Do you need a visa
to enter China?

It depends on your passport. China currently grants visa-free entry to holders of 48+ country passports for up to 30 days. Citizens of the US and certain other countries can use the 240-hour transit exemption with a confirmed onward ticket. Everyone else needs a visa applied for in advance at a Chinese embassy or consulate.

As of 2026, citizens of most EU countries, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and several South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay) can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days. Gulf states including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia were added in June 2025.

The unilateral visa-free policy allows up to 30 days. Bilateral agreements with Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, UAE, and Qatar also allow 30 days per entry. Thailand and Malaysia cap total stays at 90 days in any 180-day period. Malaysian passports need at least six months of validity. The 240-hour transit exemption allows up to 10 days.

US passport holders are not on China's 30-day visa-free list. However, Americans can use the 240-hour (10-day) transit visa exemption if they have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. For direct tourism without an onward ticket, a standard L-visa is required.

Yes, if your passport qualifies under the 30-day visa-free policy, you can cross any Hong Kong–Shenzhen land border (Futian, Luohu, Shenzhen Bay) without a visa. For the 240-hour transit exemption, you must enter at a designated port: from Hong Kong that means West Kowloon (high-speed rail) or the Shekou ferry, or fly into Bao'an Airport. No Hong Kong–Shenzhen land crossing, including Shenzhen Bay, is a designated entry port.

The current unilateral 30-day visa-free policy is confirmed through December 31, 2026. China has extended and expanded it several times since late 2023. Bilateral agreements with countries like Singapore and Thailand have no announced expiry but can be modified by either side.

The 240-hour (10-day) transit visa exemption allows citizens of 57 countries to transit through China without a visa. You need a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region and must enter through one of 65 designated ports. The exemption covers 24 provinces and municipalities, including Guangdong (where Shenzhen is located).

No. Employment, internships, and study in China always require the appropriate visa — regardless of your nationality or visa-free eligibility. Work requires a Z-visa, and study requires an X1 or X2 visa. These must be applied for before travel at a Chinese embassy or consulate.

No. As of February 17, 2026, both the UK and Canada were added to China's unilateral 30-day visa-free entry list. British and Canadian passport holders can now enter China for tourism, business, or family visits without a visa for up to 30 days.

You need a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity. For the 30-day visa-free entry, no additional documents are required beyond standard immigration forms. For the 240-hour transit exemption, you also need a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region.

Travelers crossing from Hong Kong may be able to get a 5-day Shenzhen Special Economic Zone visa on arrival at Luohu, Huanggang, Shekou or Bao'an Airport (not at Shenzhen Bay). It costs ¥130 (NIA notice effective 2023-12-31; fee-exempt-agreement countries and Serbia pay less). Confirm at the port; availability varies by nationality and is not guaranteed — treat it as a fallback, not a primary plan.

Citizens of 57 countries can transit through China for up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa. You need a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region and must enter through a designated transit port. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan all count as valid third destinations for this purpose.