Two official schemes let some travellers enter China without a visa: 30-day visa-free entry for 50 countries, listed by a Chinese consulate on 6 May 2026, and 240-hour transit for 57 countries, listed by the NIA on 20 August 2026. India and Nigeria are on neither list as we read them, so those passports need a visa.
LiveEntry rules change. See the visa-free entry rules, checked 9 November 2026 →
The table
Read the two columns separately. 30-day visa-free entry is for stays in China; 240-hour transit needs an onward ticket to a third country or region. Official lists change, so confirm yours with a Chinese embassy or consulate before you pay for flights.
| Passport | 30-day visa-free (consulate FAQ, 6 May 2026) | 240-hour transit (NIA, 20 Aug 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes, to 31 Dec 2026 | Yes |
| Canada | Yes, to 31 Dec 2026 | Yes |
| Australia | Yes, to 31 Dec 2026 | Yes |
| New Zealand | Yes, to 31 Dec 2026 | Yes |
| United States | Not listed | Yes |
| Mexico | Not listed | Yes |
| Brazil | Yes, to 31 Dec 2026 | Yes |
| Japan | Yes, to 31 Dec 2026 | Yes |
| South Korea | Yes, to 31 Dec 2026 | Yes |
| France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands | Yes, to 31 Dec 2026 | Europe: 40 countries on the list; check yours |
| Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Qatar | Not listed | Yes |
| India | Not listed | Not listed |
| Nigeria | Not listed | Not listed |
“Not listed” means the country does not appear on the list we read. It does not mean entry is barred. It means you apply for a visa unless another rule applies to you.
What this table does not show
Russia appears on the consulate list with an end date of 14 September 2026, which has passed. The sources we read do not say whether it was extended.
We did not verify any bilateral agreements that some countries have with China, because we did not find an official page that we could read for them. If your country is not in the table, ask the nearest Chinese embassy.
What to do if your passport is not on a list
Apply for a visa. Fees depend on where you apply: US consulates charge US$23 for a single entry for most non-US nationalities, and Toronto lists CAD 40 for most other nationalities. Our fees guide has the sources.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indian citizens need a visa for China?
India is not on the 30-day visa-free list or the 240-hour transit list we read, so Indian passport holders need a visa.
Do Nigerians need a visa for China?
Nigeria is not on either list we read, so a visa is needed.
Do Mexican citizens need a visa for China?
Mexico is on the 240-hour transit list but not on the 30-day visa-free list, so a normal trip needs a visa, and a transit trip needs an onward ticket to a third country.
Do Australians need a visa for China?
Not for up to 30 days, in effect until 31 December 2026 according to the consulate FAQ of 6 May 2026.
Do UK citizens need a visa for Shanghai?
Not for up to 30 days between 17 February and 31 December 2026, per the Chinese Embassy notice.
Do Canadians need a visa for China?
Not for up to 30 days, from 17 February to 31 December 2026.
Which countries can use 240-hour transit?
57 countries per the NIA page of 20 August 2026, in Europe, North and South America, Oceania and Asia.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked on 9 November 2026 against these sources, from official pages where they exist and from the Wikipedia articles named in the list. Hours, prices and access change; we confirm them again before every trip.
- Chinese Consulate General in Chicago: FAQ on visa-free entry into China, page dated 6 May 2026 (read 2026-11-09)
- Chinese Embassy in the UK: Notice on China’s Visa Waiver Policy for the UK and Canada, 15 Feb 2026 (read 2026-11-09)
- National Immigration Administration: Visa-Free Transit Policies, page dated 20 Aug 2026 (read 2026-11-09)
- National Immigration Administration: Announcement on implementing 10 new measures, 3 Nov 2025 (read 2026-11-09)
- Chinese Consulate General in New York: Fees, Processing Time & Payments (read 2026-11-09)
- Chinese Consulate General in Toronto: Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application, page dated 26 Dec 2025 (read 2026-11-09)
