This change in China’s visa policy is designed to
Visa Policy for China
The Chinese visa policy outlines the regulations and requirements that foreign citizens from all over the world need to meet to travel to the People’s Republic of China.
The two Special Administrative Regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau, maintain their own independent border control policies and thus have their own separate visa requirements.
Citizens of most countries or regions in the world need to apply for a visa to enter mainland China, but citizens of some countries can enter China without visas for a limited period of stay if they meet certain conditions.
Visa-exempt nationalities are permitted to enter China for different periods of stay depending on their nationality, but are nevertheless required to register with the local Public Security Bureau (BSB) in their destination if planning to visit for more than 24 hours.
All other nationalities are required to obtain a visa for China from a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad before traveling to the country, whether the trip is for tourism, business, to work or study, or for other purposes.
When applying for a Chinese visa from an embassy, these travelers are required to indicate the purpose of their trip and indicate the length of the intended stay in China on the visa application form.
Travelers who are unable to leave China as planned after entering the country are required to go to a local public security entry-exit administration department to apply for a visa extension before the expiry of their permitted stay.
Find below a complete list of visa requirements to travel to China for your nationality.