Entry and visas
Getting into China
Three routes in, only two of which are visa-free — and neither of those covers medical treatment. Read this before you book anything.
Important: visa-free entry does not cover medical treatment
Unilateral visa-free entry
- Length of stay
- Stay up to 30 days
- Who it applies to
- Ordinary-passport holders of 48 countries. The stay counts from midnight of the day after entry.
What you need
- An ordinary passport, normally valid for at least six months (confirm with the embassy)
- Purpose limited to business, tourism, visiting relatives or friends, exchanges, or transit
- A return or onward ticket
- Register your accommodation within 24 hours of entry, at your hotel or the local police station
Eligible nationalities · 48
法国 · 德国 · 意大利 · 荷兰 · 西班牙 · 瑞士 · 爱尔兰 · 匈牙利 · 奥地利 · 比利时 · 卢森堡 · 波兰 · 斯洛文尼亚 · 葡萄牙 · 希腊 · 塞浦路斯 · 斯洛伐克 · 挪威 · 芬兰 · 丹麦 · 冰岛 · 安道尔 · 摩纳哥 · 列支敦士登 · 保加利亚 · 罗马尼亚 · 克罗地亚 · 黑山 · 北马其顿 · 马耳他 · 爱沙尼亚 · 拉脱维亚 · 俄罗斯 · 瑞典 · 澳大利亚 · 新西兰 · 文莱 · 韩国 · 日本 · 沙特 · 阿曼 · 科威特 · 巴林 · 巴西 · 阿根廷 · 智利 · 秘鲁 · 乌拉圭
240-hour transit visa-free
- Length of stay
- Stay up to 240 hours (10 days)
- Who it applies to
- Citizens of 57 countries transiting through China to a third country or region. Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport is a designated port; the permitted stay area is Henan province.
What you need
- Your own passport, valid for at least three more months
- A confirmed connecting ticket onward to a third country or region within 240 hours
- Apply to the Zhengzhou immigration inspection station and complete transit formalities
- Register your accommodation within 24 hours; do not travel outside the permitted area
Eligible nationalities · 57
阿尔巴尼亚 · 阿根廷 · 澳大利亚 · 奥地利 · 白俄罗斯 · 比利时 · 波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那 · 巴西 · 文莱 · 保加利亚 · 加拿大 · 智利 · 克罗地亚 · 塞浦路斯 · 捷克 · 丹麦 · 爱沙尼亚 · 芬兰 · 法国 · 德国 · 希腊 · 匈牙利 · 冰岛 · 爱尔兰 · 意大利 · 日本 · 拉脱维亚 · 立陶宛 · 卢森堡 · 马耳他 · 墨西哥 · 摩纳哥 · 黑山 · 荷兰 · 新西兰 · 北马其顿 · 挪威 · 波兰 · 葡萄牙 · 卡塔尔 · 韩国 · 罗马尼亚 · 俄罗斯 · 塞尔维亚 · 新加坡 · 斯洛伐克 · 斯洛文尼亚 · 西班牙 · 瑞典 · 瑞士 · 乌克兰 · 阿联酋 · 英国 · 美国 · 印度尼西亚 · 越南 · 吉尔吉斯斯坦
The list follows the National Immigration Administration's transit policy page and Announcement No. 4 of 2026 (2026-08-20, adding Kyrgyzstan and Viet Nam): 57 countries. Earlier reports of 54 or 55 countries are out of date.
Apply for a visa before travelling
- Length of stay
- As stated on the visa
- Who it applies to
- Anyone who does not qualify for the two visa-free routes, or who is coming for medical treatment or a longer stay.
What you need
- Apply at the Chinese embassy, consulate or visa application service centre in your country
- An invitation letter or appointment confirmation from the hospital, required in most cases
- Itinerary, proof of accommodation, proof of funds and the usual supporting documents
- Allow two to four weeks; longer in peak season
Sources and verification
Source
- National Immigration Administration: transit visa-free policy (57 countries, 65 ports and stay areas; updated 2026-08-20) (opens in a new tab) · 2026-10-24
- National Immigration Administration: list of unilateral visa-free countries, as at 2025-11-10 (republished by the Laibin municipal government portal) (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-22
- National Immigration Administration announcement (2024-12-17) on the 240-hour transit visa-free policy, summarised by the China Visa Application Service Center (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-22
- Henan Provincial People's Government portal: Zhengzhou implements the 240-hour transit visa-free policy (2024-12-26, sourced from the Zhengzhou municipal government) (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-22
Still unsure?
Tell us what you need. A coordinator will reply within one business day. Nothing is shared with a hospital until you authorise it.