China visa-free after 31 December 2026: should I book now or wait?
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Changed 3 times since , see changes.
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Short answer
Visa-free entry is confirmed until 31 December 2026, 24:00. As of 9 November 2026 no extension has been announced.
If your trip ends by 31 December 2026, book now. If it starts in 2027, book refundable hotels and flights, or apply for a visa if you can't risk it.
We will update this page within 24 hours of an announcement.
| Fact | Value | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-day visa-free: last entry dateordinary-passport holders of listed countries | 31 December 2026, 24:00 | Chinese Embassy in the UAE | |
| Extension past 31 Dec 2026all | None announced as of 9 November 2026 | Lotso TravelSecondary source | |
| Gulf four: last entry dateSA, OM, KW, BH ordinary passports | 31 December 2026, 24:00 | Chinese Embassy in the UAE | |
| 240-hour transit: eligible countrieseligible nationalities (incl. US, UK, Canada, Australia, UAE, Qatar) | 57 countries | Beijing Government (English) | |
| 240-hour transit end datetransit travellers | no end date stated | Shanghai Government (English) | |
| Spring Festival 2027mainland China public holiday | 5-13 February 2027 (9 days) | Xinhua |
My trip is fully before 31 December 2026: should I book?
Yes. The current rules cover any entry up to 24:00 on 31 December 2026, and the stay rules do not change for entries made before then.
My trip starts in January 2027 or later: what should I do?
Book only what you can cancel for free, and set a date to decide. Three things keep you safe whichever way it goes:
- Choose refundable hotel rates and flexible fares.
- If you are flying on to a third country, check whether 240-hour transit covers you. It has no published end date.
- If you can't risk it, apply for a tourist visa: it does not depend on the visa-free decision.
What if the policy is not extended?
Passport holders from the 30-day list would need a visa for entries from 1 January 2027, unless they qualify for 240-hour transit. This applies to the Gulf four as well (last visa-free entry 31 December 2026, 24:00).
Is Chinese New Year 2027 a good time to go?
Spring Festival 2027 runs 5-13 February 2027 (9 days). Trains and hotels are at their busiest; see the 2027 holiday change post.
What changed recently
Questions people ask
Has China extended visa-free travel for 2027?
Not as of 9 November 2026. The policy is confirmed to 31 December 2026, 24:00.
Will China extend visa-free entry?
Previous end dates have been extended before they ran out, but that is not a guarantee. Plan with refundable bookings.
If I enter on 30 December 2026, can I stay into January?
The policy counts entries up to 31 December 2026, 24:00. Confirm the stay rule for an entry this close to the end date with the embassy before you travel.
Sources
- Notice on the Extension of the Unilateral Visa-Free Policy, Chinese Embassy in the UAE, retrieved
- China visa-free 2027 and eSIM guide, Lotso Travel, retrieved
- China Adds Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam to 240-hour Visa-free Transit Program, Beijing Government (English), retrieved
- 240-hour visa-free transit policy, Shanghai Government (English), retrieved
- 国务院办公厅关于2027年部分节假日安排的通知, Xinhua, retrieved