Do you need a visa for China?

It depends on your passport. China currently lets holders of 48+ countries' passports in visa-free for up to 30 days. Citizens of the US and some 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 gives up to 30 days. Bilateral agreements with Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the UAE and Qatar also give 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 gives up to 10 days.

US passport holders are not on China's 30-day visa-free list. But 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 a straight tourist trip with no onward ticket, you need a standard L visa.

Yes, if your passport qualifies for the 30-day visa-free policy: you can cross at any Hong Kong–Shenzhen land border (Futian, Luohu, Shenzhen Bay) without a visa. The 240-hour transit exemption is different — you must enter at a designated port, which from Hong Kong means West Kowloon (high-speed rail) or the Shekou ferry, or you fly into Bao'an Airport. None of the Hong Kong–Shenzhen land crossings, Shenzhen Bay included, is a designated entry port.

The current unilateral 30-day visa-free policy is confirmed until December 31, 2026. China has extended and widened it several times since late 2023. Bilateral agreements with countries like Singapore and Thailand have no announced end date, but either side can change them.

The 240-hour (10-day) transit visa exemption lets citizens of 57 countries pass 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. It covers 24 provinces and municipalities, including Guangdong, the province Shenzhen is in.

No. Work, internships and study in China always need the right visa — whatever your nationality or visa-free status. Work needs a Z visa; study needs an X1 or X2 visa. Apply for these before you travel, at a Chinese embassy or consulate.

No. Since February 17, 2026, the UK and Canada are both on China's unilateral 30-day visa-free list. British and Canadian passport holders can now visit China for tourism, business or family without a visa for up to 30 days.

A valid passport with at least 6 months left on it. For 30-day visa-free entry, you need nothing beyond the standard immigration forms. For the 240-hour transit exemption, you also need a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region.

If you're crossing from Hong Kong, you 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 isn't guaranteed, so treat it as a fallback, not your main 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 third destinations for this.