China Visa Update — 18 June 2026
visa • 18 June 2026
China has **extended its visa-free entry policy for 45 countries through 31 December 2026**, making it easier for eligible tourists to visit without applying for a standard visa in advance.[1][2] According to China’s visa information pages, the policy covers **30-day visa-free stays**, while China’s broader **240-hour visa-free transit** scheme remains available for eligible travellers passing through to a third country.[4] According to China Travel News and other current travel guidance, the 45-country visa-free extension includes major markets such as **Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and several European countries**, with **Sweden** newly added from November 2025.[1][2] In practical terms, this means many Australian travellers can now plan longer, simpler short trips to mainland China under the visa-free arrangement, rather than relying on the transit scheme.[1][2] For travellers who do not qualify for the visa-free entry list, the **240-hour transit without visa** policy may still be useful for stopovers, provided the itinerary meets China’s onward-travel rules and entry is through a designated port.[4] If you want, I can turn this into a **2–3 paragraph news-style update for Australian travellers**, or provide a **country-by-country visa eligibility summary** for 2026.Sources
- https://www.facebook.com/visaonlinevietnamcom/posts/-china-has-announced-it-will-extend-its-visa-free-entry-policy-for-45-countries-/1498483855623628/
- https://www.wondersoftibet.com/visa-free-travel-to-china-and-tibet/
- https://www.trip.com/guide/visa/hainan-visa-free.html
- https://english.www.gov.cn/services/visitchina
- https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/1jtihw0npyxo/