There are a very few situations where no visa is required or you can obtain a visa on arrival. The following paragraphs explain the main exemptions. You should also be familiar with airline regulations.
China has mutual visa-free agreements with some foreign countries, but they are mainly for diplomatic, service or official passport holders and only allow the duration of stay less than 30 days.
The truly transit passengers who hold onward tickets do not require a visa provided that they stay in the transit area and depart within 24 hours.
Citizens of Singapore, Brunei and Japan are allowed to enter China without visas for up to 15 days for tourism, including visiting family or friends, or minor business purposes provided they enter through nominated international ports.
Citizens of the following 20 countries are permitted to remain in the Pudong airport, sea port or enter into Shanghai City without a visa, for 48 hours: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, USA.
Citizens of the following 19 countries are exempt from visa requirements when they travel to Hainan Province as a group organised by International Travel Agencies that have been set up and registered in Hainan Province. The stay is limited to 15 days and travelers are not allowed to leave Hainan: Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, France, Indonesia, Italy, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, USA.
Foreign travellers travelling to Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SAR) in tour groups organized by travel agencies registered in these SARs are exempt from visa requirements for entry to limited areas of Guangdong province for up to 6 days when entering via nominated ports.
Chinese citizens including citizens of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are allowed to enter China without visas but they still require passports or other travel documents such as a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwanese.
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Travelers' Voices on Visa Exemption
1.
Nov. 20,2009 06:04 Reply
Ms.Dolores(Singapore) said:
I'm a Singapore Citizen. Need to know whether do I need to apply Visa to go taiwan for holiday of 14 days?
Nov. 20,2009 20:21
Ms. Emily replied:
You can try to enquire the China Embassy in Singapore.
2.
Nov. 13,2009 21:54 Reply
Ms.xialin(mongolia) said:
Hello.Im Uka from Mongolia. I want to travel to macau for 2 days. Do i need to get visa for my entry in macau?
Nov. 14,2009 04:18
Mr.Christian replied:
Mongolian passport holders are exempt from visa to Macau for 90 days.
Nov. 14,2009 08:30
Ms.Uka(mongolia) replied:
Thank u very much mr christian for the response..
3.
Nov. 13,2009 20:59 Reply
Mr.JACOB(PHILIPPINE) said:
I AM A NIGERIAN,RESIDING IN THE PHILIPPINE,I LIVE AND STUDIED IN CHINA FOR A YEAR,I WISH TO GO TO CHINA WITH MY WIFE WHO IS A FILIPINA,PLEASE DO I NEED A VISA TO VISIT?
Nov. 14,2009 04:16
Mr.Benjamin replied:
You are still studing in China now/ Do you have a reisidence permit?
4.
Nov. 12,2009 10:28 Reply
Mr.RAFAEL(BRAZIL) said:
HI , I'M BRAZILIAN TRAVELLING TO TOKYO VIA BEIJING WITH TWO FRIENDS ( SPANISH-European union). DO WE NEED TO APPLY FOR A TRANSIT VISA? OUR CONNECTION IN BEIJING IS ONLY FOR 2HOURS .
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE
Nov. 12,2009 20:57
Mr.Richard replied:
No, you don't need a transit visa if you won't leave the airport.
5.
Nov. 12,2009 08:26 Reply
Ms.Kerry Tan(Singapore) said:
Hi, I am travelling from Singapore to Macau and then to Zhuhai. Will I require a visa from Macau to Zhuhai?
Nov. 12,2009 20:56
Mr.Samuel replied:
Singaporean passport holders are exempt from visa to Macau for 30 days, but you have to apply for a visa for your trip to Zhuhai.
6.
Nov. 10,2009 20:44 Reply
Mr.Eugene(Singapore) said:
I am Singaporean and will be taking my family to China (Shenyang, Dalian and Liaoyang) for a holiday. I am taking my Indonesian maid along. She holds a Indonesian passport. Pls advise if a visa is needed for her case?
Nov. 12,2009 20:53
Mr.Sean replied:
Yes, your maid have to apply for a visa as well.
7.
Nov. 7,2009 00:22 Reply
Mr.Luperga(Indonesia) said:
Hi, I'm holding indonesian passport and planning on trip to hongkong for a week. during the stay, I would like to visit some friends in shanghai, do I need visa to go to shanghai or is there any visa on arrival to go to shanghai from hongkong? if yes, then where should I apply for the visa? thanks for the help.
Nov. 8,2009 04:15
Mr.helper replied:
Yes, you neeed a visa to go to Shanghai. You can't get visa on arrival because it is very difficult to hard except for real emergencies.
8.
Oct. 30,2009 08:32 Reply
Mr.Edwardggs(Malaysia) said:
I am a holder of Malaysia passport and will be traveling to China to bring my son for stem cell treatment in a hospital in Guangzhou. I will be staying there for about 35 days. I will be traveling with an Indonesian maid/caregiver to take care of my son during the treatment period.
Questions: 1) Do I need a China Visa?
2) Does my Indonesian maid/caregiver need a China Visa?
Oct. 30,2009 21:04
Mr.Samuel replied:
of course, both you and your maid need a visa.
9.
Oct. 29,2009 06:49 Reply
Mr.Benjamin(Singapore) said:
Hi, I am a Singapore citizen looking to enter Chengdu, China for about 2-3 weeks as a tourist. Will I have to apply for a visa? It says in one of the sections above that I can enter China without a visa for 15days at nominated airports. Any idea which are they?
Oct. 30,2009 21:02
Mr.Sean replied:
Yes, Singaporean passport holders are exempt from visa to China for 15 days.
10.
Oct. 22,2009 02:14 Reply
Ms.Corazon E. Montejo(India) said:
hi
im a philippine passport holder working here in india having an employment visa up to June 05 ,2010..My company will send me to Beijing China for Business meetings for 10 days do i need a visa? Because i just want to confirm as i read in your countries exemption. I dont like to have a problem during my trip especially in immigration check.
Thank you
Oct. 22,2009 02:27
Ms.Adrianna replied:
You need a visa.