China Visa & Entry Guides
Whether you need a visa depends on your passport, the length of your stay and your route. Many nationalities can now enter China visa-free or use visa-free transit, but the rules differ by country and port of entry. These guides explain the options, the documents to prepare and what happens at the border. Always confirm current rules with official sources before booking.
- Tourist visas
- Visa-free entry and transit
- Arrival cards and border checks
- Customs rules
Entry processArriving in China: Immigration, Fingerprints and Customs Step by Step
A step-by-step walkthrough of entering China: documents, arrival card, border control, fingerprints, questions, baggage and customs, plus what to do in the arrivals hall.
Visa & entryHow to Get a China Tourist Visa (L Visa): Documents, Cost and Time
Who needs a Chinese tourist visa, the online form, documents, photo rules, fees, processing times and the mistakes that get applications returned.
Visa & entryChina 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Rules, Countries and Ports
The 240-hour rule lets 57 nationalities visit China for 10 days without a visa when flying on to a third country. Here are the conditions, ports and traps.
Visa & entryWhich Countries Can Visit China Visa-Free? The 30-Day List
The full 30-day visa-free country list, how long it lasts, the rules at the border and what to do if your country is not on it.
Visa & entryChina Arrival Card: How to Fill It In Online for Free
China’s arrival card is free and can be filled in online before you fly. Here are the official channels, each step and who is exempt.
CustomsChina Customs Rules: What Can You Bring Into China?
You only fill in a customs form if you carry declarable items. Here are the duty-free limits, cash rules, banned foods and medicine rules.
Lost passportLost Your Passport in China? The 3 Steps to Get Home
What foreigners must do after losing a passport in China: report it, get a loss certificate, a new passport from the embassy and a replacement visa to leave.
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