Under what circumstances can foreigners come to China without applying for a visa?

(Note: According to the requirements of China's latest entry policy in 2023: the following three to seven are currently suspended. Those who meet the conditions of 1. 2. eight to ten can go to China normally without applying for a visa.)

Foreign citizens who come to China under one of the following circumstances may be exempted from visa:

1. bilateral agreements.According to bilateral agreements or agreements signed or reached between China and relevant countries, people from some countries who meet certain conditions can come to China without visas. For specific information, please refer to the list of Sino-foreign mutual visa exemption agreements.

2. direct transit.An aircraft, ship or train carrying a joint passenger ticket for an international voyage from China to a third country or region shall stay in China for no more than 24 hours without leaving the port.

3. 72-hour airport transit visa-free

3 conditions are required:

(1) Citizens of 51 countries that fall within the scope of 72-hour transit visa exemption.

(2) Hold a valid international travel document and a joint air ticket to a third country (region) with a confirmed date and seat within 72 hours.

(3) Transit from a certain airport that allows transit to a third country (region).

2. As of August 22, 2016, the airports implementing 72-hour visa-free transit are: beijing Capital Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, Shenyang Taoxian International Airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, Kunming Changshui International Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, Tianjin Binhai International Airport, Harbin Taiping International Airport, Qingdao Liuting International Airport, Changsha Huanghua International Airport.

3. Passengers from 51 countries can apply for 72-hour visa-free transit, namely:

(1) A total of 37 European countries: austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania.

(2) There are 6 American countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.

(3) There are 2 countries in Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.

(4) A total of 6 Asian countries: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar.

4. 144-hour transit visa-free

Visa exemption conditions: starting from January 30, 2016, citizens of 51 countries (the same as the list of countries to which the 72-hour transit visa exemption policy applies) will hold their valid international travel documents and a joint air ticket to a third country/region with a fixed date and seat within 144 hours, visa-free entry or exit from any port of Shanghai Sea (Shanghai Port International Passenger Transport Center, Wusongkou International Cruise Port), Land (Shanghai Railway Station), Airport Port (Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Hongqiao International Airport) or Nanjing Air Port (Nanjing Lukou International Airport), Hangzhou Air Port (Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport), visa-free stay in Shanghai, Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province for 144 hours.

Note: when foreigners who meet the requirements go abroad to Shanghai or Nanjing Lukou Airport in Jiangsu Province and Xiaoshan Airport in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province for planes, trains and passenger ships, they only need to show valid entry-exit certificates and joint tickets to third countries/regions within 144 hours with confirmed dates and seats to the check-in transportation staff, the person in charge of the transportation vehicle will report to the border inspection station before arriving at the above-mentioned port in accordance with the regulations. After verification and permission, the border inspection station shall issue a temporary entry permit for foreigners upon their arrival at the port of entry.

5. foreigners who are already in Hong Kong and Macao with ordinary passports of countries that have diplomatic relations with China, Travel agencies legally registered in Hong Kong and Macau organize groups to enter the Pearl River Delta region of Guangdong (referring to the administrative regions under the jurisdiction of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou) for tourism, and stay for no more than 6 days, Visa is waived.

6.Starting from May 1, 2018, citizens of the following 59 countries will travel to Hainan with ordinary passports and will be received by travel agencies established in Hainan. They can enter Hainan without a visa and stay in the administrative area of Hainan Province for 30 days: philippines, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, United States, canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Monaco, Belarus. Specific requirements please refer to the following website: http://en.explorehainan.com/en/index/wjb.shtml

7. citizens of Singapore, Brunei and Japan

Citizens of Singapore, Brunei, and Japan who hold ordinary passports and come to mainland China for tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, or transit for no more than 15 days can be exempted from visas when entering China at ports open to foreigners. However, a visa is required in advance in the following cases:

(I) holding ordinary passports to travel to China, do business, visit relatives and friends is expected to stay more than 15 days;

(II) with ordinary passports to China to study, work, settle down, official visits, interviews and reports.

8. holders of valid APEC Business Travel Card. The APEC business travel card is equivalent to a 5-year multiple visa. The cardholder can enter China multiple times within the validity period of the travel card with the travel card and a valid passport consistent with the card, and the maximum stay time each time does not exceed 2 months.

* Starting from 0:00 on August 24, 2022, Beijing time, holders of valid APEC business travel cards will be allowed to enter China, and relevant personnel do not need to re-apply for visas to China.

9. hold a valid the People's Republic of China alien residence permit issued by the Chinese public security organs.

10. holders of valid the People's Republic of China alien permanent residence permit.

* The above-mentioned visa-free personnel who go to China for work, study, family reunion, long-term family visits, settlement and other reasons, as well as resident Chinese journalists, must apply for Z, X1, Q1, S1, D and J1 visas before going to China.