Will China Extend Visa-Free Entry to 2027? Not Yet (48 Countries)
Short answer: Not yet. China’s 30-day visa-free entry for 48 countries, including Canada, the UK, Australia and most of the EU, ends at 24:00 Beijing time on 31 December 2026, and no extension has been announced as of 24 October 2026. Russia is already extended to 31 December 2027.
China has renewed the scheme every year so far, each time by an announcement in November. Brunei, the mutual visa exemption countries and the 240-hour visa-free transit are not affected by this deadline. Official announcements are published by China’s Consular Service (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and the National Immigration Administration.
Why 48 here and 50 elsewhere? In total, 50 countries have 30-day unilateral visa-free entry: the 48 below, plus Russia and Brunei. Our visa-free entry guide counts all 50. This page counts only the 48 whose end date is 31 December 2026.
We’ll update this page the day an announcement is published. Bookmark it, or check the policy updates page.
Key facts at a glance
Section titled “Key facts at a glance”| Question | Answer | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Is a 2027 extension announced for the 48 countries? | No | Checked 24 October 2026 on the Consular Service and NIA sites |
| When does the current 30-day entry end? | 24:00 Beijing time, 31 December 2026 | Policy data, last verified 18 October 2026 |
| Is Canada covered? | Yes, added 17 February 2026, same end date | See Canada |
| Is the UK covered? | Yes, added 17 February 2026, same end date | See United Kingdom |
| Which country is already extended? | Russia, to 31 December 2027 (notice of 20 May 2026) | China Consular Service notice, as summarised by Trip.com |
| When did past renewals come? | November 2024 and 3 November 2025 | See the table below |
| Which routes have no 2026 end date? | Brunei, mutual visa exemption, 240-hour transit | Policy data, last verified 18 October 2026 |
What to do right now (3 steps)
Section titled “What to do right now (3 steps)”- Find your passport on the list below. If it’s there, your 30-day entry is valid until 31 December 2026. If you’re unsure, use the visa-free checker.
- Check your travel dates. Entering before 31 December 2026 is covered by the current rule. Entering in 2027 is not confirmed yet.
- Book flexibly and wait for November. Choose refundable or changeable bookings for 2027, and come back to this page for the announcement.
Quick answer by country
Section titled “Quick answer by country”All of these are on the 48-country list, so the same end date applies: 31 December 2026, with no extension announced as of 24 October 2026.
- Canada: on the list (added 17 February 2026). Not extended yet. See China visa-free for Canadians.
- United Kingdom: on the list (added 17 February 2026). Not extended yet. See the UK page.
- Australia: on the list. Not extended yet. See the Australia page.
- New Zealand: on the list. Not extended yet. See the New Zealand page.
- Japan and South Korea: both on the list. Not extended yet. See Japan and South Korea.
- Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands: all on the list. Not extended yet.
- United States: not on the 30-day list, so this deadline doesn’t apply. US passports use the 240-hour transit.
- Russia: already extended to 31 December 2027.
Who the 31 December 2026 deadline applies to
Section titled “Who the 31 December 2026 deadline applies to”These 48 countries have 30-day unilateral visa-free entry that currently ends on 31 December 2026:
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Uruguay.
Click your country for its own page: what the 30-day entry allows, what to bring, and the 2027 status. The full country list is also there.
Who is not affected
Section titled “Who is not affected”| Group | Status after 31 Dec 2026 |
|---|---|
| Russia | 30-day visa-free extended to 31 Dec 2027 |
| Brunei | No end date |
| Mutual visa exemption (29 countries, e.g. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, UAE) | Bilateral agreements, no end date |
| 240-hour visa-free transit (57 countries, incl. the US) | Standing policy, not tied to this deadline. You must fly on to a third country |
Not sure which group you’re in? Use the visa-free checker.
How past renewals happened
Section titled “How past renewals happened”| Announced | What changed |
|---|---|
| November 2023 | 30-day visa-free trial starts (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia) |
| November 2024 | Scheme extended to 31 December 2025 and widened |
| 3 November 2025 | Scheme extended to 31 December 2026 (Sweden added from 10 November 2025) |
| 17 February 2026 | UK and Canada added |
| 20 May 2026 | Russia extended to 31 December 2027 |
On 3 November 2025, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the unilateral visa-free policy for France and the other listed countries is extended to 24:00 on 31 December 2026, and that Sweden is added from 10 November 2025. Ordinary passport holders can stay up to 30 days for business, tourism, visiting family or friends, exchanges or transit. A copy of that notice is on the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles website (dated 4 November 2025).
The pattern points to a decision around November 2026, but nobody outside the Chinese government knows whether the list will be renewed, trimmed or changed.
Latest signal (20 October 2026): visa-free travel is now the main way foreigners enter China. In Q3 2026, 8.99 million foreigners arrived visa-free, 77.5% of all foreign arrivals and up 24.1% year on year (National Immigration Administration, reported by Xinhua). That doesn’t guarantee a renewal, but it shows how central the policy has become.
Planning a trip around the deadline
Section titled “Planning a trip around the deadline”- Travelling before 31 December 2026: visa-free entry works as normal for the 48 countries. Before you fly, set up Alipay with your card and a China eSIM that keeps Google, WhatsApp and Instagram working so payments and maps work from day one. The official Alipay site is global.alipay.com. The trip prep checklist covers the rest.
- Trip that starts before and ends after 31 December: check your Chinese embassy’s notice before you book; the rules for stays that cross the deadline haven’t been spelled out for this renewal yet.
- Travelling in 2027 and already booking: choose refundable or changeable flights and hotels until an extension is confirmed.
- Plan B if there’s no extension: the 240-hour visa-free transit (if you can route on to a third country such as Hong Kong, Seoul or Tokyo), or apply for a regular tourist (L) visa through the official China Online Visa Application system (COVA), run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in use since 30 September 2025. The exact entry point varies by country, so check the website of your local Chinese embassy or consulate first. Note that transit doesn’t cover every one of the 48 countries: Andorra, Bahrain, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Oman, Peru, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay are not on the 240-hour list, so those passports would need a visa.
What the 30-day entry allows (while it lasts)
Section titled “What the 30-day entry allows (while it lasts)”- Up to 30 days per entry, counted from the day after you arrive.
- Allowed: tourism, business, visiting family or friends, exchange visits and transit. Not allowed: work, study or journalism, which need a visa.
- Bring a passport with plenty of validity (we recommend 6 months) and proof of onward travel and accommodation, in case the border officer asks.
- Foreigners fill in an arrival card. Since 20 November 2025, foreign visitors can fill it in online in advance on the National Immigration Administration’s official site: s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/.
- Other ways to fill it in: the official NIA 12367 app (listed as 移民局12367 in the App Store; there is no Google Play version), the National Immigration Administration mini-programs inside WeChat or Alipay, or scanning an arrival-card QR code with your phone.
Have your passport ready: the arrival card is filled in with your passport details.
Next steps
Section titled “Next steps”Will China extend visa-free in 2027?
Section titled “Will China extend visa-free in 2027?”Not yet. The 30-day visa-free entry for 48 countries ends on 31 December 2026, and no extension has been announced as of 24 October 2026. Russia is already extended to 31 December 2027. China has announced past renewals in November, so watch the Consular Service (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and the National Immigration Administration. We’ll update this page the day it’s published.
Has China announced a 2027 extension?
Section titled “Has China announced a 2027 extension?”Only for Russia (to 31 December 2027). For the other 48 countries, not yet as of 24 October 2026.
When does China’s visa-free policy end?
Section titled “When does China’s visa-free policy end?”For the 48 countries on this page, at 24:00 Beijing time on 31 December 2026 (policy data, last verified 18 October 2026). Russia’s runs to 31 December 2027. Brunei, the mutual visa exemption countries and the 240-hour transit have no 2026 end date.
When will China announce whether visa-free continues?
Section titled “When will China announce whether visa-free continues?”Nobody knows the date. Past renewals were announced in November 2024 and on 3 November 2025, so November 2026 is the likely window. It is a pattern, not a promise. The announcement would appear on the Consular Service and NIA sites.
Will China extend visa-free in 2027 for Canada?
Section titled “Will China extend visa-free in 2027 for Canada?”Not announced yet, as of 24 October 2026. Canada is one of the 48 countries on the list (added on 17 February 2026), so it follows the same 31 December 2026 end date. There’s no separate Canada announcement: when China decides on the 48-country list, it will cover Canada too. Check the Consular Service or the Chinese Embassy in Canada, whose official website is ca.china-embassy.gov.cn, for the official notice. See China visa-free for Canadians.
Ottawa, where Canadian travellers’ questions about China’s entry rules often start.
Is Canada on the 240-hour transit list too?
Section titled “Is Canada on the 240-hour transit list too?”Yes. Canada is also one of the 57 countries on the 240-hour visa-free transit list in our policy data (last verified 18 October 2026). You must fly on to a third country or region, so a Canada → China → Canada round trip doesn’t qualify.
Will China extend visa-free for the UK in 2027?
Section titled “Will China extend visa-free for the UK in 2027?”Not announced yet. The UK was added on 17 February 2026 with the same 31 December 2026 end date as the other 47 countries. See the UK page.
Will China extend visa-free entry for Japan?
Section titled “Will China extend visa-free entry for Japan?”Japan is on the same 48-country list, so its 30-day visa-free entry also ends on 31 December 2026 unless the list is renewed. No Japan-specific announcement has been made. See China visa-free for Japanese citizens.
What about the Netherlands, the Czech Republic or other EU countries?
Section titled “What about the Netherlands, the Czech Republic or other EU countries?”Most EU countries, including the Netherlands, are on the same list with the same end date. The Czech Republic isn’t on the 30-day list; Czech citizens can use the 240-hour visa-free transit or apply for a visa. Check your passport with the visa-free checker.
Will US citizens be affected?
Section titled “Will US citizens be affected?”No. US passport holders aren’t on the 30-day list; they use the 240-hour transit, which isn’t tied to this deadline.
Where will the announcement appear?
Section titled “Where will the announcement appear?”On China’s Consular Service (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and National Immigration Administration websites, and your local Chinese embassy. We’ll summarise it here within 24 hours.
Can I still enter visa-free in January 2027 or later?
Section titled “Can I still enter visa-free in January 2027 or later?”Not confirmed. The current rule ends on 31 December 2026 for the 48 countries. If China renews the list, entry would continue. If not, you would need a visa or the 240-hour transit (if your passport is on that list and you fly on to a third country). Check again after the announcement.
Should I book a 2027 trip now?
Section titled “Should I book a 2027 trip now?”You can, but choose refundable or changeable flights and hotels. Past renewals came in November, so waiting a few weeks costs little if you’re flexible.
What if there is no extension and I need a visa?
Section titled “What if there is no extension and I need a visa?”Apply for a regular tourist (L) visa through your Chinese embassy or consulate, using the official China Online Visa Application system. Requirements and processing times vary, so check before you go.
Is Russia’s extension the same as the other countries’?
Section titled “Is Russia’s extension the same as the other countries’?”No. Russia was extended separately on 20 May 2026 to 31 December 2027. The 48 countries on this page are on a different timetable.
Still stuck?
Section titled “Still stuck?”Check your exact trip with the visa-free checker, read the full visa-free entry guide, or ask a real person.
Sources: Xinhua on NIA Q3 2026 figures (20 October 2026); China Consular Service FAQ (updated 21 July 2026, cs.mfa.gov.cn) and the 20 May 2026 Russia notice, as summarised by Trip.com; National Immigration Administration announcement No. 4 of 2026 (240-hour transit, 20 August 2026); Passport Index; Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles notice (4 November 2025); policy data last verified 18 October 2026 (NIA, China Briefing). Policies change, so confirm with your Chinese embassy before you travel.Chat with Pablo
Real person, replies within 24h (usually faster). Paid help from $15; quick questions welcome.
Open WhatsApp chat
WhatsApp: scan with your phone
WeChat: scan, or save and open in WeChatWeChat ID: qingapple1992