China's 30-day visa-free list now covers 50 countries, running through end of 2026 | Sea Insider

China's unilateral 30-day visa-free entry policy has expanded to 50 countries as of mid-2026 following the addition of the UK and Canada in February, with the whole scheme confirmed to run through December 31, 2026.

Eligible passport holders can enter mainland China visa-free for tourism, business, family visits, cultural exchange or transit, for up to 30 days, with no advance application. The list leans heavily European (35 countries) but also includes several in Asia, the Americas and Oceania. The US and India remain outside the unilateral 30-day list; US travelers can instead use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy at 60+ designated ports if traveling onward to a third country, while Indian passport holders need a standard tourist (L) visa for non-transit trips. Paid work is prohibited under all visa-free categories regardless of nationality.