Explainer | How to enter mainland China visa-free: a traveller’s guide

As mainland China grants a wider list of countries visa-free access, we survey all the ways to enter without fees or lengthy paperwork

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Transiting via one of mainland China’s international airports is one method by which entry to the country can be obtained without a visa. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:30pm, 4 Nov 2024Updated: 9:01am, 5 Nov 2024

China announced on Friday it would let citizens of nine more countries – including nearby South Korea – enter its mainland without a visa, another expansion of a scheme to bring in more foreign tourists and bolster the economy.

About 4.35 million Koreans visited in 2019, which analytics firm GlobalData ranks as China’s seventh-biggest cohort of offshore tourists.

A visa to China can take days, cost well over US$100 and require pages of paperwork. The red tape has deterred some foreigners from visiting the world’s second-largest economy as tourists or business travellers.

In addition to expanding its 15-day visa-free scheme, China has augmented earlier visa waiver schemes amid efforts to boost inbound travel.

1. Transit through Chinese cities (1-6 days)

Passport holders from 54 nations, including Australia, Japan, the United States and countries throughout Europe, can enjoy an extended stay in certain areas of mainland China after entering via one of its international airports.

Airports in the likes of Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guilin, Kunming, Qingdao, Shenyang, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xiamen, Guangdong province and the Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang cluster can process visa-free arrivals for transit passengers for 72 to 144 hours.