Start with your entry requirements

Who this is for

First-time visitors planning an independent trip to mainland China. Start here before making non-refundable bookings. Your passport, travel purpose and exact route matter; a friend’s experience may not apply to you.

Before you begin

Keep your passport, proposed travel dates and complete flight itinerary beside you. Note every country or region on the route, including where you will travel immediately after mainland China.

This guide does not determine whether you qualify for visa-free entry. Check the official policy and your Chinese embassy or consulate for your specific circumstances.

Work through these checks

Find the applicable entry route. Read the current embassy guidance for your passport and purpose of visit. Ordinary visa-free entry, visa-free transit and a tourist visa are different routes with different conditions.
Check the whole itinerary. Transit arrangements require eligible onward travel to a third country or region. An itinerary that simply returns to your point of origin may not qualify. Check the permitted ports and areas as well as the time allowed.
Check your documents. Ask the relevant authority about passport validity and supporting documents for your route. Read your visa conditions if you have a visa.
Confirm with your airline. Give it the actual itinerary and passport details when asking about boarding-document checks. Airline confirmation does not replace immigration requirements.
Save a small document pack. Keep access to your accommodation confirmation, onward journey and official policy link. Have an offline copy of details you may need to show.

Before departure

Reopen the official guidance shortly before travel. Record what you checked and the date, especially if a policy has an expiry date. If your flight or onward destination changes, check eligibility again.

If something is unclear

Contact the relevant Chinese embassy or consulate before relying on a blog, social-media reply or automated answer. Describe your exact passport, purpose, arrival port, dates and onward route. Keep the response with your trip notes.

Continue with booking your first stay once you understand your entry arrangements.