China visa-free countries: the full list (2026)
Published 4 September 2026 · Reviewed 2026-09-08 · Sourced from official Chinese government notices
As of 2026-09-08, ordinary passport holders from 50 countries can enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days, for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges or transit. This list matters directly for the Hanoi → Huu Nghi Visa Run: if your passport is on it, you can normally cross into China at the Huu Nghi / Youyi Guan border without applying for a Chinese visa first.
The 50 countries on China's unilateral visa-free list
This is China's own list — not a mutual agreement your country has to sign, and not the same as the shorter transit-only policy below. Grouped by region:
Europe (34)
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom.
Asia-Pacific (5)
Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea.
Middle East (4)
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia.
Americas (6)
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, Uruguay.
Eurasia (1)
Russia.
Commonly asked about: the United States, India, the Philippines, South Africa and most Southeast Asian passports (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam) are not covered by this unilateral policy. Some of these may still qualify under a separate mutual visa-exemption agreement or for specific passport types (diplomatic, official) — that is outside what this list covers. If you don't see your country above, message us and we'll check the current rule for your specific passport.
The rules that come with it
- Stay limit: 30 days per entry, for tourism, business, family/friend visits, cultural exchange or transit.
- Only ordinary passports qualify — diplomatic and official passports follow separate rules.
- The current policy period runs to 31 December 2026 for most of the countries above; China has extended it annually so far, but nothing is guaranteed beyond that date.
- The United Kingdom and Canada are the newest additions, effective 17 February 2026 — if you read an older article that doesn't list them, it predates that update.
- If your passport isn't on the list, you need a Chinese visa arranged in advance — you cannot get one on arrival at a land border like Huu Nghi.
Don't confuse this with the 240-hour transit-free policy
China separately allows citizens of around 55 countries to transit through certain Chinese cities without any visa for up to 240 hours (10 days) — but only if they are travelling onward to a third country or region, entering and exiting through approved ports, and not leaving the designated transit area. It is a different policy with different rules and a different (longer) country list.
It does not apply to a Huu Nghi Visa Run. A Visa Run means entering China and then returning to Vietnam through the same land border — that is ordinary entry, not transit to a third country, so only the 30-day unilateral visa-free list above is relevant.
What this means for your Huu Nghi Visa Run
If your nationality is on the 50-country list, the China side of a Huu Nghi Visa Run needs no advance paperwork — you show your passport at the Chinese counter, get your entry and exit stamps, and come back to the Vietnamese side the same day. If it isn't, Huu Nghi only works if you already hold a valid Chinese visa; otherwise choose Na Meo or Lao Bao, our Laos routes, which don't require a Chinese visa at all.
We check your passport's current status before confirming any booking — policy pages like this one are a starting point, not a substitute for that check.
Not sure if your passport qualifies?
Send your nationality and we'll confirm whether Huu Nghi works for you, or recommend a Laos route instead.
Sources
- Embassy of the People's Republic of China (Notice on Extension of Unilateral Visa-Free Policy, 10 November 2025)
- Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver and Chinese Embassy notices on the Canada/UK visa-free decision (February 2026)
- China's State Council information portal, english.www.gov.cn (15 February 2026)
General information, not individual legal or immigration advice. China sets and changes this policy unilaterally and without much notice; confirm your passport's current status with us or with an official Chinese government source before booking travel. Last reviewed 2026-09-08.