China publishes list of 50 countries eligible for visa-free entry

Why it matters: China has been widening unilateral visa-free entry to draw back foreign tourists and business travellers after years of strict pandemic border controls. For visitors, the exemption removes the cost and paperwork of a visa application, but it covers only short stays and specific purposes, so travellers still need to check their nationality and plans against the rules.

China has published a list of 50 countries whose citizens can enter mainland China without a visa for short stays, under a policy run by the National Immigration Administration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Holders of ordinary passports from the listed countries can stay up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchange activities or transit. The list covers 35 European countries plus eligible nations in Asia, the Americas and Oceania; no African country is included.

The permitted stay is counted from midnight on the day after entry, not from the moment a traveller crosses the border, according to the National Immigration Administration. That matters for anyone booking a return flight close to the 30-day limit.

The exemption applies only to ordinary passports and to visits that fit the permitted categories. Travellers are advised to check the latest official Chinese immigration guidance before departure to confirm their nationality, purpose and length of stay qualify.