Complete Guide for Foreigners Entering China in 2025 (Must-Read!)
2025-04-17
Attention foreign friends! As China continues to expand visa-free entry for more countries, including 144-hour or 30-day visa-free policies, an increasing number of foreigners are choosing to enter China for tourism, work, or family visits. To help you better understand the latest entry requirements, here’s a comprehensive guide!
1. Abolishment of Visa Appointment System
Chinese embassies and consulates worldwide have abolished the visa appointment system. Applicants can now submit their visa applications directly at Chinese Visa Application Centers without prior appointments!
2. Expanded Visa-Free Access
China offers unilateral visa-free entry and mutual visa exemptions for nationals of the following countries:
Unilateral visa-free entry: France, Italy, Germany, Brunei, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland (8 countries).
Mutual visa exemptions: UAE, Belarus, Maldives, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Ecuador, Qatar (23 countries).
Special policy: From November 30, 2024, to December 31, 2025, visa-free entry will be trialed for ordinary passport holders from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan.
3. Accommodation Registration for Foreigners
Foreigners must register their accommodation within 24 hours of entering China. Failure to do so may result in warnings, fines, detention, or even deportation.
Hotels with foreigner accommodation qualifications will automatically handle the registration.
If staying with relatives, friends, or in rented accommodations, registration must be completed at the local public security bureau within 24 hours. Many provinces now offer online registration for convenience.
4. Visa Fee Reductions
Some visa centers and embassies will offer visa fee reductions. For details, please check official announcements.
5. Fingerprint Exemptions
The following individuals are exempt from fingerprint collection:
Persons under 14 or over 70 years old.
Those who have applied for a visa with the same passport and provided fingerprints within the past five years.
Individuals with damaged fingerprints.
Applicants for business, tourism, family visits, transit, or crew visas meeting entry requirements.
6. Customs Policies
Health declaration forms are no longer required for all travelers as of November 1, 2023.
Individuals aged 16 or older can carry up to RMB 20,000 in cash. Amounts exceeding USD 5,000 must be declared to customs.
Pre-Entry Checklist for Traveling to China:
Passport: Valid for at least 6 months.
Valid Chinese visa.
Entry card: To be filled out and fingerprints recorded at the foreigner entry counter upon arrival.
Hotel: Printed itinerary and accommodation details.
Local SIM card.
Bank card.
Cash.
Power adapter.
We hope this guide assists foreigners planning to enter China. Have a pleasant journey!
Attention foreign friends! As China continues to expand visa-free entry for more countries, including 144-hour or 30-day visa-free policies, an increasing number of foreigners are choosing to enter China for tourism, work, or family visits. To help you better understand the latest entry requirements, here’s a comprehensive guide!
1. Abolishment of Visa Appointment System
Chinese embassies and consulates worldwide have abolished the visa appointment system. Applicants can now submit their visa applications directly at Chinese Visa Application Centers without prior appointments!
2. Expanded Visa-Free Access
China offers unilateral visa-free entry and mutual visa exemptions for nationals of the following countries:
Unilateral visa-free entry: France, Italy, Germany, Brunei, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland (8 countries).
Mutual visa exemptions: UAE, Belarus, Maldives, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Ecuador, Qatar (23 countries).
Special policy: From November 30, 2024, to December 31, 2025, visa-free entry will be trialed for ordinary passport holders from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan.
3. Accommodation Registration for Foreigners
Foreigners must register their accommodation within 24 hours of entering China. Failure to do so may result in warnings, fines, detention, or even deportation.
Hotels with foreigner accommodation qualifications will automatically handle the registration.
If staying with relatives, friends, or in rented accommodations, registration must be completed at the local public security bureau within 24 hours. Many provinces now offer online registration for convenience.
4. Visa Fee Reductions
Some visa centers and embassies will offer visa fee reductions. For details, please check official announcements.
5. Fingerprint Exemptions
The following individuals are exempt from fingerprint collection:
Persons under 14 or over 70 years old.
Those who have applied for a visa with the same passport and provided fingerprints within the past five years.
Individuals with damaged fingerprints.
Applicants for business, tourism, family visits, transit, or crew visas meeting entry requirements.
6. Customs Policies
Health declaration forms are no longer required for all travelers as of November 1, 2023.
Individuals aged 16 or older can carry up to RMB 20,000 in cash. Amounts exceeding USD 5,000 must be declared to customs.
Pre-Entry Checklist for Traveling to China:
Passport: Valid for at least 6 months.
Valid Chinese visa.
Entry card: To be filled out and fingerprints recorded at the foreigner entry counter upon arrival.
Hotel: Printed itinerary and accommodation details.
Local SIM card.
Bank card.
Cash.
Power adapter.
We hope this guide assists foreigners planning to enter China. Have a pleasant journey!
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