Unilateral visa free for ordinary passports (foreigners coming to China):
50 countries as of 17 Feb 2026, listed by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) of China.
Mutual visa free for ordinary passports (both Chinese and foreign citizens):
28 countries as of early 2026, according to the latest MFA consular table and policy summaries.
1. Unilateral visa‑free countries for ordinary passport holders
(China’s single‑side waiver: foreigners with ordinary passports can enter China visa‑free for short stays; Chinese passport holders still need visas for these countries unless there is also a mutual agreement.)
Source: NIA / State Council, “List of Countries Covered by Unilateral Visa Exemption Policies”, compiled from MFA information as of 17 Feb 2026, nia.gov.cn.
Total: 50 countries
Europe (35): Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand.
Asia (7): Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, , Japan, Kuwait, Oman, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia.
Americas (6): Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, Uruguay.
Note (from NIA): Nationals of the above countries holding ordinary passports may enter China visa‑free for business, tourism, visits to relatives/friends, exchange visits or transit, for up to 30 days.
2. Mutual visa‑free countries for ordinary passport holders
Both Chinese and foreign citizens with ordinary passports can enter each other’s territory visa‑free for short stays under bilateral agreements. Source: MFA updated on 25 Feb, 2026, mfa.gov.cn
Total: 28 countries
Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dominica, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Qatar.
Important notes on the mutual list: The MFA table lists all mutual visa‑exemption agreements (diplomatic, service, public‑affairs passports, etc).
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan: some are full ordinary‑passport mutual visa‑free; others mainly cover public‑affairs/ordinary‑with‑restrictions, but the 28‑country list includes those that currently function as ordinary‑passport mutual visa‑free for typical tourists
Even with mutual visa‑free status, maximum stay is usually 30 days (sometimes 90 days per 180‑day period), and you cannot work or study without a proper permit.
Policies can change, so always double‑check with NIA or MFA before travel.