Since December 2023, China has launched a unilateral visa-free policy for passport holders from  certain countries. The scope of the policy has since been expanded and, as of 17 February 2026, applies to nationals of 50 countries, namely Brunei,  France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Russia, Sweden, Canada and UK for business, leisure and transit purposes. The policy is currently valid until 31 December 2026, except that it does not have an expiration date for Brunei and is valid until 14 September 2026 for Russia. During the validity period, ordinary passport holders from the eligible countries who travel to China for business or tourism purposes or to visit friends or relatives, or who pass through China in transit may enter China visa-free for up to 30 days, with the stay period calculated from the day following entry.

As of February 2026, passport holders from 55 countries may enter China under the 240-hour transit visa-free policy through any of the 62 designated international entry points in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities (including Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzen, Tianjin and Xiamen, etc. to transit and stay within designated areas for up to 240 hours (10 days).

• Europe (40 countries): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway
• The Americas (6 countries): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
• Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand 
• Asia (7 countries): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia

Eligible foreign nationals should arrive or depart through designated entry points within one of the following designated areas:

• Beijing (Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport
• Tianjin (Tianjin Binhai International Airport), Tianjin Port (Passenger)
• Hebei Province (Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport)
• Qinhuangdao Port (Passenger)
• Shanghai (Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport; Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Port (Passenger))
• Guangdong Province (Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport; Shenzhen Bo’an International Airport; Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport; Nansha Port (Passenger) and Shekou Port (Passenger))
• Chongqing (Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport)
• Other designated provinces: Liaoning, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Hainan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan and Yunnan.

Importantly, the transit requirement obliges the foreign national to depart China for a third country. They cannot depart from and return to the same country. During the authorized transit period, eligible individuals may travel across provinciallevel regions within the permitted areas of stay, provided such travel remains within the scope of the designated regions covered by the policy.

Foreign nationals who travel to China for commercial and trade activities should apply for an M business visa. Visa applications are submitted to China consular posts, many of which require an invitation letter issued by the relevant business partner or "inviting company" in China. The most common types of M visas are as follows:

Note: US and Canadian citizens may be granted multiple-entry M visas that are valid for 10 years based on the countries' reciprocal visa validity agreement with China. British citizens may be granted multiple-entry M visas that are valid for two years, five years and 10 years, respectively. Since 1 February 2018, former Chinese nationals may be granted multiple-entry M visas that are valid for five years.