There are three different visa-free schemes and travellers routinely mix them up. Unilateral visa-free entry gives 30 days to citizens of a list of countries, for tourism or business, no onward ticket required. Visa-free transit gives 240 hours to a longer list of countries, but only if you are genuinely in transit to a third country. Hainan has its own 30-day scheme for a much wider list, limited to the island.
Below is how it works in practice, what the border officer will ask for, and where the scheme has traps. The rules are set by China’s National Immigration Administration and do change — we re-check them before every booking. Book flights after that check, not before.
Every day here is a suggestion. Your guide rewrites it with you the evening before — that is the whole point of travelling privately.
Is your nationality on the 30-day unilateral list? If yes, book flights and land. Nothing to apply for, nothing to pay, no onward ticket needed.
A confirmed ticket from China to a third country (not back where you came from), within 240 hours. London–Beijing–Bangkok works. London–Beijing–London does not.
Transit entry is region-limited in some ports. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu allow wide movement; smaller ports restrict you to the province.
Passport, onward ticket, first night’s hotel address in Chinese. Fingerprints and a photo at the counter. Ten minutes on a good day.
Counted from the day after entry. Overstay is fined per day and can affect future visas. Your guide will remind you.
Visa-free entry covers tourism, business meetings, exhibitions and visiting family. Paid employment needs a work permit.
Hotels register you automatically. Staying with friends? You must register at a police station within 24 hours.
Applied for at a local exit-entry bureau, 7 days before expiry, with a good reason. Not guaranteed.
One brief, one reply within 24 hours, two or three guides who have done this trip before.
Start planning — it’s free