China Entry Requirements in 2025
(Updated May 2025)
Disclaimer: We are not immigration lawyers, the information contained in this blog post is our own interpretation of publicly available information on the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Commonwealth of Australia’s official website, which may not be relevant for all citizens of all nationalities. Do your own research before making a decision on whether or not the following information is applicable to you and your unique circumstances.
Travelling to China for tourism just got a lot easier for travellers from many countries across the world. Since December 2024, nationals of 38 countries with ordinary passports can enter China for a visa-free period of up to 30 days for the purpose of business, tourism, transit, exchange or visiting friends and family.
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Applicable countries
As of 20 May 2025, the 38 nationalities whose passport holders may be exempt from visa requirements entering mainland China include; Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia and Japan.
What are the current conditions?
A valid passport for the intended duration of stay and a departure before 24:00 on the 30th calendar day from entry. Nationals of the above countries can enter through any sea, road and airport. At the time of writing there is no limit to how many times this visa-free entry can be used, however the purpose of visit should be consistent with the purposes listed at the top of this post.
Should I visit China?
With these new entry requirements, there has never been an easier and more convenient time to visit East Asia’s largest country! There are definitely a few significant differences when travelling in China compared to other Asian tourist destinations, such as the required e-wallet payment systems and lack of English, but in our opinion these unique aspects make it even more of a travel adventure. After you check out our China is Visa-Free for Australians, but do I have to use WeChat and AliPay? blog, you’ll be fully equipped to book hotels, trains and ride-share taxis in China and set off on your own adventure through one of our favourite travel destinations! Whether you’re after an adventure that not many people have had yet, are looking to witness some of the most insane natural landscapes on the planet, experience modern Chinese culture firsthand or just dig into authentic Chinese cuisine, this country isn’t one to miss!
Where can I get more info?
There have been press releases on many nations Chinese embassy websites, we’d recommend searching for “Chinese embassy to ‘your country here’ visa exemption” to find out specific details that apply to your passport and any additional requirements that might be necessary.
That’s It!
If you’ve made it down here, thank you so much for reading!
