China Visa Update — 11 September 2026

visa • 11 September 2026

China’s **2026 visa policy** is still broadly favourable for tourists: ordinary passport holders from **50 countries** can enter mainland China **visa-free for up to 30 days**, and travellers from **57 countries** can use the **240-hour visa-free transit** scheme when continuing to a third country.[6][1] According to Xinhua, China has kept expanding visa-free access in 2026, including adding **Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam** to the transit programme, while China Daily says these measures have helped drive a surge in foreign arrivals.[6][11] For Australian travellers, the key point is that Australia remains among the countries eligible for China’s **30-day unilateral visa-free entry** under the current policy set, which is described by multiple travel sources as running through **31 December 2026** for most eligible nationalities.[4][5][9] In practical terms, this means Australians can usually visit for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges or transit without applying for a visa in advance, provided they travel on an **ordinary passport** and meet the purpose and stay-length rules.[4][5] A separate change takes effect on **15 September 2026**, when updated entry-and-exit regulations begin.[1][10] The practical impact for tourists is limited: the rules reinforce that travellers must provide a **truthful reason for entry** and cooperate with identity checks, but they do **not** introduce a new visa or arrival form for ordinary tourists.[1] Travel guidance also notes that passengers should check passport validity and the latest entry requirements before departure.[10]

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