China 30-Day Visa-Free Ends 31 Dec 2026? Countdown
Last verified
Last verified: 2026-11-03. Status as of that date: no official extension beyond 31 Dec 2026 has been published by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that we could find. This page will be updated the day an official notice appears. See the extension news log below.
Countdown
| Stated end date for 48 countries | 31 December 2026 |
| Days left (counted on 3 Nov 2026) | 58 days (rest of November: 27, December: 31) |
| Russia | runs to 31 December 2027 |
| Brunei | no end date set |
| United States | not covered by the 30-day scheme (use 240-hour transit or a visa) |
The official source is the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland FAQ, dated 19 Aug 2026. In the original Chinese: "目前，中方对文莱持普通护照人员的免签政策未设施行期限，对俄罗斯持普通护照人员的免签政策施行至2027年12月31日，对其余48国持普通护照人员的免签政策施行至2026年12月31日。" In English: "At present, China's visa-free policy for holders of ordinary passports of Brunei has no set end date; for Russia it runs until 31 December 2027; for the remaining 48 countries it runs until 31 December 2026." (Embassy FAQ, 2026-08-19)
Who is affected
Holders of ordinary passports of the 48 countries in China's unilateral 30-day list other than Brunei and Russia. The embassy names the 50 countries in total: Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Russia, Sweden, Canada and the UK (Embassy FAQ, 2026-08-19; see also NIA country list, 2026-02-17).
Not affected: countries with a mutual visa-exemption agreement with China, which has its own terms, and the Hainan-only 30-day scheme. See 30-day visa-free countries.
What is still unclear (⚠️ unverified)
- Entering in late December and staying into January 2027. The stay is "calculated from the next day of entry and lasts for 30 calendar days" (Embassy FAQ). No official text we found says whether someone entering on, say, 20 Dec 2026 may stay their full 30 days into 2027 if the policy is not extended. Ask the NIA (12367) or your nearest Chinese embassy before booking.
- Whether an extension will come, and for which countries. We do not speculate. Only official notices will be logged below.
If it is not extended: your alternatives
| Option | Who | Max stay | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 240-hour visa-free transit | Ordinary passports of 57 countries, travelling A → China → B | 240 hours (10 days) in permitted areas | 240-hour guide and port pages |
| Mutual visa exemption | Countries with a bilateral agreement | per agreement | check the NIA or your embassy |
| Visa (e.g. tourist "L" visa) | Everyone | per visa | apply via your local Chinese embassy/consulate; the US mission uses the online COVA system (US Embassy, 2025-09-22) |
Extension news log
Newest first. Each entry links to the official notice. Media reports are not logged until an official source confirms them.
| Date checked | What we found | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-03 | No official notice extending the 48-country 30-day policy beyond 31 Dec 2026 found on the NIA English news/notice pages. | NIA English site |
| 2026-08-20 | NIA Announcement No. 4 of 2026: Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam added to the 240-hour transit list and to the Hainan 30-day scheme. This is not the nationwide 30-day list. | NIA, 2026-08-20 |
| 2026-08-19 | Embassy FAQ restates end dates: 48 countries to 31 Dec 2026, Russia to 31 Dec 2027, Brunei open-ended. | Embassy in Switzerland, 2026-08-19 |
FAQ
Is China's 30-day visa-free policy ending?
For 48 countries, it is currently stated to run until 31 December 2026. As of 3 November 2026 we have found no official extension.
I am American. Does this affect me?
No. The US is not on the 30-day list. Americans can use 240-hour transit (A → China → B) or apply for a visa.
Where will an extension be announced?
Usually by the NIA and/or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then on embassy websites. We log it here with the link.
Sources
- Chinese Embassy in Switzerland: visa-free FAQ: 2026-08-19
- NIA: List of countries covered by unilateral visa exemption: 2026-02-17
- NIA Announcement No. 4 of 2026: 2026-08-20
Information is for reference only; official sources prevail. See our terms and disclaimer.