What you need to get into China
Most of our travellers need one of two things: a standard tourist visa, or nothing at all under the visa-free transit scheme. Here is the difference, and how to tell which applies to you.
Last reviewed: August 2026. Rules change — we confirm the current position with our ground team before every booking.
Option 1 — Visa-free transit (up to 240 hours)
Citizens of 54 countries can spend up to ten days in China without a visa, provided they are in transit to a third country. It is the simplest route for a short trip and increasingly what we recommend for travellers combining China with another Asian destination.
- You must have a confirmed onward ticket to a country other than the one you arrived from.
- Hong Kong and Macao count as third regions for this purpose.
- You must enter through an eligible port and stay inside the permitted area.
- Tourism and transit only — no work or business activity.
Option 2 — L tourist visa
If your trip starts and ends in China, if you are staying longer than ten days, or if your itinerary includes Tibet or Xinjiang, apply for a standard L visa before you travel. It is normally issued within four working days and is valid for stays of 30 to 90 days depending on your nationality.
You will typically need:
- A passport with at least six months validity and two blank pages
- A completed application form and a recent photograph
- Return flight bookings and hotel reservations
- A day-by-day itinerary (we provide this for our travellers)
Tibet
Tibet requires a separate permit in addition to your Chinese visa, arranged through a licensed operator, and you must travel with a guide for the whole visit. We handle the permit as part of any Tibet itinerary — allow at least three weeks before departure, and note that permits are not issued to holders of certain passport types.
On arrival
- Fingerprint scanners and health declarations are standard at major airports
- Keep your hotel address in Chinese — immigration sometimes asks for it
- Currency: bring some cash, but Alipay and WeChat Pay both accept foreign cards
- SIM cards: buy an eSIM before you fly, or a local SIM at the airport with your passport
This page is general guidance, not legal advice. Visa rules depend on your nationality and can change at short notice — always check with the Chinese embassy in your country, and ask us to confirm the current position for your specific routing.