China Regional Visa-Free Entry for ASEAN Countries: What Travellers Need to Know (2026)

Short answer: We have not found an official announcement of a new regional visa-free scheme for ASEAN countries. One news report points to a change, but we could not confirm it on an official site. Until we do, use the rules below. They come from our policy data, last verified 18 October 2026.

What we know, and what we don’t

• Confirmed in our policy data: the rules in the table below.
• Not confirmed: any new ASEAN-wide change by China, its start date, which countries it covers, or how many days you can stay.
• Why this page exists: our policy monitor picked up one report about it. No official source has been matched yet.

Official announcements are published by China’s Consular Service (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and the National Immigration Administration. We will update this page when one appears. You can also check the policy updates page.

What the rules say today for ASEAN passports

Country	30-day visa-free	240-hour transit
Brunei	Yes, unilateral (no end date in our data)	Yes
Malaysia	Yes, mutual exemption (no end date)	Not on our list
Singapore	Yes, mutual exemption (no end date)	Yes
Thailand	Yes, mutual exemption (no end date)	Not on our list
Indonesia	Not on our list	Yes
Vietnam	Not on our list	Yes

Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines are not listed for nationwide 30-day entry or 240-hour transit. But some ASEAN passports may qualify for regional policies, such as Hainan visa-free entry or the Xishuangbanna group-tour policy. Check the official requirements for your itinerary before assuming you need a visa. Source: NIA.

The 240-hour transit policy requires onward travel to a third country or region with confirmed arrangements and an eligible ticket. Check the official conditions and ports for your itinerary. Source: NIA.

For the full rules, see our visa-free entry guide. To check your own passport, use the visa-free checker.

Thailand: don’t mix up two different schemes

News about “Thailand visa-free” can mean two different things.

• Thailand’s own 60-day scheme. Thailand’s unilateral 60-day visa-free scheme for 93 countries ends on 15 September 2026. This is Thailand’s rule for visitors to Thailand. It is not a Chinese rule.
• The China–Thailand mutual exemption. This is not affected by that end date. Chinese ordinary-passport holders can still enter Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days per stay (90 days in any 180).

For Thai passport holders going to China, our policy data lists a 30-day mutual exemption with no end date (see the table above).

What to do right now

1. Find your passport in the table above. If it is there, plan around that rule.
2. Check the official sites linked above close to your travel date.
3. Book flexibly. Choose refundable or changeable flights and hotels until the rule for your passport is clear.

If it doesn’t work

Problem	Why	Fix
Your country is not in the table	No nationwide visa-free route in our data	Check the official sites and the regional policies above, then look at the visa application route
A news site says “ASEAN visa-free”	It may not be official or may be about one country	Look for the notice on cs.mfa.gov.cn or en.nia.gov.cn
A Thailand story mentions an end date	It may be about Thailand’s own scheme, not China’s	Read the Thailand section above
Unsure about days allowed	Rules differ by route	Check the official notice for your passport before you go

FAQ

Has China made all ASEAN countries visa-free?

We cannot confirm that. Our policy data shows only the country-by-country rules above.

Does Thailand’s 15 September 2026 end date affect the China–Thailand exemption?

No. The mutual exemption is separate and is unaffected.

Does this page replace the main visa-free guide?

No. The visa-free entry guide has the full lists. This page covers only the ASEAN question.

Still stuck?

Do it yourself with the steps above — or get help from a real person.

Sources: policy data last verified 18 October 2026 (NIA, China Briefing, Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles). Regional policies and transit conditions: NIA, NIA. Official announcements: Consular Service and NIA.