China Visa Update — 22 August 2026

visa • 22 August 2026

China’s main **tourist visa policy for 2026** is still built around three options: the regular tourist visa, the **30-day unilateral visa-free entry** for eligible passport holders, and the **240-hour visa-free transit** scheme. According to China’s state media, the transit policy now covers **57 countries** after Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added on **20 August 2026**, and eligible travellers can stay up to **10 days** while transiting to a third destination.[2] For Australian travellers, the key practical point is that Australia remains listed among the countries covered by China’s **30-day unilateral visa-free entry** scheme, which allows travel for **tourism, business, family visits, exchanges and transit**.[3] That policy is currently described in travel guidance as running through **31 December 2026** for most eligible countries, while China’s broader visa-free transit network continues separately for short stopovers.[3][8] There is also a wider regulatory change coming in **September 2026**: reporting on China’s new entry-exit rules says applicants will need to state a **truthful and lawful purpose** for travel, and the rules are said to apply across tourism, business, study, work and residence categories.[1][4] For travellers, the immediate takeaway is that visa-free options remain available, but the authorities are signalling tighter documentation and purpose checks when visas are required or when entering under standard procedures.[1][4]

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