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How to Apply China Visa in Singapore in 2023

By: Author Eva

Posted on Published: July 23, 2023  - Last updated: September 9, 2023

Categories china

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China announced that it is opening its border and resuming all types of visas for foreigners, starting 15 March 2023. However, the visa-exemptions for Singaporeans were only reinstated on 26 July 2023.

UPDATES: From 26 July 2023, Chinese government will resume 15-days visa-exemptions policy for Singaporean Citizens. China Embassy

If you’re a Singaporean planning to travel to China for more than 15 days, or you’re non-Singaporean residing in Singapore and don’t have visa-exemption, this guide is for you!

If this is your first time applying for visa to China, it may feel daunting, but fret not. In this article, I hope to shed the light regarding China Visa application procedures for people residing in Singapore .

This article was originally written based on my own experience applying for Tourism Visa (L Visa) in March 2023. However, several things have changed, especially regarding appointment. So, I try my best to update this article to reflect the latest situation.

Before May 2023, you can queue early at Visa Center to apply for visa via walk-in route. However, from 8 May 2023, walk-in is no longer accepted. So, you need to secure an appointment; there are several ways to secure appointments, I’ll describe more in Step 4.

Does Singaporean need visa to enter China?

From 26 July 2023 onwards, Singaporeans DO NOT NEED to apply visa to enter China if they’re traveling for less than 15 days.

If you’re a Singaporean planning to travel more than 15 days, these are visa-free exemptions for certain ports:

• HAINAN: If you’re visiting Hainan, you can do so without visa for up to 30 days

Who needs visa to enter China?

You need to check with your own consulate/embassy or China Embassy in your country whether you need to apply visa to enter China.

Generally, the below ports allow visa-free travel for foreigners from certain countries, provided they fulfil the requirements:

• HAINAN: If you’re visiting Hainan and you’re from one of the 59 approved countries, you can get up to 30 days visa exemption.
• SHANGHAI: If you’re visiting Shanghai by cruise, you can get 15-day visa exemption. Check with your cruise company for details.
• GUANGDONG: If you’re visiting Guangdong via Hong Kong or Macau, you can do so without visa, BUT you need to join organized tour group from HK/Macau Travel Agents.
• GUILIN in GUANGXI: Tourist groups from the ASEAN regional grouping can enter Guilin in Guangxi without a visa for up to 6 days.
• Your nationality/passport is from one of the 53 approved countries
• You visit and stay in that region for less than 144 hours (i.e. 6 days)
• You must hold an onward ticket to a different country (eg: Singapore -> Beijing -> Hong Kong, or Malaysia -> Shanghai -> Singapore)

Which China Visa should I apply?

There are many different kinds of China visas. For tourists intending to visit China for tourism , you should apply L Visa .

Here are all types visas for various purposes:

• L Visa: Tourism
• F Visa : Exchanges, visits, study tours or other relevant activities
• M Visa : Commercial trade activities
• Q1 & Q2 Visa: Family member or relative of Chinese citizen(s) or foreigner(s) with permanent residence status in China
• S1 & S2 Visa: Family member of foreigner(s) staying or residing in China or person who needs to come to China for personal matters
• Z Visa: Work
• X1 & X2 Visa: Study
• J1 & J2 Visa: Journalist
• C Visa: Crew member
• G Visa: Transit
• D Visa: Permanent residence
• R Visa: Foreigner of high talent or specialist

Can I apply visa to China on my own without an agent?

Yes, you definitely can apply visa to China on your own without an agent. It’s much cheaper to do it on your own. I paid less than S$200 application fee.

If there are immediate appointment slot, I’d suggest you do it on your own. However, if the available appointments are too far out and you need to travel urgently, consider engaging an agent to apply on your behalf.

Agents may be able to get you earlier appointment dates than individuals. However, you still need to go down to the visa application center to capture your fingerprints, on the submission day. During collection, the agent can collect on your behalf.

There are many travel agents who offer visa application service at People’s Park Complex. If you want to engage an agent, you should compare prices because the price varies A LOT between different agents. Some charge S$100 agent fee, some charge an insanely high amount of S$430 all-in.

Here’s the list of authorized travel agents .

Who can apply China Visa in Singapore?

Singapore citizens and Singapore residents with valid pass can apply for China Visa in Singapore. Visitors/tourists in Singapore should apply for a Chinese visa in their own country. ( Source )

Where to go to apply China Visa in Singapore?

The China Visa application in Singapore is handled by Chinese Visa Application Service Center located at 80 Robinson Rd, #16-01/02 02A, Singapore 068898 ( location ).

It is NOT handled by the Embassy of China in Singapore.

How long does it take to process the Visa Application?

If you choose Normal , it takes 4 working days. If you choose Express , it takes 3 working days. If you need a visa urgently, choose Rush/Urgent which takes 2 working days. ( Source )

Usually, the submission day counts as Day 1. For Normal service, you will collect on Day 4 (not calendar days, but working days). Eg: You submit on Friday (Day 1), you can collect on Wednesday (Day 4) provided there is no public holiday in between. If there is 1 public holiday in between, you just add 1 extra day.

How to Apply China Tourist Visa (L Visa) in Singapore

1. book your flights and accommodation.

Before applying for visa, you should book your flights and accommodation during the entire length of your stay.

If you’re staying in friend’s house, you’ll need to get the invitation letter from your friend. The invitation letter should contain:

• Information of the applicant: Name, gender, date of birth, passport number and etc.
• Details of planned visit: arrival & departure date, tourism destination, expenditure arrangement and etc.
• Information of inviter: Inviter’s name, contact number, address, inviter’s signature and etc.

Given the high demand of visa application in Singapore, I recommend that you book a trip that’s at least 2 months in advance, so that you’ll have ample time to get your visa sorted out.

2. Prepare the softcopy of the necessary documents

Before submitting your application, you should prepare the softcopy of the following documents:

• Colored passport-sized photo taken within the last 6 months. After uploading to the system, you can crop and re-position your photo according to the requirements (photo requirements here) .
• Make sure your passport has at least 6 months of validity
• Details of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas 

3. Submit Application Online

To submit your visa application online, head to Visa for China then choose the country you’re applying at. If you’re applying in Singapore, here’s the shortcut link to Visa for China (Singapore) .

Under Quick Access, click on “Visa”. Once inside, scroll down and click on “New Application Form”

Fill out all the necessary fields. The entire process took me around 1 hour to complete.

I highly recommend that you copy your application number in your computer AND save your process frequently along the way , in case your browser gets buggy while you’re in the middle of application and you need to retrieve your form.

After completing your application, download your application form.

4. Make appointment

Method 1: normal appointment.

After completing the online submission in step 3 above, you will see a link to make appointment. Alternatively, you can also go to homepage, under Quick Access, click on “Visa”. Once inside, scroll down and click on “Appointment (Application)”

Key in your application number and particulars, and complete the captcha at the bottom of the page, then you will be able to see a calendar of available dates. Choose your preferred date and time. Then, download the appointment confirmation form.

If your flight departs earlier than the available appointment slot, you can’t apply via this route. Instead, you need to go via Method 2 or 3 below.

Method 2: Emergency appointment

As reported by Straits Times , from 8 May 2023, between 4pm to 6pm on each working day, the Visa Center will release 200 to 250 appointment numbers for emergency visa applications for the following day.

That means, if you need to do emergency visa via walk-in because you can’t get appointment, you no longer need to queue outside the Visa Center. Instead, you need to queue online between 4pm-6pm to get appointment number for emergency visa for the next day.

This method is difficult because it requires a lot of time, patience and luck. Reader Hui has shared about how he managed to get appointment slot using this method in the comment section.

To summarize, he did so by going to the appointment page (Homepage > Quick Access, > Visa > Appointment (Application)) between 4pm to 6pm, complete the captcha without filling the details (to save time).

If there’s no next-day slot, he keeps on refreshing every half minute until he sees a slot. When he sees a slot, he clicks on the timeslot, fills up his details and secures that appointment slot.

If you do not have the luxury of time and patience to hunt for these rare emergency slots, your last option would be method 3 below.

Method 3: Engage an Agent

If you can’t cancel your trip because your tickets are non-refundable, and you can’t secure a slot using the above 2 methods, my advice to you is to go through a travel agency. It looks like agencies have earlier available appointment date than individuals.

They may be expensive, you’ll probably end up paying S$100-200 agent fee on top of visa fee. But they’re worth every penny for people who needs to travel urgently and can’t cancel the trip. Here’s the list of authorized travel agents .

5. Print out the hardcopy of the necessary documents

Each person need to prepare the following hardcopy documents:

• A set of application form printed from your application
• Appointment confirmation (if any)
• Round-trip flight tickets
• Accommodation booking for the entire stay (if you’re staying in hotels)
• Invitation letter (if you’re staying in friend’s house)
• Photocopy of passport
• Photocopy of Singapore valid pass (if you’re not Singapore citizens), eg: SPR IC, Re-entry permit, WP, EP, STP, DP or SVP
• Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas

Even if you share accommodation with another person and you submit the visa together, each of you need to have a copy of the accommodation booking.

I didn’t submit the hard copy of my photo because I have uploaded the soft copy of my photo during online submission. They didn’t request for the hard copy photo when I submitted physical hard copy documents.

FYI, there’s a Photo Booth at Visa Center in case you need to take passport-sized photos.

6. Head to Visa Center

On your appointment day, head to Chinese Visa Application Service Center located at 80 Robinson Rd, #16-01/02 02A, Singapore 068898 ( location ).

For submission: operating hours are from 9am to 2pm , Monday to Friday (closed on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays).

For collection: operating hours are from 9am to 3pm , Monday to Friday (closed on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays).

Do note that the Visa Center observe BOTH Public Holidays in China AND Singapore. So, before heading down, do check the public holiday calendar for both countries.

Upon arriving at Visa Center, take the lift up to Level 16. At Level 16, take a queue number from the receptionist. Then, wait patiently for your number to be called.

Some readers have been asking whether it’s possible to get someone else to apply on your behalf. Before 9 Aug 2023, all applicants must have their fingerprints captured, therefore everyone has to visit the center physically.

However, between 9 Aug 2023 to 31 Dec 2023, the visa center announced that eligible applicants applying for one or two entry visas for business(M), tourism(L), family visit(Q2), transit(G), and crew(C) visa, can be exempted from taking fingerprints. Therefore, applicants applying for the above visas can get someone else to apply on their behalf.

(For me, I applied in late March 2023, just 2 weeks after China announced reopening and not many people were keen to visit China yet. That time, I applied via walk-in route (which is now no longer accepted). That time, the walk-in queue wasn’t insane at all, I arrived at the Visa Center at 10am, and was able to complete everything by 11.30am.)

7. Head to counter to submit documents and take fingerprints

Once your number is called, head to the designated counter and submit your hardcopy documents. Your fingerprints will be taken at this stage. You’ll also be asked questions about your trip.

If you miss out any documents, the officer will ask you to print it out or get it photocopied from the in-house shop. The cost of printing is S$1/page, and the cost of photocopy is S$0.50/page.

After all documents are in order, you’ll be given a paper that states the your application number and the amount you need to pay.

8. Make payment by Cash or PayNow

Head to the payment counter and make payment using cash or PayNow. I paid around S$160 for walk-in submission without appointment.

After completing the payment, you will be given a paper that states the date of collection. Now, you can head home.

9. Collect your Visa and Passport

On the day of collection, bring the collection slip to the Visa Center and collect your passport and your shiny new visa. Congratulations!

Your next step is to plan for your trip to China! Read my guide on what to prepare before going to China.

PS: If you have any data points to share, please comment below and share your experience. It will greatly help people who are planning to get a China Visa in Singapore. Thank you!

Featured image: Depositphotos

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Sunday 3rd of September 2023

I'm SPR, I heard this round don't need to scan fingerprint. Any one know if the applicate unable to attend on the submission day. Can she arrange her son to submit on behalf and make payment, without engage any travel agent.

Saturday 9th of September 2023

Update info, my son help me submitted the application, the whole process less than 30mins. Once the online form and appointment date set and all documents ready. Smooth processing.

Sunday 27th of August 2023

Thanks for sharing. I've booked my appointment easily as well. There are so many slots available next week.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Glad to hear you can secure appointments easily!

Thursday 17th of August 2023

HI- I am Malaysian, and just submitted my L visa application. Appointment dates are available the very next day after the application required time ie the 5th day for Normal application. Looks like the wait time has been reduced significantly.

Hi Sam, thanks for sharing! Good to hear that it's easy to secure an appointment now!

Saturday 22nd of July 2023

Hello Eva! Do you perhaps know if transiting within China is possible with the 144h visa free policy? Currently flights from Singapore to Xi'An are with transit in another province of China, mostly Shanghai.

So sorry if you've covered this before, please do redirect me if so!

Sunday 23rd of July 2023

Hi Sally! Sorry I have no clue and I can't find reliable source. Perhaps you can check with the airline or visa center. Fyi, visa-free will resume from 26 July 2023, hope it will solve your problems!

Friday 21st of July 2023

Hi, I read from the visit for china website that Singaporeans is exempted from a visa if stay no more than 15 days. So confirm now we don't need to apply for visa?

4) Citizens of Singapore, Brunei and Japan

A citizen of Singapore, Brunei or Japan with an ordinary passport is exempted from a visa if he or she visits China's mainland for tourism, business, or meeting with friends or relatives, and if he or she enters China through ports open to foreigners, and stays for no more than 15 days.

However, a visa is required for citizen of these three countries under any of the following circumstances:

A. An ordinary passport holder visits China for tourism, business, or meeting with friends or relatives, and stays for more than 15 days.

B. An ordinary passport holder visits China for the purpose of study, work, permanent residency, official visits or news coverage.

C. A Japanese citizen travels with a diplomatic or official passport.

Hi, please don't ask me to confirm what's being written by someone else, you may want to check with them instead.

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China Visa Policy for Singaporean Citizens: 30 Days Visa Free Currently

Notice on Latest Visa and Entry Policies for Foreigners Entering China - Updated on July 15, 2024 :

1. Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, Xishuangbanna and 5 regions in Yunnan Province are applicable to 144-hour visa-free transit policy. Mohan Railway Port at China-Laos border can be used to enter/leave Yunnan.

2. Breaking News! a. China will be 15-day visa-free for Australia, New Zealand and Poland from July 1st, 2024 to December 31st, 2025. b. 15 days visa free for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg has been extended until December 31, 2025. Read more »

3. Hong Kong High-speed Rail West Kowloon Station has been added to Guangdong Province 144-hour transit visa-free.

4. China - Georgia Mutual Exemption of Visa, starting from May 28, 2024.

5. Booking of flights and hotels, China itineraries and invitation letters are not required for application of Chinese Tourist Visa for U.S.nationals.

6. Appointment is not required for visa application in many embassies and consulates.

8. Starting from 00:00 on November 1, 2023, individuals entering or exiting the country are exempt from filling out the "People's Republic of China Health Declaration Card for Entry/Exit."

7. Norway has become the 54th country whose passport holders can transit without visa up to 72/144 hours in China.

8. Starting from August 30, 2023, individuals traveling to China will no longer be required to undergo pre-entry COVID-19 nucleic acid or antigen testing.

9. U.S. citizens holding multi-year multiple-entry visas issued before March 28, 2020, whose visas temporarily lost entry functionality between March 28, 2020, and March 14, 2023, due to the pandemic, are eligible to apply for compensation. Those who choose to apply for compensation will receive a free 3-year multiple-entry visa. Those who choose to waive the compensation can apply for a new 10-year multiple-entry visa at the regular fee.

China Discovery will keep focusing on the updates of the latest Chinese visa and entry policy! You can also call +86 010 12367 (Official telephone number of China National Immigration Administration) to check further information. Welcome to join in our Facebook Groups to catch up with the latest news!

Invitation letter is a vital document for Chinese visa application. If you travel with us, we will not only create a valuable tour for you, but also provide you an invitation letter if you request, which will help you obtain your visa successfully. Start customizing your tour in China now!

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Do Singaporean citizens/passport holders need visa to China?

Under China’s Visa Free Policy , ordinary passport holders of Singapore, Brunei and Japan may visit mainland China without visa, if the entry purpose is for tour, family visit, business or transit within 15 days. For other cases, longer stay, else purpose of visiting, a China Visa is required.

How long can a Singaporean stay in China without visa?

If a Singapore citizen get visa free entry permit to mainland China, the maximum stay period is 15 days , even you only stay in Hainan where citizens of 59 countries may enjoy 30-day visa-free vacation.

On January 25, 2024, the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Singapore representatives signed the "Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Singapore on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements for Ordinary Passport Holders" in Beijing. The Agreement will enter into force on February 9, 2024. Under this Agreement, holders of ordinary passports from both sides can enter each other's country visa-free for stays of up to 30 days. Activities such as work, journalism, and stays exceeding 30 days require prior approval and the appropriate visa from the host country before entry.

Our Singaporean Clients Visited Bejing Tian'anmen Square

Singapore to China Visa Free - Travel China Without Visa

A new unilateral visa exemption agreement for Singaporeans’ traveling to China was put into force on February 9, 2024. So, China can be regarded as a visa free country for Singapore citizens. In the policy, Singapore ordinary passport holders can get visa exempted to China for a short-term stay, as long as you take valid original regular passport, travel to China for the purposes of tourism, business, visit family, relatives, friends, or transit.

Singapore visitors can enter and exit through all China’s ports opened to foreigners. The longest duration of stay is no longer than 30 days. Passport and flight to China are the two most important things you shall well prepared before departure. Upon arrival, you will get a Temporary Entry Permit stamped on your passport without any charges. Then, it’s your free time to arrange the 1-month long holiday in China to enjoy a Great Wall Hiking Tour , Silk Road Tour , Tibet Discovery Tour , Family Travel , and so forth.

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China Visa Required for Singaporeans - Apply China Visa in Singapore

Even through holding a Singapore passport, you still need to get a visa from the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) in mainland China if you intend to stay longer than 30 days after entry. Or if you plan to go to China for study, employment, journalism, residenc e, etc., a China Visa should be applied and obtained from Chinese Embassy or Consulate abroad. Below are the details of getting a China Visa in Singapore.

Attention: Where to Submit? Singaporeans, Malaysians or foreigners residing in Singapore are all required to submit visa application to China Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) authorized by Chinese Embassy. The embassy will not accept any ordinary application, but the issuance will be made by the embassy.

China Visa Requirements

Before physically visit the China Visa Application Service Center, you shall prepare the listed documents one by one, and as required.

Basic Requirements:

Original passport with a remaining a validity of at least 6 months and over 2 blank pages. Make copy of the passport’s data page, already used visa pages, former China Visa if had.

● China Visa Application Form

Option 1: Fill in online application form at http://www.visaforchina.org. . Print the completed form out, write down application date and sign on the paper form

Option 2: Download the latest version of China Visa Application Form (v.2013 - 4 pages in total) and fill in the digital form, print it out and sign it.

At least 2 recently-taken (within last 6 months) passport-size color photos which are against a light background. (Size: 38mmX48mm)

Useful Link: China Visa Photo Requirements

1.) Proof of legal entry, stay, residence in another country or region, if you not apply in your home country.

2.) Previous Chinese passport & copy of the data page, if you used to be a Chinese citizen and apply China Visa the first time. If you had got China Visa before, please provice photocopy of the data page, photo paga, previous China Visa page of your old Chinese passport.

Supporting Documents:

● Travel related documents: round-trip (flight, train, ship) tickets , hotel booking , travel itinerary, etc.

● An Invitation Letter: if you’re inviteed to travel to China, please prepare formal Invitation Letter by the invited individual or unity.

Passport is Required when Applying China Visa in Singapore

Log in Visa Center Website to Complete Application Form & Make Appointment Online

Booking Air Tickets and Hotel for China Tourist Visa Application

China Visa Fee in Singapore

Applicants should pay China Visa Application Fee after submission in the center office. The total cost = visa application fee + service fee . You will pay extra fees for expedited service, such as Express Service and Rush Service. Here we list the major visa price for Singaporean and other common international citizens as follows:

Note: The accepted methods of payment include cash (Singapore Dollar), debit card (NETS & Union Pay). Also, you can download detailed schedules of China Visa fees here .

How Do I Apply for China Visa in Singapore?

Individual not using travel agent to apply China Visa can get the most useful China Visa Application instructions as we introduced here.

How to Apply China Visa in Singapore

How Long to Get A China Visa?

China Visa processing time depends on individual cases and which service applicants choose to use.

Regular Application: about 4 working days.

Express Service: usually around 3 working days.

Urgent Service: about 2 working days.

If you submit urgent application between 9:00am - 12:00pm, you can collect during 9:00am - 16:00pm on the second working day; if you submit between 12:00pm to 14:00pm in the afternoon, please pick up at 12:00pm - 16:00pm on the next working day.

Tips: The embassy may ask applicant to submit additional materials, which could get the application period a little bit longer than expected.

China Visa Application Service Center in Singapore

Address: 80 Robinson Road, #16-01/02/02A, Singapore 068898

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday, except Saturday, Sunday and national public holidays

Submission Hours: 9:00am to 15:00pm

Payment & Collection Hours: 9:00am to 16:00pm

Urgent Submission: 9:00am to 12:00pm

Contact information

Call: 67139380

Fax: 62260852

E-mail: [email protected] 

China Visa Application Center in Singapore

Apply Hong Kong Visa in Singapore

Do Singaporeans need visa for Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is treated as a third region from mainland China, where can’t use a China Visa for entry. Singapore passport holders may enjoy visa-free access to Hong Kong no longer than 90 days , when entering for travel or certain business-related activities. Your Singapore passport shall be valid for more than 1 month.

Those who will visit Hong Kong for study, work, business must apply and get a Hong Kong Visa beforehand.

Hong Kong Visa Application Guide

First, check the Hong Kong Immigration Department official website ( https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/index.html ) to get useful information. Required Documents includes: passport, application form, photos, travel related supporting documents, etc.

Second, prepare all required documents & visa fees as required by the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

Third, visit China Visa Application Service Center in Singapore to submit Hong Kong Visa application. No online appointment is needed.

Related Link: Hong Kong Visa Application

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Travel to China from Singapore

Singapore is located in the south of China and the nearest city in China is Hainan Province. It is essential transport hub in Asia. Currently, there are two main transportation available between Singapore and China: by international flight or cruise.

Singapore Changi Airport

By Flight: Singapore Changi International Airport (新加坡樟宜国际机场，IATA: SIN, ICAO: WSSS) is the sole airport opening flights to China, with frequent airlines to over 20 cities. You can fly from Singapore Changi Airport to Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Sanya, Chongqing, Nanjing, Hong Kong, Macau and more cities in mainland China.

By Cruise: Taking an sea voyage trip from Port of Singapore to go north, sail through Hong Kong, Taipei and ultimately visit Shanghai, Beijing, Xiamen Dalian, Hainan or other coastal cities is also very popular and relaxing way to get to China. There are many world famous cruise you can experience, including the Royal Caribbean, Oceania Cruise, Holland America, Silversea Cruises, etc.

How to Plan A China Tour

China is a vast and great country with stunning natural scenery, historic and cultural heritages, interesting traditions and lovely local people. How to discovery China during the 30 days visa-free tour or even a longer holiday.

Major Steps to Plan A China Tour

First, decide where you will visit in China, choose destinations you’re interested in. In China, Beijing and Shanghai are best gateway cities for international tourists. They not only has very convenient connection to worldwide cities and domestic cities, themselves are also significant tourist cities with rich tourism resources. You can easily travel from Beijing or Shanghai to Xian, Chengdu, Guilin, Hangzhou, and more top destinations in China.

Second, plan your travel itinerary and get clear idea to travel independently or join in group. It’s up to you to do a much free travel alone or share same driver, guide in a lower budget.

Third, check weather and climate to find a best season to visit China. As one of the very large countries in the world, China is suitable for tour all year round. To say one at least, spring and autumn with mild climate, pleasant temperature are the two best seasons for traveling around in China. For example, you may enjoy Great Wall Hiking, attend Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival in Tibet during late March to middle April, explore coolness in Guiyang, autumn color in Mt. Huangshan, winter sunshine in Yunnan or ice and snow world in Harbin.

More travel planning ideas, please visit our How to Plan Your China Tour 2023

Travel China with China Discovery

China Discovery is a professional and experienced travel companion who offers high-value and worry-free tours for you. With our tour package, you can travel to many cities in mainland China, among all, Beijing , Shanghai , Hong Kong are often used as gate way cities, Xian , Guilin , Chengdu are also excellent destinations to discovery different regional culture, history and local customs in China.

You may choose from our most popular China tours, or just  contact us , tell your interests and travel plans, we could customize a perfect China tour as you like.

Our American Group Tourists Enjoyed Great Wall Hiking Tour in Beijing

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Mutual 30-Day Visa-Exemption Arrangement Between Singapore and The People’s Republic Of China

            With effect from 9 February 2024, holders of ordinary passports issued by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will be exempted from visa requirements for a stay of up to 30 days in Singapore. There will be no refund of the visa processing fee for those who had earlier submitted an application.

2.          Similarly, holders of ordinary passports issued by Singapore will be exempted from visa requirements for a stay of up to 30 days in the PRC. This reciprocal visa exemption arrangement was announced at the 19th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation on 7 December 2023, and subsequently affirmed through an exchange of diplomatic notes between Singapore and the PRC.

3.          Under long-standing agreements, holders of diplomatic, public affairs and service passports issued by the PRC are exempted from visa requirements for a stay of up to 30 days in Singapore.

4.          Holders of all other travel documents issued by the PRC must continue to apply for an entry visa before travel into Singapore.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY 25 JANUARY 2024

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China Travel Restrictions & Travel Advisory (Updated June 17, 2024)

Visa-Free Access to China : If you're from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, and Poland, you can visit China visa-free for 15 days until December 31st, 2025. If you're from Singapore, you can relish visa-free access to China for up to 30 days.

If your nationality isn't listed above or if you aim to discover China for more than two weeks, we offer a Port Visa Service for just US$100 per person  once your tour booking is confirmed with us. No stress of embassy visits and visa interviews.

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• What Ways to Enter China
• Do I Still Need a PCR Test to Enter China
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International Flights to China

What to expect when traveling in china, best times to travel to china, 8 ways to enter china: all open now.

Since China has fully permitted visa applications, there are now several ways to enter the country.

If you still hold a valid Chinese visa (any type including a tourist visa, 10-year visa, a port visa, etc.), you can use it to enter China.

If you don't have a Chinese visa or your visa has expired, you can apply for a new one. All visas can now be applied for, including tourist visas, business visas, work visas, and so on. (International visitors can apply for a tourist visa to the Chinese Mainland in Hong Kong.)

For the documents required for a visa application, you can refer to the information given by a Chinese embassy/consulate . Please submit your application at least two months in advance.

To apply for a tourist visa (L visa), you will be asked to provide an invitation letter issued by a Chinese travel agency or individual or round-trip air tickets and hotel bookings.

When booking a private tour with us, we can provide you with an invitation letter, which is one more thing we do to make your travel more convenient, giving you more flexibility with your air tickets and hotel bookings.

Now it is very easy to apply for a visa . You can easily apply by yourself without an intermediary. The following is how one of our clients successfully applied for a Chinese tourist visa:

• First, fill out the form at the China Online Visa Application website ;
• Second, make an appointment on this website to submit your visa materials on Appointment for Visa Application Submission website ;
• Third, take the required documents to the embassy to submit;
• Finally, you will get a return receipt if your documents are qualified.

Usually, you will get your visa after 7 working days. The application fee is about USD185 for US citizens.

Q: What if my passport expires but my visa doesn't?

A: You can travel to China on the expired passport containing valid Chinese visa in combination with the new passport, provided that the identity information (name, date of birth, gender, nationality) on both passport identical.

If there is a change to any of the above details, you must apply for a new visa.

2. 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy

If you do not apply for a Chinese visa, you may still have the opportunity to visit these areas of China visa free: the Shanghai area (including Suzhou, Hangzhou, etc.), the Beijing area (with Tianjin and Hebei), the Guangzhou area (Shenzhen, Zhuhai, etc.), and more. Take advantage of the 6-day visa-free entitlements.

Find out if you could use the 144-hour visa-free transit policy with our information on China's 144-hour Visa-Free Policy (Eligible Entry/Exit Ports, Applicable Countries, Documents to be Prepared...)

You can also obtain entry and exit control policies through the 24-hour hotline of the National Immigration Administration:

• Beijing: 0086 (+86)-10-12367
• Shanghai: 0086 (+86)-21-12367
• Guangzhou: 0086 (+86)-20-12367

Quick Test: Will My Route Qualify for China 72/144-Hour Visa-Free Transit?

1. I will depart from (only applies to direct or connected flight):

2. I will arrive in China at [city], [airport / railway station / port].

3. My arrival date is...

4. I will leave for [country/region] from China (the bounding destination on the air ticket):

5. My departure date is...

6. My nationality is...

8. I have Chinese visa refusal stamps in my passport.

You qualify to enjoy China's 72-hour visa-free policy.

You qualify to enjoy China's 144-hour visa-free policy.

You don't qualify to enjoy China's 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free policy.

Reason you don't qualify:

• You must be in transit to a third country or region.
• You must leave the city area (prefecture or municipality) after the 72/144 hours (the 72/144-hour limit is calculated starting from 00:00 on the day after arrival, i.e. 24:00 on the arrival date).
• Your passport must be valid for more than 3 months at the time of entry into China.
• Your passport nationality is not eligible for the 72/144-hour visa exemption program.
• You have Chinese visa refusal stamps in your passport.

3. Port Visas (Landing Visas)

If you don't have time to get a visa, or if you find it cumbersome to apply for a tourist visa, you could consider traveling to China through a port visa.

Port visas can be applied for a group at least including 2 people. You need to enter the country within 15 days after you get your entry permit. The port visa allows a stay period of 1 to 2 months.

Applicable ports include Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Guilin, Xi'an, Chengdu, etc.

Book your China trip with us and we can help you apply for a port visa.

4. Visa Exemption for ASEAN Tour Groups to Guilin

In addition, tour groups from ASEAN member countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei, and the Philippines, can visit Guilin for 144 hours without visas as long as they meet the visa-free transit policy requirements.

5. Shanghai Visa-Free Policy for Cruise Groups

Shanghai has a 15-day visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups entering China via a cruise. You must arrive and depart on the same cruise and be received by a Chinese travel agent at the Shanghai Cruise Terminal (or Wusong Passenger Center).

6. Hainan Visa-Free Access

No visa is required for staying on Hainan Island for up to 30 days for ordinary passport holders from 59 countries. Groups and individual tourists must book a tour through an accredited travel agency.

Find out whether you qualify for the policy here .

7. Visa Exemption for the Pearl River Delta Area

International travelers from Hong Kong or Macau are able to visit the Pearl River Delta area (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, etc.) visa-free as long as they go with a registered tour provider, such as us.

8. APEC Cards

If you hold a valid APEC business travel card, you can simply enter China with the card without applying for a visa.

Travelers who hold a valid APEC business travel card can stay in China for up to 60 days.

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Do I Still Need a PCR Test or Antigen Self-Test to Enter China

No. Starting from August 30, all travelers entering China will no longer need to undergo any COVID-19 testing. You do not need to submit any test results for COVID-19 before departure.

• 8-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai Private Tour - China Golden Triangle
• 13-Day Riches of China - Beijing – Xi'an – Guilin/Yangshuo – Hangzhou - Suzhou – Shanghai

Hong Kong / Macau Travel Restriction

Hong kong entry requirements.

Travelers from any region bound for Hong Kong will no longer need to take pre-flight COVID-19 tests (no PCR test, no RAT test) from April 1.

There is also no need for any tests when traveling from Hong Kong to the Chinese Mainland. Hong Kong could be a good gateway for your China trip. See suggestions on China Itineraries from Hong Kong (from 1 Week to 3 Weeks).

Direct high-speed trains from Guangzhou and Shenzhen to Hong Kong are available now. In preparation for the Canton Fair, it is expected that direct high-speed ferries will be launched from Guangzhou Pazhou Port to Hong Kong's airport in mid-April.

• 10 Top China Tours from Hong Kong

Macau Entry Requirement

From August 30, travelers from any region bound for Macau will no longer need to take pre-flight COVID-19 tests (no PCR test, no RAT test).

There is also no need for any tests when traveling from Macau to the Chinese Mainland.

Inbound and outbound international flights in the week beginning March 6th rose by more than 350% compared with a year earlier, to nearly 2,500 flights, according to Chinese flight tracking data from APP Flight Master.

At present, there are one or two direct flights a week from New York to Shanghai, Los Angeles to Beijing, Seattle to Shanghai, London to Guangzhou, etc.

There are also many flight options with stopovers that are more frequent and affordable. Testing at transit airports is now not required!

The Coronavirus outbreak in China has subsided. China looks like it did in 2019 again. No special measures (like PCR tests or health codes) are required when traveling around China. All attractions are open as normal.

Wearing a mask is not mandatory when traveling. In hotels, masks are off for the most part. But in some crowded places, such as airports or subway stations, many people still wear masks.

Weather-wise, the best times to visit China are spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October), when most of the popular places have their most tourism-friendly weather, except for the "golden weeks" — the first week of May and of October — when most attractions are flooded with Chinese tourists.

If you are looking for smaller crowds, favorable prices, and still good weather, you should consider March and April or September.

Tourism in cultural and historical destinations like Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an is hardly affected by weather conditions. They are suitable to be visited all year round.

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Tour China with Us

We've been building our team for over 20 years. Even over the past three years we have continued, serving over 10,000 expats with China tours and getting a lot of praise (see TripAdvisor ).

We are based in China and can show you the characteristics and charm of China from a unique perspective. Just contact us to create your China trip .

Our consultants will listen to and answer your inquiries carefully and prepare the best plan for you.

• 8-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai Highlights Tour — the classic Golden Triangle
• 11-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Guilin–Shanghai — our top itinerary for families
• 2-Week Beijing – Xi'an – Chengdu – Yangtze Cruise – Shanghai Tour — the best choice for panda fans

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Simplify Your China Visa Application Process with These Tips

Let’s discuss getting a China visa , the document needed to enter China. Chinese authorities have resumed issuing all types of visas, including for tourism, starting from March 15, 2023. This is terrific news! China is a tourist’s delight with its rich history, fascinating culture and stunning natural landscapes.

Think of the ancient cities of Xi’an and Beijing, famous historical landmarks such as the exquisite Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army, the picturesque Yellow Mountains and the crystal clear Li River in Guilin.  With so much to do, see and eat, the world’s third-largest country offers an unforgettable travel experience for everyone.

Getting a China tourist visa is a relatively straightforward process. First, however, you must meet the requirements and procedures requiring preparation.  This article looks at the China visa application process and the China visa requirements.

Applying for a China Visa: Consider using a travel agent

Travellers wishing to visit China must obtain the type ‘L’ visa . This visa is for those who plan to engage in tourism, sightseeing, and visiting friends and relatives. A single entry L visa usually allows you to stay in China for up to 30 days . However, it is also possible to apply for a multiple-entry L visa if you are going to China by cruise and must enter and exit the vast country multiple times. This multiple-entry visa is valid for up to three months. The cruise company must provide you with an itinerary certificate for various entries to apply for this visa.

You can use a travel agent to help you with the China visa submission process. The Chinese authorities do not require this, but a travel agent can help you with the visa application process. The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) allows travel agents to assist travellers with this process effective March 20, 23.

However, all visa applicants must go in person to provide their fingers prints. During this period, your passport and documents will also be handed over to the CVASC. Fees for this visa are also paid here.

Note that an appointment must be made in advance.  On the appointed date, you must present the Visa Appointment Confirmation Form or the screenshot of the appointment information when you arrive at the Visa Centre. You will then be given a queue number on a first-come-first-served basis. In addition, all ten fingerprints will be collected.

How a travel agent can assist in the China visa application process:

• Pre-check documents for submission to CVASC
• Fix an appointment for the applicant’s biometric registration
• Go with the application at the biometric appointment
• Collect passport and visa, once approved, if appointed by the applicant.
• It is also possible that the agent will deliver the passport to you. Do check if this service is provided.

Applying for a China Visa: Documents Required

The Chinese authorities require several documents in the visa application process. This information is relevant as of early May 2023. Make sure to visit the CVASC website for the latest requirements. Getting all the necessary documents is usually the most challenging part for those applying for a China visa. But, as mentioned,  a good travel agent can help you.

First, let’s look at the basic China visa requirements:

• Passport with at least six months validity and at least two blank pages for the visa
• Photocopy of your passport data page, observation page and photo page, if separate. (Passport observation pages are printed, stamped or handwritten notes added to some passports to show important information about the passport or the holder).
• Complete the visa application form filled out online .  Please print the completed online form. (This is a total of eight pages. Double-sided printing is recommended). Remember to sign on the confirmation page.
• Two recent colour photos captured within six months against a white background (Size: High: 48mm x Width: 33mm). Chinese authorities are very particular with photos, so please go here to check that your photo has fulfilled all the technical requirements.
• Photocopy of previous China visa and China stamp (if any)
• Photocopy of your Malaysia visa and latest Malaysia entry stamp if you are not a Malaysian citizen.

So that you know, additional documents may be requested upon assessment. CVASC has also stated that they may request personal information to process your visa. This can include family information such as marital status, spouse name or immediate family members. They may also ask for occupation details, including income range, job titles, employer contact information and travel-related information such as previous trips, itinerary, expected date of entry, and the particulars of your inviter in China (refer below).

Additional documents needed to apply for a China visa

You must also submit your itinerary materials, such as round-trip air ticket orders and hotel bookings under the applicant’s name or an Invitation Letter issued by an organisation or individual in China. This invitation letter should contain the following:

(a) Information of the applicant (including full name, gender, date of birth, etc.); (b) Details of the planned visit (include arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, accommodation arrangements, etc.); (c) Information of the inviter (include the name of the organisation or person concerned, contact telephone number, address, the official stamp of the organisation and signature of the legal representative or individual).

The invitation letter can be a fax, a photocopy or a computer printout. However, you may be asked to submit the original of the invitation letter. In addition, if the issuer of this letter is an individual in China, they must provide a photocopy of their Chinese ID (both front and back). You may also be asked to provide other documents from the list above or to go for an interview.

For applicants under 18, the following documents are also required apart from the current documents—their parents’ or guardians’ passport information page. For non-passport holders, provide a photocopy of their Malaysian identification card and marriage certificate shall be provided. In addition, a photocopy of the applicant’s birth certificate is also requested.

Applying for a China Visa: Things to remember

Applicants must go in person to register their ten fingerprints. Exceptions are given to applicants under 14 years old or over 70 years old; those who hold diplomatic passports or those who meet the requirements for issuing diplomatic, service, and courtesy visas and those who have applied for a visa with the same passport at the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia or the CVASC in the past five years.

It would be best for you to apply for your China visa about 30 days before your intended date of entry into China, but not earlier than three months . If you apply for a visa too early, the visa might be expired before you arrive in China. However, I’d like to point out that appointments for biometric registration fill up fast, and you may need to book this a month or more in advance. The best practice is to have all your documents before making this appointment. Additionally, the Chinese embassy takes longer than expected to process your visa application, or you may be asked to provide more documents or go for an interview.

The date for collecting your passport, and China visa, is shown on the pick-up form issued to you on the day of application. Therefore, please come to the CVSAC to collect your passport with the pick-up form on time. As mentioned earlier, you can also appoint a travel agent to do this for you. In addition, the CVSAC provides a 24-hour online facility to track the status of your application. You can click  here  to track your application status. Cancellation requests usually are not accepted, but if you decide to withdraw your application, all fees paid will not be refunded.

The Shanghai 15-day visa-free policy for cruise tour groups has resumed since March 15, 2023. This policy enables cruise tour groups worldwide to visit Shanghai and other Chinese coastal provinces for up to 15 days. Tourist groups must enter and exit Shanghai by the same cruise ship. Upon arrival, a local Chinese travel agency receiving the tourists will handle the official paperwork.

China Travel: New Attractions

A lot has happened in China over the last few years regarding tourist attractions. Here are some places that have attracted global attention.

The Grand Canal

This is the world’s longest human-made river and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This river runs from Beijing in the north to Hangzhou in the south and connects to multiple waterways, including the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. Cangzhou, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Beijing, has upgraded the tourist offerings along its section of the canal and currently features 15 cruise ships, 12 tourist piers and six new bridges.

Jiangsu Garden Expo Park

Jiangsu province is known for exquisitely designed Chinese gardens that date back more than 2,000 years.  In 2021, Nanjing, the province’s capital city, transformed an abandoned quarry into the Jiangsu Garden Expo Park.  This 3.45-square-kilometre space is home to beautiful, classic Jiangsu-style gardens and other attractions, including a water botanical garden, a theatre and a shopping street. Suzhou Garden is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site in nearby Suzhou.

Universal Beijing Resort

Universal Beijing Resort is the world’s fifth-largest Universal Studios theme park. There are several themed lands such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter; Transformers Metrobase; Hollywood; WaterWorld; Minion Land; Jurassic World Isla Nubla; and King Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness. It also has the world’s first Universal-themed accommodation – the Universal Studios Grand Hotel – and NUO Resort Hotel, a Qing Dynasty-themed resort hotel.

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Mutual 30-day visa-free scheme fuels further interest in Singapore-China travel

SINGAPORE – Tour agencies, travel booking websites and airlines are seeing rising interest in travel between Singapore and China, after it was announced on Jan 25 that both countries will start their mutual 30-day visa-free arrangement on Feb 9.

The agreement will allow citizens of Singapore and China to enter each other’s country without a visa, for a stay of up to 30 days.

This comes just months after China reinstated a 15-day visa-free policy for Singaporeans, following a suspension of more than three years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move in July 2023 had led to a rise in demand for travel packages to China, some travel agencies told The Straits Times. The upcoming mutual visa-free scheme has fuelled further interest, they added.

Mr Sherwin Seow, marketing director at ASA Holidays, noted an increase of more than 200 per cent in China tour sign-ups between April 2023 – when China began accepting foreign tourists – and January 2024.

After the announcement of the mutual visa-free agreement, his agency received 30 per cent more inquiries for trips to China within days.

EU Holidays director Ong Han Jie said his agency has been receiving more inquiries from its Chinese counterparts on tour and transport arrangements in Singapore for travellers from China. Since the Jan 25 announcement, it has received up to three inquiries daily, compared with one every four or five days before that, he added.

Most of its China tours last seven or eight days, and there are no plans to organise trips beyond 15 days, according to Mr Ong.

Mr Jeremiah Wong, senior marketing communications manager at Chan Brothers Travel, said bookings have doubled quarter on quarter since April 2023.

The agency saw a 15 per cent increase in weekly bookings throughout January 2024, he added. Most of its China package tours are shorter than 15 days. 

With the new 30-day visa-free arrangement, Mr Wong said the agency may offer more thematic holidays, such as its slow-travel series for older travellers, which span 14 to 21 days.

Nam Ho Travel saw an increase of 50 per cent in the number of Singaporeans joining China tour packages between July and December 2023, compared with the same period in 2019. 

The agencies noted that the new visa-free scheme may encourage more Chinese travellers to visit Singapore, more so than the other way around. 

Right now, Chinese ordinary passport holders have to apply for a visa to enter Singapore, while Singaporeans can visit China for up to 15 days without a visa.

While tourist arrivals from China have not bounced back to numbers chalked up before the pandemic, the Singapore Tourism Board is bullish about the rebound .

Pre-pandemic, China was Singapore’s top source of tourists, hitting a peak of 3.6 million arrivals in 2019. In 2023, China accounted for 1.4 million visitors.

Airlines such as low-cost carrier Jetstar Asia also told ST they saw greater interest in their routes to and from China after the mutual visa-free scheme was announced.

Jetstar Asia said it may consider increasing flight frequency and exploring new direct routes to help meet customers’ needs.

SIA Group, which includes Singapore Airlines (SIA) and budget carrier Scoot, said it continues to see strong demand for services to and from China, but it was unable to disclose specific figures, citing commercial sensitivities.

Booking sites have also reported a surge in site traffic since the Jan 25 announcement.

A Klook spokesperson said the online travel platform saw a 40 per cent increase in page visits from users in China searching for Singapore activities that day, compared with Jan 24, while page visits from users in Singapore looking for activities in China rose 16 per cent.

Data from the Singapore Department of Statistics website showed that there were nearly four million passengers travelling between Singapore and China in 2023, which was 54.2 per cent of the 7.3 million in 2019.

China was Changi Airport’s second-biggest market by passenger traffic in 2019. In 2023, it came in sixth.

Seat capacity on flights between the two countries has rebounded to 99 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels, according to figures from aviation data consultancy OAG.

In January 2024, the top five Chinese cities by seat capacity for passengers travelling between China and Singapore are Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Xiamen and Hangzhou, based on OAG data.

Connectivity, culture and cheaper fares

Singaporeans like research associate Melissa Ng welcomed the 30-day visa-free scheme. The 29-year-old said she would be open to working remotely from Shanghai for an extended period, if her company allows it.

Freelance project manager Tan Shi Hui, 31, visited seven Chinese cities, including Xi’an and Shanghai, in November 2023. Two weeks later, she explored Yunnan province and stayed for a month. She had applied for a visa before China reinstated the 15-day visa-free scheme, and it allowed her to make two trips over six months, each lasting up to 30 days.

Ms Tan said the 30-day visa-free agreement would give travellers more time to explore different cities, let them save on visa application fees, and be more cost-effective on the whole.

Others like financial consultant Ian Jeevan Prasad Arumugam, however, said they would not travel to China for more than 15 days because of the language barrier.

While the 27-year-old thought his trip to Haikou in Hainan province in July 2023 was “eye-opening”, he found it a bit tricky getting around the city as ride-hailing and mobile payment apps require users to understand Chinese.

Chinese investor Karbo Ma said the visa-free agreement would make travelling to Singapore easier.

“Now, I can fly to Singapore whenever I want to, without having to wait for a visa,” said Ms Ma, 27, who intends to come here for travel and work once a month.

But even before the mutual visa-free arrangement starts, more Singaporeans were already looking to China as a leisure travel destination.

This was driven by the increased flight connectivity and greater interest in Chinese culture and attractions.

IT project manager Vincent Oh, 37, flew to Wuxi city in January because it was a convenient landing point for him and his friends to visit nearby sights in Jiangsu province.

Mr Oh spent 10 days going around Jiangsu, of which 1½ days were spent in Wuxi.

The air link between Singapore and Wuxi, which Jetstar Asia reinstated in December 2023, is the first direct service between both cities since Scoot suspended this connection in February 2020.

Consultant Justina Tay, 24, booked her first trip to China in May 2023. She had chanced upon cheap tickets to Nanning city in April 2023 and booked a six-day trip.

Ms Tay, who enjoys Chinese cuisine, later booked another trip to Chongqing municipality in November 2023, as she found Chinese cities modern and budget-friendly.

Mr Wong of Chan Brothers Travel said the agency has seen the number of Singaporean travellers in their 20s and 30s joining its China tours rise by 20 per cent, compared with pre-pandemic.

Teacher Joshua Tan, 25, picked Guangzhou for his post-graduation trip in May 2023. He said he relished the ease of travelling between different Chinese cities.

He also booked a 14-day solo trip in October 2023, after hearing about the 15-day visa-free travel arrangement.

“I was able to travel farther and explore more,” said Mr Tan, who visited Hunan and Sichuan provinces.

Assistant Professor Kiattipoom Kiatkawsin, who specialises in hospitality and tourism management at the Singapore Institute of Technology, said social media platforms such as TikTok could have piqued the interest of young Singaporeans in travel destinations such as China.

“Since China is not among most Singaporeans’ first overseas choices, seasoned travellers might come to the point where they are willing to explore lesser-known destinations after having visited many of the popular places,” he said.

Mr Mayur Patel, head of Asia at OAG, said more Chinese may travel abroad in 2024 to Asian destinations for short stays due to potential bright spots in China’s financial outlook and visa waivers offered by South-east Asian countries such as Thailand and Singapore.

However, when it comes to Singaporeans, 2024 may not be the same as the previous two years due to weakening global economic conditions and the waning of revenge travel. This is especially for Singapore as it was one of the earliest markets to reopen, and pent-up demand is now slowly disappearing, he added.

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Trending Topics

Follow our news, recent searches, singapore's visa-free agreement with china may push inbound travel closer to pre-pandemic levels, advertisement.

According to online booking platform Trip.com, searches for flight tickets increased by 90 per cent in the hour after the visa exemption agreement between Singapore and China was announced.

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Ang Hwee Min

SINGAPORE: The number of Chinese travellers entering Singapore looks set to increase after the mutual 30-day visa-free travel agreement between both countries  kicks in, pushing inbound travel volume closer to pre-pandemic levels.

This agreement was unveiled by both countries at the 19th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) meeting on Dec 7. Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said this would provide "greater convenience" and that Singapore hopes to even go beyond pre-pandemic levels in terms of direct flight connectivity. 

Singapore and China are working out the operational details, aiming to implement the scheme in early 2024.   

Director of business development at Hong Thai Travel Jasmine Li said bookings from inbound Chinese visitors are at an average of 60 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.   

During the peak season between July and August, the travel agency saw bookings return to 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. The figure dropped to about 30 per cent in November, she shared. 

The visa exemption agreement will increase the number of individual and small family group travellers, and the tour agency is expecting a 10 per cent increase in bookings, said Ms Li.   

It plans to design packages catering to small family group travellers to meet this demand. But for a return to pre-pandemic levels, more effort is needed across the tourism industry and this will take some time, she added.

According to figures from the Singapore Tourism Board, tourist arrivals in Singapore from China are climbing back up to pre-pandemic levels. In July, the number of visitors from China passed the 200,000 mark for the first time since January 2020. 

Singapore, China to set up mutual 30-day visa-free travel, enhancing 'people-to-people exchanges'

Tour agencies turn to social media, Singapore’s hidden gems to woo Chinese tourists

Managing director of Oriental Travel Stanley Foo told CNA that the agency has been badly affected by the drop in Chinese visitors. It saw a 50 per cent decrease in bookings from Chinese visitors, compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This group used to make up about 30 to 40 per cent of the tour agency’s bookings, but the figure now stands at less than 10 per cent, he added. 

“I don’t really see them anymore, except for business travellers. The group travellers have really reduced dramatically,” said Mr Foo. 

“Pre-pandemic, tourists from China are the top three visitors coming to Singapore. So it’s definitely affecting the tourism industry in Singapore badly, without them. We need their money.” 

In the hour after the announcement of the visa exemption agreement, online travel booking platform Trip.com saw an 80 per cent increase in the search volume for deals in Singapore, said Ms Ru Yi, the company’s general manager for Singapore. 

Searches for flight tickets and hotels also increased by 90 per cent and 50 per cent respectively, she added, noting that from January to October, 1.13 million Chinese tourists arrived in Singapore, making China the second-largest source of inbound visitors to Singapore. 

Tour agencies and industry experts pointed to several factors as to why visitor numbers have yet to completely rebound. 

Malaysia and Thailand also recently granted Chinese tourists visa-free access, and this new agreement will make Singapore more competitive on this front, said Ngee Ann Polytechnic senior lecturer in tourism Michael Chiam. 

“The rate of recovery for Chinese arrivals depends on many factors, and they include foreign currency exchange rate and the rate of economic recovery of the Chinese market. Visa-free arrangements is just one of them,” he added. 

Mr Foo also pointed to the stiff competition from Singapore’s neighbours, noting that spending a night in Singapore could be equivalent to spending three nights in Malaysia or Thailand. 

“The prices of hotels went up dramatically, and this will affect a certain group of visitors,” he added, noting that the price increase was about 20 per cent across the board. 

Singapore to work with China on increasing direct flights, as mutual visa-free travel set to kick in

Thailand seeks more Chinese tourists but concerns over safety are hampering efforts

The frequency of flights between Singapore and China is currently at about 60 to 70 per cent of pre-COVID levels, said Ms Li. 

Singapore Airlines declined to disclose specific figures on demand for flights between Singapore and China due to “commercial sensitivities”. 

China is an important market for the SIA Group, which comprises Singapore Airlines and Scoot, said its spokesperson. 

As of December, the SIA Group serves 23 destinations in China, compared to its 25 destinations before the pandemic, they said. 

There are 150 passenger flights to and from China each week, with Singapore Airlines operating 70 and Scoot operating 80. This is an overall increase from about 132 flights in July, where the two airlines operated 49 and 83 flights respectively.

President of the Singapore Hotel Association Kenneth Li said it was "too early to speculate" on the impact of the visa exemption agreement. 

But hotels can expect to welcome more Chinese guests once the hassle of visa applications and planning lead time is removed, he continued. 

" Without a doubt, this is an important source market for all tourism players in Singapore," said Mr Li.  

Research from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on China’s outbound tourism in 2023 showed that the country’s travellers tended towards revenge travel, with a “resilient eagerness” to go overseas, said Associate Professor Deng Xin with the university’s business school. 

The visa exemption agreement will eliminate the hassle of visa applications, she added. “I anticipate that the numbers will eventually reach or surpass pre-pandemic levels, although it might take some time.” 

Southeast Asia is China’s top outbound destination, she added. 

“Chinese travellers rank destination safety, unique scenery and being friendly to the Chinese as the top three destination considerations. They long to travel abroad, yet also want to feel at home when travelling in terms of the language and payment choices. Singapore meets all the criteria."

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China’s Visa-Free Policies: Latest Updates

China offers multiple visa-free travel policies to foreigners, enabling people from a wide range of countries to visit China on a short-term basis. In this article, we provide an overview of all of the China visa-free travel policies currently available and explain who is eligible to enjoy them.

UPDATE (August 7, 2024): On July 20, 2024, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) officially announced the implementation of a 144-hour visa-free policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao entering Hainan ,  effective from July 30, 2024. This policy aims to attract more international tourists to Hainan, enhance its global reputation and tourism competitiveness, and strengthen economic and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong, Macao, and Hainan. Read more here . 

UPDATE (August 2, 2024): On July 18, the Beijing Port Visa Office released a guideline on how inbound travelers can apply for a “port visa” (similar to a “visa on arrival”). Travelers facing emergencies can apply via email to [email protected] to receive a ‘Pre-Acceptance Receipt’ to board flights to China. After arrival, they must complete the visa application process at 24/7 Port Visa Offices in Beijing airports and obtain relevant types of visas based on their purpose of visit, with an allowed stay period of up to 30 days. 

UPDATE (July 15, 2024): The National Immigration Administration (NIA) has expanded China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy to 37 ports as of July 15, 2024. Zhengzhou aviation port in Henan now offers this policy, with the stay limited to the administrative region of Henan Province. The stay range of Yunnan Province’s policy has been expanded from Kunming to eight other cities (prefecture-level) including Lijiang, Yuxi, Pu’er, Chuxiong, Dali, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, and Wenshan. Additionally, Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport, and Mohan Railway Port have been added as ports applicable to the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. Read more here .

UPDATES (June 25, 2024) : Chinese President Xi Jinping and Polish President Andrzej Duda met in Beijing on June 24, 2024, to discuss enhancing cooperation between China and Poland. During the meeting President Xi also announced that China will remove the visa requirement for Polish citizens, allowing them to enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 15 days.

UPDATES (June 17, 2024) : Chinese Premier Li Qiang said that China will include Australia and New Zealand in the list of unilateral visa-free countries (up to 15 days). Li made the remarks separately during a joint press meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and during talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. 

UPDATES (May 15, 2024) : China’s National Immigration Administration announced that it will grant a visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups to enter China by cruise at all cruise ports along the coast of China, starting from May 15, 2024. The tourist group must remain with the same cruise ship until its next port of call and stay within permitted areas for no more than 15 days.

UPDATES (March 7, 2024) : According to official news, China will expand its unilateral visa-free travel policy to six additional European countries including Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg, during the period from March 14 to November 30, 2024. Ordinary passport holders from the above countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days. 

UPDATE (February 18, 2024):  On February 9, 2024, China’s National Immigration Administration announced the expansion of the 30-day visa-free travel policy to the province of Hainan – to include more allowed purposes of entry. The expanded entry purposes for the Hainan visa-free policy include for business, visiting, family reunions, medical treatment, exhibitions, and sports competitions. However, work and study purposes are excluded from this arrangement.

UPDATE (January 25, 2024): China and Singapore  have officially agreed  to implement a visa-free entry policy for their citizens, allowing stays of up to 30 days. Starting from February 9, individuals holding ordinary passports and traveling for tourism, family visits, or business purposes will benefit from this new agreement. The agreement, signed in Beijing, marks a significant step in creating closer ties between the two nations and facilitating smoother travel for their citizens.

UPDATE (January 8, 2024): China and Thailand have agreed to a permanent visa-free policy starting March 2024, fostering diplomatic relations and stimulating economic activity in their respective tourism sectors. Click here  for more information regarding this mutual free-visa agreement between China and Thailand.

UPDATE (December 8, 2023): On December 8, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the Notice on Temporary Reduction of Fees for Applying Visa to China . According to this notice, during the period from December 11, 2023, to December 31, 2024, China shall cut visa fees by 25 percent across the board for foreign travelers. For more details, please consult with your local Chinese embassy or consulate.

UPDATE (December 7, 2023): China and Singapore are seeking to establish a mutual 30-day visa-free travel arrangement to boost people exchanges between the two countries, according to  Reuters . At the time of writing, no further details have been released regarding the timeline or the eligibility, requirement, and application procedures of this new arrangement. Click here for more information regarding this mutual 30-day visa-free travel between China and Singapore. 

UPDATES (November 24, 2023) : According to the official announcement on the website of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China will grant unilateral visa-free travel for holders of ordinary passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, during the period from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024. Holders of ordinary passports from the above countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days. Click here for more information on this new 15-day visa-free travel/transit policy granted to citizens of five European nations and Malaysia.

UPDATES (November 17, 2023) : According to an official announcement from the China National Immigration Administration (NIA), China has added Norway to the list of applicable countries that qualify for the 72/144-hour visa-free transit on arrival. Starting from November 17, 2023, Norwegian citizens will be able to enjoy the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy offered in 23 Chinese cities, covering 20 cities and 29 entry and exit ports. Click here for more information related to the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy.

After almost three years, China has finally reopened its borders to international travelers and tourists, and in March 2023, it resumed issuing all types of visas to foreigners . This means China has begun permitting people with valid travel documents that allow visa-free entry back into the country and has once again started issuing its short-stay entry permits that are available on arrival for citizens of certain countries.  

Below we provide an overview of all the visa-free options that are currently available for people traveling to China, and who is eligible to enjoy these policies.  

Countries with mutual visa exemption agreements with China  

China has also signed agreements on mutual visa exemption with over 150 countries, which enables certain citizens to travel to China without a visa. However, for the majority of countries, visa-free arrangements apply only to diplomatic or official passports.

A few countries do enable visa-free travel to China for citizens holding ordinary passports. Citizens from these countries are allowed to travel to China without a visa for up to 30 days for the purposes of tourism, travel, business, and visiting family or friends.  

These countries are:  

• The Bahamas  
• Bosnia and Herzegovina  
• The Maldives  
• Mauritius  
• San Marino  
• Seychelles  
• The United Arab Emirates  

Citizens from the above countries will still need to apply for a corresponding visa to China if they intend to work, study, or settle in China, or intend to stay for longer than 30 days.  

Countries with 30-day visa-free travel to China

China and Singapore have officially agreed  to implement a visa-free entry policy for their citizens, allowing stays of up to 30 days.

Starting from February 9, 2024, individuals holding ordinary passports and traveling for tourism, family visits, or business purposes will benefit from this new agreement. The agreement, signed in Beijing, marks a significant step in creating closer ties between the two nations and facilitating smoother travel for their citizens.

Countries with 15-day visa-free travel to China 

China offers 15-day visa-free travel to multiple countries, including:

• The Netherlands
• Switzerland
• New Zealand

To note, citizens from these countries would previously also have had to apply for a visa in advance if they:  

• Expect to stay in China for more than 15 days; or
• Intend to study, work, settle down, or attend an interview in China.

In the past, citizens with a valid ordinary passport from Japan, Brunei, and Singapore have been permitted to travel to China for a period of up to 15 days without applying for a visa for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting to a third country. However, this policy was suspended since the end of COVID-19 restrictions in China. On July 26, 2023, the 15-day visa-free travel to China policy was resumed for citizens of Brunei and Singapore, the latter of which has been upgraded to a 30-day visa-free travel since February 2024, as introduced earlier.

Most countries recently included in China’s 15-day visa-free travel initiative in 2023 and 2024 can take advantage of this policy until  November 30, 2024 . It remains uncertain whether China will prolong this deadline.

Additionally, as of now, the resumption date of this policy for Japanese citizens has not been announced. Consequently, Japanese nationals are required to obtain a tourist, business, or other types of visa for entry into China at present.

24/72/144-hour China visa-free transit  

China allows eligible travelers from certain countries to enter and stay in certain areas of China for 24, 72, and 144-hour periods without prior application for a visa when transiting to a third country.  

Note that people are excluded from this policy if they are:  

• Not permitted to enter the country as stipulated by laws and administrative regulations (such as people who have been subject to sanctions or travel bans);  
• Hold a passport or other international travel document that is valid for less than three months upon the time of arrival, or which has a refusal stamp from a Chinese visa issuing agency;  
• Have records of illegal entry and exit, illegal residence, and illegal employment in China in the last five years; and/or
• Have violated accommodation registration regulations in the last two years and the circumstances are deemed serious.  

144-hour visa-free transit  

Under the 144-hour visa-free transit policy , foreign travelers can apply for a six-day entry permit to certain Chinese cities upon arrival at the port of entry, provided they hold a passport from one of the 54 eligible countries. They also must show that they are traveling to a third country after leaving China, which means they must show a connecting ticket to a third country when arriving in China. This is a great option for people who want to make a short stop-over to explore various areas of the country.  

The 54 countries are:  

• 25 countries in the Europe Schengen area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.  
• 15 other countries in Europe: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, and Belarus.   
• Six countries in the Americas: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.   
• Two countries in Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.   
• Six countries in Asia: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.  

Eligible travelers can only apply for the 144-hour visa-free transit if they enter through one of the 37 designated ports. In addition, travelers are only allowed to travel within a certain area on the entry permit and exit the country through designated ports as well. People who travel outside the permitted area and exit the country through a non-designated port may face certain penalties.  

For more information on eligibility requirements, permitted ports of entry and exit, and permitted scope of travel, see our dedicated article: 144-hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreigners .  

72-hour visa-free transit  

Travelers from the 54 countries that are eligible for the 144-hour entry permit are also eligible for the 72-hour visa-free policy . However, there are currently only three entry ports in China that offer 72-hour visa-free entry, as the majority of ports that previously offered it now offer the 144-hour permit instead. The ports are Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, Harbin Taiping International Airport, and Changsha Huanghua International Airport.

Travelers who enter through Guiling and Harbin are only allowed to travel within the scope of the cities themselves, whereas travelers who enter through Changsha are permitted to travel within the whole of Hunan Province.  

All the same requirements and restrictions for the 144-hour entry permit apply to the 72-hour entry permit.  

24-hour visa-free transit  

All international travelers (except those exempted due to special circumstances ) that are transiting through China are permitted to apply for a 24-hour visa-free entry permit upon arrival. As with the other two visa-free transit policies, travelers must provide a connecting ticket to a third country. They are not permitted to leave the city in which they arrived during their 24-hour stay and must leave the country within 24 hours.  

China visa-free policies for individual travelers and tour groups

Pearl river delta  .

People from countries that have established diplomatic relations with China and are traveling in a tourist group organized by a travel agency registered in Hong Kong or Macao can travel to the nine mainland Chinese cities of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou) for up to six days (144 hours) without a visa. The same policy also applies to tour groups visiting Shantou in Guangdong Province, as long as their activities do not extend beyond the administrative area of Shantou.  

To be eligible for this policy, the tour group must depart from Hong Kong or Macao.  

Citizens of 59 countries are now eligible for 30 days of visa-free travel to the province of Hainan for purposes s uch as business, visiting, family reunions, medical treatment, exhibitions, sports competitions, and other needs (excluding long-term working and studying). Eligible travelers are free to travel around the whole province of Hainan and can travel from Hong Kong or any other place outside Mainland China with a direct flight to the island.  This visa-free access will count its 30-day duration from 00:00 the day following the entry date.

This policy was previously only applicable to tour groups but was expanded to individual travel as well on March 15, 2023. On February 9, 2024, the 30-day visa-free travel to the province of Hainan was expanded again to include more allowed purposes of entry. 

The 59 eligible countries are Russia, the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Monaco, and Belarus.  

The NIA also introduced a new 144-hour visa-free policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao entering Hainan ,  effective from July 30, 2024. This policy aims to attract more international tourists to Hainan, enhance its global reputation and tourism competitiveness, and strengthen economic and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong, Macao, and Hainan. Key points of the policy are summarized below:

Tour groups consisting of a minimum of two people from the 10 ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines) that are organized and hosted by a travel agency registered and approved by the tourism authority of Guilin, Guangxi Province, can enter and exit through Guilin airport port and stay in Guilin for up to six days (144 hours) without a visa.  

Visa-free travel for tour groups from six countries  

Some of the agreements on mutual visa exemption also enable visa-free travel for tour groups. These countries are Azerbaijan, Belarus , Russia , Georgia, Moldova, and Turkmenistan.  

The requirements for the tour groups differ slightly between the different countries’ agreements and may include having a minimum of five people in the tour group, and in general, the trip can last up to 30 days. There are no limits placed on where the tour group can travel, but the tours must be organized by certain designated agencies.  

Visa-free travel for tour groups on cruise ships

Effective May 15, 2024, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) has officially implemented a  visa-free policy  for foreign tourist groups entering China via cruise ships . This progressive move aims to enhance personnel exchanges and foster cooperation between China and other nations, furthering the country’s commitment to high-level openness.

Under this policy,  foreign tourist groups , comprising  two or more individuals , who travel by cruise ship and are organized by Chinese domestic travel agencies, can now enjoy  visa-free entry  as a cohesive group at cruise ports in  13 cities  along the Chinese coast.

These cities include:

• Dalian (Liaoning)
• Lianyungang (Jiangsu)
• Wenzhou (Zhejiang)
• Zhoushan (Zhejiang)
• Xiamen (Fujian)
• Qingdao (Shandong)
• Guangzhou(Guangdong)
• Shenzhen (Guangdong)
• Beihai (Guangxi)
• Haikou (Hainan)
• Sanya (Hainan)

The tourist group must remain with the same cruise ship until its next port of call and stay within China for no more than 15 days. The eligible areas for this policy are 11 coastal provinces/autonomous regions /municipalities (Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan) and Beijing .

Special cards enabling China visa-free entry  

Apec business travel card holders  .

Holders of a valid Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) can enter China multiple times within the card’s validity period for business purposes for periods of up to 60 days at a time. The ABTC is valid for five years and thus functions as a five-year multi-entry visa.

Only citizens of the 21 APEC member economies are eligible for the ABTC (Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia; Singapore; Taiwan, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam).  

Note that although Canada and the US do offer ABTCs, they only provide fast-track immigration processing and do not offer reciprocal entry arrangements, meaning that ABTC holders from the US and Canada are not eligible to enter China directly without a visa, and vice versa.  

In addition, candidates must engage in regular business travel through the APEC member economies and not hold a criminal record.  

Entry to China with the ABTC was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed on August 24, 2022.  

Permanent residence card holders  

It goes without saying that holders of a Chinese permanent residence card do not need to apply for a visa to travel to China, and can freely leave and enter the country through all passenger ports for work, business, family visits, and travel.  

To be eligible for the permanent residency card, foreigners must meet a relatively high bar of work and liquidity requirements, which vary from region to region. For more information on this topic, see our articles on applying for a permanent residence card in Shanghai , Guangdong , and Beijing .  

Residence permit holders

Foreigners with residence permi ts issued by Chinese public security organs who are in China for work or study are permitted to leave and enter the country as many times as they wish without applying for a visa each time, provided it is during the vali dity period of the residence permit.

Foreigners and foreign journalists who come to China for work or study are required to apply for a residence permit after first entering the country.  

Note that the residence permit will be provided as a sticker in the passport with the word “residence” on it, rather than as a separate residen c e card .  

Q1: Do foreign citizens eligible for visa-free entry to China need to notify Chinese embassies or consulates in advance?

A: Foreign citizens eligible for visa-free entry to China do not need to pre-notify the Chinese embassies or consulates.

Q2: Do Chinese immigration inspection authorities check the purpose of visits before allowing foreign citizens to enter China? Are there additional documents other than a passport required upon entry?

A: Foreign citizens entering China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit purposes who are eligible for visa-free entry, will be allowed to enter China after being checked by the Chinese immigration inspection authorities. For individuals whose purposes of visit do not align with the visa-free entry policy or in categories of entry denial, the Chinese immigration inspection authorities will make entry denial decisions according to relevant laws and regulations. It is encouraged to take necessary supportive documents with you on entering China — invitation letter, flight tickets, hotel reservation confirmation, etc., which will help to verify your purpose of visit. Individuals coming to China for work, study, or journalism purposes do not qualify for the visa-free entry policy.

Q3: Are there special requirements for minors who are eligible for visa-free entry?

A: No special requirements; same as adults.

Q4: Are there certain requirements for the type and validity period for border-entry certificates?

A: Foreign citizens holding ordinary passports should ensure their passport validity covers their stay in China. Travel documents, temporary or emergency document holders do not qualify for the visa-free entry policy.

Q5: How do I interpret the 15-day stay period?

A: Foreign citizens applying for visa-free entry, upon their arrival in China, can stay 15 consecutive natural days, until the 24th hour of the 15th natural day, before leaving China.

Q6: Can foreign citizens applying for the visa-free entry policy depart from countries other than the one(s) of citizenship(s)?

A: Foreign citizens eligible for visa-free entry to China can depart from any country (region) outside of China.

Q7: Does the visa-free entry policy apply to travel methods other than aviation?

A: The visa-free entry policy applies to all open sea, land, and air travel to foreign citizens (except where laws, regulations, or bilateral agreements specify otherwise). If arriving in China by private transportation, relevant procedures for entry and exit of the vehicle should be processed in accordance with certain Chinese laws and regulations.

Q8: Are tour groups eligible for the visa-free entry policy?

A: Foreign citizens eligible for the visa-free entry policy, whether in groups or as individuals, can apply for the visa-free entry policy.

Q9: If the stay in China exceeds 15 days, can an extension be requested?

A: If a foreign citizen intends to stay in China for more than 15 days, they should apply for a visa meeting that purpose in advance at Chinese embassies or consulates. If there are reasonable and justifiable reasons for a stay longer than 15 days after entering China using the visa-free entry policy, an application for a temporary stay permit must be submitted to the Chinese exit & entry administration of the public security departments before the 15-day stay permit expires.

Q10: Are multiple entries allowed? Are there requirements for the duration of entry intervals? Are there limits on the number of visa-free entries or total days of stay limit?

A: Foreign citizens eligible for visa-free entry to China can enter multiple times. Currently, there are no restrictions on the number of visa-free entries or total days of stay limit. It is of vital importance to keep in mind not to be engaged in activities inconsistent with your purpose of entry.

(Source: Chinese embassy in Switzerland)

(This article was first published in November 2023 and was last updated on August 1, 2024.)

China Briefing is one of five regional Asia Briefing publications, supported by Dezan Shira & Associates . For a complimentary subscription to China Briefing’s content products, please click here .

Dezan Shira & Associates assists foreign investors into China and has done so since 1992 through offices in Beijing , Tianjin , Dalian , Qingdao , Shanghai , Hangzhou , Ningbo , Suzhou , Guangzhou , Dongguan , Haikou , Zhongshan , Shenzhen , and Hong Kong . We also have offices in Vietnam , Indonesia , Singapore , United States , Germany , Italy , India , and Dubai (UAE) and partner firms assisting foreign investors in The Philippines , Malaysia , Thailand , Bangladesh , and Australia . For assistance in China, please contact the firm at [email protected] or visit our website at www.dezshira.com .

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Visitor Visa

Visa Waiver Program

Travel Without a Visa

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda

The Visa Waiver Program  (VWP) enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries *  to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Travelers must have a valid  Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)  approval prior to travel and meet all requirements explained below. If you prefer to have a visa in your passport, you may still apply for a visitor (B) visa.

Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015

Under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, travelers in the following categories must obtain a visa prior to traveling to the United States as they are no longer eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):

• Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country).
• Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Cuba on or after January 12, 2021 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country).
• Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.

Requirements for Using the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

You must meet  all  the following requirements to travel to the United States on the VWP:

Travel Purpose Must be Permitted on a Visitor (B) Visa

The following are examples of activities permitted while in the United States on the VWP. In addition, transiting through the United States to other countries is generally permitted for VWP travelers.

• consult with business associates
• attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
• attend short-term training (you may not be paid by any source in the United States with the exception of expenses incidental to your stay)
• negotiate a contract

Learn more about  Business Travel to the United States  (PDF - 362 KB).

• vacation (holiday)
• visit with friends or relatives
• medical treatment
• participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
• participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
• enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)

Learn more about  Visitor Visas - Business and Pleasure  (PDF - 510 KB).

Travel Purposes Not Permitted on Visa Waiver Program – Examples:

• study, for credit
• work as foreign press, radio, film, journalists, or other information media
• permanent residence in the United States

Must Be a Citizen or National of a VWP Designated Country *

You must be a citizen or national of the following countries *  to be eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP.

• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom**

**To be eligible to travel under the VWP, British citizens must have the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.

Each Traveler Must Have a Valid ESTA

In order to travel without a visa on the VWP, you must have valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to boarding a U.S. bound air or sea carrier. ESTA is a web-based system operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to determine eligibility to travel to the United States for tourism or business under the VWP. Visit the  ESTA webpage  on the CBP website for more information.

Updating Your ESTA

In most cases, your ESTA will be valid for two years.  You also must obtain a new ESTA if you: (1) receive a new passport, including an emergency or temporary passport; (2) change your name; (3) change your gender; (4) change your country of citizenship; or (5) need to change your responses to any of the “yes” or “no” questions on the ESTA application.

These individuals can apply for visas using regular appointment processes at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Consular sections overseas may be able to expedite your interview date if there is an urgent, unforseen situation such as a funeral, medical emergency, or school start date. For more information, please visit the website of the Embassy or Consulate Visa Section where you will interview.

If an individual who is exempt from the Act because of his or her diplomatic or military presence in one of the seven countries is denied ESTA, he or she may go to the  CBP website , or contact the  CBP information Center . The traveler may also apply for a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection strongly recommends that any traveler to the United States check his or her  ESTA status  prior to making any travel reservations or travelling to the United States. More information is available on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website . 

Have the Correct Type of Passport

You must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your planned departure from the United States (unless exempted by  country-specific agreements ). For families, each member of your family, including infants and children, must have a passport. 

In addition, you must have an e-passport to use the VWP. An e-passport is an enhanced secure passport with an embedded electronic chip. The chip can be scanned to match the identity of the traveler to the passport. E-Passports must be in compliance with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). You can readily identify an e-passport, by a symbol on the cover. See the example below. More information about e-passports is available on the DHS website .

Emergency and Temporary Passports

If you use an   emergency or temporary passport to enter the United States on the VWP, the passport must be an e-passport. This includes VWP travelers who are transiting the United States. 

More information on frequently asked questions about VWP can be found at the following websites:

• DHS Visa Waiver Program Requirements
• CBP Visa Waiver Program

May I apply for a visa instead of using the VWP?

Yes, you may apply for a visitor (B) visa if you prefer to do so or if you are not eligible for VWP travel. Additionally, you need to apply for a visa if you will be traveling on a private aircraft or other non-VWP approved air or sea carrier. Review the  approved carriers list . Also, if you intend to stay longer than 90 days, then you need to apply for a visa. 

I was denied a visa under section 214(b). May I use the VWP?

A recent visa refusal for any reason could result in denial of ESTA authorization, additional review at the port of entry, or denial of admission to the United States. If you are uncertain if you qualify for VWP travel, you may apply for a visa.

Trips to Canada, Mexico, or nearby islands

If you are admitted to the United States under the VWP, you may take a short trip to Canada, Mexico, or a nearby island and generally be readmitted to the United States under the VWP for the remainder of the original 90 days granted upon your initial arrival in the United States. Therefore, the length of time of your total stay, including the short trip, must be 90 days or less. See the  CBP website . Citizens of VWP countries *  who reside in Mexico, Canada, or a nearby island are generally exempted from the requirement to show onward travel to another country *  when entering the United States. Learn more on the  CBP website .

How can a country* join the VWP?

A country *  must meet various requirements to be considered for designation in the Visa Waiver Program. Requirements include, but are not limited to:

• enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States;
• issuing e-passports;
• having a visitor (B) visa refusal rate of less than three percent (for initial designation);
• timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports; and
• maintenance of high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards.

Designation as a VWP country *  is at the discretion of the U.S. government. Meeting the objective requirements of the VWP does not guarantee a country *  will receive VWP designation.

Entering the United States

An approved ESTA allows you to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an airport) and request permission to enter the United States, but an approved ESTA does not guarantee entry into the United States. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port-of-entry have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. Learn more on the  CBP website .

Extending your stay

If you enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, you are not permitted to extend your stay in the United States beyond the initial admission period. You must depart the United States on or before the date on your admission stamp when you entered the United States. See Extend Your Stay on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website .

Change of status

If you enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, you are not permitted to change status in the United States. See  Change My Nonimmigrant Status  on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.

What if I am traveling to Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands?

Citizens of Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Kingdom do not need a visa or ESTA to visit both Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands because of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, though they must complete Form I-736 prior to travel.  People's Republic of China Passport holders also do not need a visa if they complete Form I-736 for temporary admission into the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information on the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program,  click here

* With respect to all references to “country” or “countries” on this page, it should be noted that the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Pub. L. No. 96-8, Section 4(b)(1), provides that “[w]henever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with respect to Taiwan.” 22 U.S.C. § 3303(b)(1). Accordingly, all references to “country” or “countries” in the Visa Waiver Program authorizing legislation, Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1187, are read to include Taiwan. This is consistent with the United States’ one-China policy, under which the United States has maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan since 1979.

More Information

A-Z Index Lost/Stolen Travel Documents Border Security/Safety - DHS Customer Service Statement

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China welcomes global visitors with easy visa-free options

Recently, terms like "city不city" (literally meaning "city or not", a playful phrase about urban life) have taken social media by storm, and "China Travel" has become a top trending search, with over 1 billion views.

Since the start of this year, China has rolled out a bunch of new policies that make it easier for foreigners to visit.

For foreigners looking to visit China, there are now several travel options available. Here's a breakdown of what you can do.

Option 1: 24-hour transit visa-free entry

If you are flying to a third country and have a layover in China, you can enjoy a 24-hour visa-free stay. This gives you the chance to explore Shanghai or any other city for a day without needing a visa.

The 24-hour visa-free policy applies to citizens of all countries and is available at all international airports in China.

Foreigners traveling on international flights, ships, or trains, and transiting through China to a third country or region can stay in China for up to 24 hours without leaving the port of entry. They can complete the transit procedure with a valid passport and a confirmed onward ticket, without needing a Chinese visa.

For those who need to enter the country temporarily due to transit through multiple ports, they must apply to the border inspection authorities for a 24-hour temporary entry permit.

Option 2: 72- /144-hour transit visa-free entry

If your layover is longer, you can also obtain a temporary entry permit with your connecting flight ticket and enjoy 72-hour or 144-hour transit visa-free entry. This policy currently applies to citizens of 54 countries:

Europe (40 countries):

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway.

Americas (6 countries):

United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.

Oceania (2 countries):

Australia, New Zealand.

Asia (6 countries):

South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.

Currently, China offers the 144-hour transit visa-free policy in multiple cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi'an, Kunming, and 10 other cities. Additionally, Changsha, Harbin, and Guilin have implemented a 72-hour transit visa-free policy.

Shanghai offers countless must-visit spots and a comfortable lifestyle.

Option 3: Unilateral visa exemption

A unilateral visa exemption allows citizens of one country or region to enter another without needing a visa, without requiring reciprocal visa-free entry for citizens of the other country.

China currently offers unilateral visa exemptions to citizens of 16 countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Brunei, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia, New Zealand, and Poland.

For example, this year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, and China has granted unilateral visa exemption to French citizens. French passport holders can enter Shanghai without a visa and stay for up to 15 days.

Option 4: Port visa

China's port visa is similar to the "visa on arrival" offered by other countries. The term "port visa" refers to a method of visa application, rather than denoting a specific visa category such as "business" or "tourist."

Foreigners holding ordinary passports with an urgent need to enter China but insufficient time to apply for a visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate may apply for a port visa for entry. It is advisable to submit the application in advance to the port visa authorities.

The port visa allows a stay for up to 30 days and permits a single entry.

Foreign travelers are assisted with customs procedures at the immigration hall of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.

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