Entry rules, simplified
China entry rules for real trips, not just articles.
Use a fast checker to screen the two policy families that matter most for foreign travelers right now: the 30-day unilateral visa-free list and the 240-hour transit without visa policy.
Quick start
Run a first-pass eligibility check.
Start here if you want a practical screening answer before you dive into the country list or the longer transit guide.
China entry checker
Switch between direct visit mode and transit mode. This tool is for first-pass screening, not final legal clearance.
Start with the right page
Choose the entry task, not just the topic.
Visa-free checker
Best for direct visits when you want to know whether the current 30-day unilateral rule may cover your passport and trip purpose.
Visa-free countries list
Filter the current unilateral country list by region and see whether each country is also on the 240-hour transit list.
Transit checker
Use this for third-country route logic, stay windows, and port-area confirmations tied to the 240-hour policy.
240-hour guide
Read the rule in plain English, with examples of what counts as a valid onward route and what usually breaks eligibility.
Stay-length calculator
Turn entry and exit times into a practical deadline view for both 30-day visit windows and 240-hour transit timing.
Arrival checklist builder
Turn entry status, payment setup, mobile data, and first-day logistics into a copy-ready arrival plan before you fly.
After entry is clear
Move from rule checking to day-one readiness.
Many travelers solve the entry question first, then hit a second operational cluster: payment setup, app choice, airport pickup, and hotel arrival. This part of the site is built for that handoff.
Arrival readiness sequence
Use the tool first, then drill into the support page that matches the real blocker.
Confirm entry basis
Run the visa-free or transit checker so the arrival plan starts from the right rule.
Build the arrival checklist
Surface the real gaps in payment, data, pickup, hotel address handling, and backup planning.
Fix the blocking utility
Move into payment setup, app-choice, or transport guidance only after the tool shows what is still open.
Country intent
Answer the passport-specific searches directly.
These pages target the queries travelers actually type, then route them into the right checker instead of forcing them through a generic article.
US citizens
Direct answer on why US passport holders usually need the transit route, not the unilateral 30-day list.
Canadians
Clear answer on direct 30-day visa-free entry plus when Canadians can also use the 240-hour transit framework.
UK citizens
Nationality-specific answer page for British passport holders planning direct visits or onward transit.
Australians
Fast answer page for Australian passport holders comparing direct-entry and transit options.
Germans
Germany-specific page for direct-entry visits and onward transit through China.
French citizens
France-specific answer page for short visits, route logic, and current transit alternatives.
Japanese citizens
Japan-specific page for direct-entry travel and the current 240-hour transit route.
Which countries qualify?
Question-led landing page answering the broad country-list query with region counts and next steps.
10-day visa-free China
Explainer for the high-intent search phrase that usually means the current 240-hour transit policy.
Transit questions
Build content around the route confusion, not just the route checker.
These pages capture the people who are still figuring out the rule, the route shape, or whether they can leave the airport.
How transit works
Plain-English explanation of the 24-hour and 240-hour transit policies and when each one applies.
144-hour transit answer
Bridge page for travelers still searching the older 144-hour phrase and needing the current 240-hour answer.
Can I leave the airport?
Practical answer page for travelers trying to understand whether a layover can become a short city stay.
Third-country rule examples
Examples of valid and invalid route patterns, including Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Taiwan region.
Transit route examples
Route library for common traveler patterns like US to China to Hong Kong SAR or Canada to China to Japan.
Run the transit checker
Use the live checker once you know your passport, route, and stay window.
Arrival tools
Help travelers after the flight is booked, not just before.
These support utilities are smaller search terms than the entry-policy cluster, but they make the site more useful, more shareable, and more likely to earn repeat visits.
China travel apps
What to install before the trip for payments, maps, rides, rail booking, and local communication.
China arrival checklist
Interactive builder for entry readiness, payment setup, mobile data, pickup planning, and fallback coverage.
China payment setup
Pre-arrival checklist for payment apps, card backups, first test purchases, and day-one failure planning.
China payment apps for foreigners
Choose the lowest-friction wallet stack instead of installing overlapping payment apps without a plan.
Alipay for foreigners
Practical setup path for travelers who want one main payment method ready before wheels down.
Weixin or WeChat Pay
Backup-wallet guidance for trips where local coordination may already revolve around WeChat.
How to use DiDi
Practical ride-hailing guide for airport pickup, driver messaging, payment setup, and smoother first rides.
China address card generator
Build a bilingual phone-ready card for taxis, hotel check-in, or asking station staff for help.
China allergy card generator
Create a Chinese-first food warning card for restaurants, hotel breakfasts, and food ordering.
What this release models
Two policy families, one clear scope.
30-day unilateral visa-free entry
This release models the current public list of countries covered by the unilateral 30-day visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders.
- Business
- Tourism
- Visits to relatives and friends
- Exchange visits
- Transit
240-hour visa-free transit
This release also models the current 240-hour transit framework for nationals of 55 countries traveling from China to a third country or region through designated ports and permitted areas.
- Requires a valid onward route
- Requires confirmed departure arrangements
- Requires a designated entry port and permitted stay area
Sources
Official references used for this release
Unilateral visa-free country list
National Immigration Administration, compiled according to information released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of February 17, 2026.
Visa-free transit policy interpretation
National Immigration Administration policy interpretation published July 4, 2025, plus the November 5, 2025 port update notice.