China Adds 7 More Countries to Visa-Free List

Big news for travelers planning a China trip in 2026: China has expanded its visa-free entry program to 7 more countries this year, bringing the total to 38.

If you''re from any of these countries, you can now enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, or transit.

The full visa-free list (as of April 2026)

Europe: Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Portugal, Hungary, Luxembourg, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Cyprus, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand.

Americas: None yet (US, Canada, Mexico still require a visa).

What you need

• Passport valid for at least 6 months from entry date.
• Return or onward ticket out of China.
• Proof of accommodation (a hotel booking is fine).

That''s it. No visa application, no fees, no consular appointments.

What this means for your planning

• Trips 30 days or less: Just book a flight and go.
• Longer trips: You''ll still need a tourist visa (L visa) — but the new policy means you can do a quick "visa run" by leaving and re-entering.
• Multi-stop Asia trips: China is now as easy to add as Thailand or Singapore for a 1-2 week visit.

What hasn''t changed

You still need to register with your hotel within 24 hours of arrival (most hotels do this for you automatically). And you still need to follow Chinese law, which means: no political activism, no journalism without accreditation, no drugs.

For travelers who''ve been waiting to visit China, 2026 is the year. The country is more open to tourism than it has been in decades.