Updated for 2026
China is easier to visit than the internet thinks
Fifty nationalities now walk in visa-free for thirty days. Transit stays have gone from 144 hours to 240. And foreign credit cards work in the apps that run daily life. Most of what you will read elsewhere is two years out of date.
Three ways in, and you probably qualify for one
Almost every visitor arrives under one of these. They are not mutually exclusive — if two apply, take the one with fewer conditions.
30 days, visa-free
Open to 50 nationalities. No application, no fee, no onward ticket, no restriction on where you go. Authorised through 2026-12-31.
240-hour transit
Open to 57 nationalities at 65 ports. Ten days, 24 provinces, one condition: an onward ticket to a third country or region.
Treaty exemption
29 countries hold mutual visa-exemption agreements with China. Terms are set by each treaty, typically 14 to 90 days.
If you came here searching for the 144-hour visa: that scheme no longer exists. It was replaced in December 2024 by a 240-hour version covering more countries and more ports. We kept the name because everyone still searches for it — here is what actually changed.
The visa is the easy part
Border control takes ninety seconds. The friction starts afterwards, and it is entirely avoidable if you spend twenty minutes preparing before you fly.
Paying for things
Cash is nearly extinct and cards are patchy. Alipay and WeChat Pay both take foreign Visa and Mastercard now — but bind the card at home, not in the arrivals hall.
Phone and internet
An eSIM bought before departure is the single highest-value thing you can prepare. What works on a Chinese network differs from what works on roaming, and that difference matters more than the price.
Getting around
High-speed rail is superb and bookable with a passport. Ride-hailing has an English interface. Metro gates take a QR code from the same app you pay with.
Before you fly
Eleven things to do at home and four to do in your first day on the ground — including the accommodation registration most visitors have never heard of.
Common questions
Is the 144-hour visa-free transit still available?
No — it was replaced. Since December 2024 the transit scheme runs for 240 hours (10 days) instead of 72 or 144, and it now covers 57 nationalities across 65 ports of entry. If a page still tells you "144 hours", it is out of date.
Do I need a visa for a short holiday in China?
For 50 nationalities, no: you get 30 days visa-free on arrival with no paperwork and no onward-ticket requirement. Another 29 countries have treaty-based exemptions. Only if neither applies do you fall back to the 240-hour transit route or a regular tourist visa.
Can I pay for things in China with a foreign credit card?
Increasingly yes at hotels and large stores, but daily life runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay. Both now accept Visa, Mastercard and Amex directly. Bind your card before you fly — activation is far easier on your home network.
Do Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents need a visa?
No. You travel on a Home Return Permit or Taiwan Compatriot Permit, not a visa, and none of the visa-free schemes on this page apply to you. Your real preparation is payment apps, mobile data and train bookings.