China Visa Update — 16 July 2026

visa • 16 July 2026

China has extended its **unilateral visa-free policy** through **31 December 2026**, allowing eligible tourists from **50 countries**—including **Australia**, the UK, Canada, Japan, and most of Europe—to enter for up to **30 days** without a visa for tourism, business, family visits, or transit [1][2][5]. Australian citizens holding a valid ordinary passport can now travel visa-free to China for these purposes, with the policy originally set to expire in 2025 now confirmed to run until the end of 2026 [5]. In addition to the 30-day exemption, China offers a **240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit** scheme for travelers from **55 countries**, including the US and Russia, allowing visits to **65 ports** across **24 provincial-level regions** such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, though excluding Tibet and Xinjiang [4][6]. Recent expansions also include **Canada and the UK**, whose ordinary passport holders gained visa-free access from **17 February 2026** through the end of the year [2][14]. These measures have fueled a surge in inbound tourism, with foreign arrivals rising **20.6%** in the first half of 2026 [12][9]. Travelers must hold a passport valid for at least **six months**, possess an onward or return ticket, and provide proof of accommodation, but no COVID-19 testing, vaccination, or quarantine is required [2]. For those not eligible for visa-free entry, standard L (tourist) or M (business) visas remain available through Chinese consulates [3].

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