France answer

Can French citizens enter China visa-free?

Yes. France is on the National Immigration Administration unilateral visa exemption country list dated February 17, 2026, so French passport holders are covered by the current 30-day direct-entry policy modeled on this site for the listed purposes. French citizens are also on the current 55-country 240-hour transit list.

Check a French visit Check a transit route

Direct visit answer

For ordinary passport holders, the unilateral route is usually the first route to check when the traveler is simply visiting China for a short trip covered by the current listed purposes.

Transit answer

If the route is really France → mainland China → third country or region, the 240-hour transit policy can be the cleaner framework. That path still depends on the onward destination, the confirmed onward booking, and the permitted geography after entry.

Likely direct visit

France → Shanghai for a short tourism trip is usually the 30-day direct-entry question.

Likely transit

France → Beijing → Hong Kong SAR can become the transit-style question if the onward route is already confirmed.

Common route failure

France → Guangzhou → France usually fails the third-country or third-region test even though the nationality itself is covered.

Use visit mode

Best next step for most direct-entry trips from France.

See route examples

Helpful if the real question is the onward-destination logic.

Check the timing

Use the calculator if the stay window is close to a policy limit.

Official sources used for this page

This page is modeled from the National Immigration Administration unilateral visa exemption list dated February 17, 2026 and the transit policy sources dated July 4, 2025 and November 3, 2025.

Unilateral visa-free country list
Visa-free transit policy interpretation
65-port transit notice