China Visa Update — 29 July 2026

visa • 29 July 2026

China is **refining its visa-free policy** and **streamlining entry procedures** for foreign visitors, with the latest official update confirming that nationals of **50 countries** can enter without a visa and travellers from **55 countries** can use the **240-hour visa-free transit** scheme via **65 designated ports**.[1][9] For Australian travellers, this is good news because China’s current short-stay entry settings remain broad and are being made easier to use.[1] According to **Xinhua** and the **State Council’s English portal**, the planned changes also include more **digital border and immigration services**, which should make arrival processes smoother for tourists.[1][10] The practical takeaway is that if you qualify for visa-free entry, you can generally plan a short leisure trip with a valid ordinary passport, while longer stays still require the appropriate visa.[1] For tourists in 2026, the key point is that China’s **30-day unilateral visa-free entry** remains in force for eligible ordinary passport holders from the listed countries, and the **240-hour transit** option is available for eligible travellers connecting to a third country.[1][15] If you are an Australian planning a China holiday, this means many short trips can be made **without a pre-arranged visa**, but you should still check that your itinerary fits the relevant entry category before booking.[1][12]

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