Europe → China 2026
Do EU Citizens Need a Visa for China? 2026 Guide
Most European passports can enter China visa-free for 30 days — but the rules vary by country, port, and route. Check yours in 5 seconds.
Check my passportEurope → China 2026
Most European passports can enter China visa-free for 30 days — but the rules vary by country, port, and route. Check yours in 5 seconds.
Check my passport35
European countries with 30-day visa-free entry
240h
Visa-free transit available for most European passports
3
European countries that still need a tourist visa
Visa & Transit Calculator
We check unilateral visa-free, mutual visa exemption, 240-hour transit, and regional limits for your exact situation.
Policy breakdown
See how different European countries are treated under China's 2026 visa policy.
Citizens of these European countries can enter mainland China without a visa for up to 30 days. Business, tourism, and family visits are generally allowed.
These countries have bilateral agreements. Citizens can enter visa-free, often for 30 or 90 days depending on the agreement.
Citizens of these European countries must apply for a Chinese tourist visa (L visa) before travel. The 240-hour transit policy may still apply for short layovers.
Most European passports can use the 240-hour visa-free transit if the route and port conditions are met.
FAQ
Yes, if you hold a passport from one of 50 countries including the UK, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and many others. Most qualify for up to 30 days visa-free entry.
It allows you to stay in China for up to 10 days without a visa, as long as you are traveling from Country A to Country B via China. You need a confirmed onward ticket and must leave within the time limit.
No. The 240 hours start from midnight on the day AFTER you enter China. This often gives you more time than you think, but double-check your departure flight.
No. For 240-hour transit, your next destination must be a different country than where you came from. A round trip to your origin country does not qualify.
50 countries have visa-free access to China in 2026, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Russia, Canada, and many others. Use our calculator above to check your specific passport.
Yes. The 240-hour visa-free transit allows entry through one eligible port and exit from another eligible port, as long as you leave mainland China within 240 hours and your route is A → China → B (different countries).
Usually not, if you stay in the international transit area of the airport and do not pass immigration. If you want to leave the airport or enter mainland China, you must either qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit or have a valid Chinese visa.
No, US citizens need a Chinese tourist visa (L visa) for most visits. However, US passport holders may use the 240-hour visa-free transit if they meet the route, port, and onward-ticket requirements.
Most European travelers get stuck on payments, not visas. Our next tool helps you set up Alipay and WeChat Pay before you land.