China Visa Cheatsheet 2026
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Save this page offline or print it before you fly. Rules verified June 2026 against the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NIA. For the full reasoning, see the complete China visa guide and our editorial policy.
Step 1 — Find your pathway
| If your passport is from… | Pathway | Max stay |
|---|---|---|
| France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg (and UK, Canada since Feb 2026) | 30-day visa-free | 30 days |
| US, Australia, most other EU, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico (54 countries) — transiting to a third country | 240-hour transit visa-free | 10 days |
| US, and anyone not on the lists above | L (tourist) visa — apply in advance | 30–60 days |
Step 2 — 240-hour transit: the 4 rules
- You must have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country (different from where you came).
- Enter and exit through an eligible port (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Hangzhou, + 50 others).
- Stay within the permitted region around your port — don't cross province groups.
- The 240 hours is not extendable. Overstaying voids it.
Step 3 — L visa documents checklist
- Passport valid 6+ months, 2+ blank pages
- Completed application form (printed, signed)
- Recent color photo (48×33mm, white background)
- Flight itinerary (round-trip or onward)
- Hotel bookings or invitation letter
- Fee (US $185 flat for US citizens; CAD/AUD/GBP/others $30–150)
Step 4 — Processing times
| Service | Time |
|---|---|
| Standard | 4 business days |
| Express | 2–3 business days |
| Rush | 1 business day (where offered) |
At the border — bring these
- Printed onward ticket (transit travelers)
- Hotel address for the first night
- Declaration if carrying over CNY 20,000 cash (or USD 5,000 equivalent)
- A pen for the arrival card
Sources: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs; National Immigration Administration; China Visa Application Service Center (visaforchina.cn). Re-verified monthly. See our corrections log if anything here has changed since publication.