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Which countries can enter China visa-free for 30 days in 2026?
As of February 17, 2026, ordinary passport holders from 50 countries can enter China under the nationwide visa free policy for up to 30 days. The 50 countries are in Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America and South America; eligibility depends on holding an ordinary passport and meeting the policy’s conditions.
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Key takeaways
- As of February 17, 2026, ordinary passport holders from 50 countries can enter China under the nationwide visa free policy for up to 30 days.
- The 50 countries are in Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America and South America; eligibility depends on holding an ordinary passport and meeting the policy’s conditions.
- China also has a separate 30 day Hainan policy and distinct visa free transit arrangements, so don’t assume eligibility for one applies to the others.
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openai.comCreate a landscape editorial hero image for this Studio Global article: Search & fact-check with cited sources for Which countries qualify for China's 15-day or 30-day visa-free entry policies?. Article summary: China’s main visa-free entry policy now allows **ordinary-passport holders from 50 countries to stay for up to 30 days**; an older 15-day description should not be treated as the current limit for that policy. China also. Topic tags: general, general web. Style: premium digital editorial illustration, source-backed research mood, clean composition, high detail, modern web publication hero. Use reference image context only for broad subject, composition, and topical grounding; do not copy the exact image. Avoid: logos, brand marks, copyrighted characters, real person likenesses, fake screenshots, UI text, readable text, watermarks, charts with fake numbers, clickbait thumbnails, i
China’s nationwide unilateral visa-free policy allows eligible ordinary-passport holders from 50 countries to visit for up to 30 days. The National Immigration Administration’s list is compiled as of February 17, 2026. The 15-day figure found in some policy material is not the stay limit for this 50-country scheme. 2
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Countries covered by the nationwide 30-day policy
The eligible countries are grouped below by region. The list reflects the policy information available as of February 17, 2026; check the current official rules before travel in case the policy or your circumstances change. 2
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- Europe (35): Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
- Asia (7): Bahrain, Brunei, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
- Oceania (2): Australia and New Zealand.
- North America (1): Canada.
- South America (5): Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay.
The policy applies to holders of ordinary passports and covers short visits such as tourism, business, visits to family or friends, exchanges and transit. Travelers who do not meet the exemption conditions need to obtain the appropriate visa before entering China. 21
What the 15-day reference means
A 15-day stay limit appears in separate policy material, so it should not be confused with the nationwide 30-day exemption above. The relevant country list and conditions depend on which visa-free arrangement applies. 14
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Hainan and transit are separate arrangements
China also operates a distinct 30-day visa-free entry policy for Hainan. It permits eligible ordinary-passport holders to stay within Hainan Province, subject to the policy’s conditions; it does not by itself establish eligibility for visa-free travel throughout China. The National Immigration Administration’s regional-policy information says the Hainan scheme covers 61 countries and excludes work and study. 6
Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added to the Hainan policy effective August 20, 2026. That announcement concerns Hainan entry and visa-free transit eligibility, not an addition to the nationwide 50-country list. 4
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Visa-free transit is also not the same as a general visa-free visit. China’s transit rules have their own requirements, including conditions for onward travel and, for some arrangements, limits on where a traveler may go. 7
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What to check before booking
Confirm that your passport type, nationality, destination, trip purpose and length of stay fit the specific exemption you plan to use. In particular, check whether your trip relies on the nationwide 30-day policy, Hainan’s regional scheme, a transit exemption or a mutual visa-waiver agreement; each is a separate route with its own rules. 3
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People also ask
What is the short answer to "Which countries can enter China visa-free for 30 days in 2026?"?
As of February 17, 2026, ordinary passport holders from 50 countries can enter China under the nationwide visa free policy for up to 30 days.
What are the key points to validate first?
As of February 17, 2026, ordinary passport holders from 50 countries can enter China under the nationwide visa free policy for up to 30 days. The 50 countries are in Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America and South America; eligibility depends on holding an ordinary passport and meeting the policy’s conditions.
What should I do next in practice?
China also has a separate 30 day Hainan policy and distinct visa free transit arrangements, so don’t assume eligibility for one applies to the others.