China Entry Requirements 2026: Passport, Arrival Cards, Customs, and Health Rules

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Which countries qualify for visa-free entry to China in 2026?

As of June 2026, China’s unilateral visa-free policy covers 45+ countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and most EU nations for stays up to 30 days. Region | Eligible countries (partial list) -------------------- | ------------------------------ North America | United States, Canada, Mexico Europe (EU/EEA) | United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Portugal, Greece, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Cyprus, Iceland Oceania | Australia, New Zealand East Asia | Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei Others | Brazil, Argentina, Chile, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia This list is updated regularly — always confirm your country’s status at en.nia.gov.cn before booking. The policy has been extended through December 31, 2026. Citizens of countries not on the visa-free list must apply for a tourist (L) visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate before travel. The separate 240-hour transit policy covers 54 nationalities for qualifying transit itineraries between two different international airports or ports.

What documents do I need to enter China?

You need a passport valid 6+ months beyond your departure date with at least two blank pages, a return or onward ticket, and proof of accommodation for your first night. A return or onward ticket is required — immigration may ask to see it. Have proof of accommodation for at least your first night: a hotel booking, Airbnb confirmation, or a letter from your host. Business travelers may be asked for an invitation letter. Student visa holders need their university admission letter.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA)

What health requirements apply in 2026?

As of June 2026, China has no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements — standard travel vaccines are recommended but not enforced at the border. No PCR tests, no vaccination certificates, and no health declarations are required. Standard travel health recommendations still apply: ensure routine vaccinations are up to date (MMR, DTP, flu), and consider hepatitis A/B and typhoid vaccines depending on your travel style. Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is strongly recommended — medical care for foreigners is cash-up-front without local insurance.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs — visa & entry

How does the arrival card work?

Fill out the digital arrival card via the China Customs app or WeChat mini-program up to 24 hours before landing, then scan the generated QR code at the customs gate before immigration. Some airports still have paper forms as backup, and if your phone battery dies, airport staff can assist.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA)

What changed with the Online Arrival Card launched December 3, 2025?

China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) launched the official Online Arrival Card on December 3, 2025, replacing paper arrival/departure cards at most major ports. Foreign travelers can submit the form up to 7 days before arrival via the NIA website, the NIA mobile app, or a WeChat/Alipay mini-program. The Online Arrival Card is separate from the Customs Health/Declaration QR code above (one form for immigration, another for customs) — you may need to complete both. The Online Arrival Card asks for your full name (as on passport), passport number, nationality, date of birth, gender, flight or train number, port of entry, intended address in China (first-night hotel), purpose of visit (tourism / business / transit / family visit / work / study), expected duration of stay, and emergency contact. After submission you receive a unique QR code valid for the specific entry; present it at the immigration counter alongside your passport. The Online Arrival Card is free of charge and stored electronically — border officers scan it rather than collecting paper. Children on the same passport can be added as accompanying travelers on a single submission. (Source: NIA notice 2025-12-03 — launched at en.nia.gov.cn)

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), China Customs — entry regulations

What replaced consular authentication under the Hague Apostille (since October 24, 2023)?

Since China acceded to the 1961 Hague Convention on October 24, 2023, all Chinese embassies and consulates have abolished consular authentication of foreign public documents. If you need to use a foreign public document in China (birth certificates, marriage certificates, court orders, academic transcripts, criminal record checks, notarized powers of attorney, etc.), you must obtain an Apostille from the competent authority in the country where the document was issued — typically the Secretary of State (US), the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK), the Department of Foreign Affairs (Australia/Canada), or the equivalent in your home country. A Chinese consular authentication that was issued before October 24, 2023 remains valid for its original 6-month validity window, but no new ones are issued. This matters for: long-stay visa applicants needing police-clearance certificates, work-permit (Z visa) applicants needing authenticated diplomas, family-reunion (Q1/S1) applicants needing authenticated relationship certificates, and any foreigner needing to register a marriage or real-estate transaction in mainland China. The Apostille itself is a standardized stamp or sticker bound to the original document; plan 1–4 weeks of processing time in your home country before travel. (Source: Chinese MFA notice, 2023-10-24)

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), IATA Travel Centre — China entry requirements

What can I bring through customs?

Personal electronics enter duty-free, but you must declare cash over ¥20,000, drones, restricted medications, and items exceeding duty-free allowances for alcohol (1.5L) and tobacco (400 cigarettes). You can bring up to ¥20,000 in cash without declaring it; amounts above this must be declared. Alcohol: up to 1.5 liters. Tobacco: up to 400 cigarettes. Drones: must be declared and may require permits depending on the region (strictly controlled in Beijing and Tibet). Medications: bring prescriptions for any controlled substances. Meat and dairy products from most countries are banned. Counterfeit goods can be confiscated.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA)

What should I expect at immigration?

Expect professional but thorough questioning about your itinerary, accommodation, and stay duration, plus fingerprinting of both index fingers for most travelers aged 14–70. Have your hotel bookings and return flight ready on your phone. Fingerprinting is required for most nationalities (both index fingers). The process usually takes 10–30 minutes. If you are entering visa-free, the officer may ask additional questions to confirm you meet the criteria. Stay calm, answer honestly, and do not volunteer extra information.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA)

How strict is the 6-month passport validity rule?

China enforces the six-month rule strictly — airlines check at boarding and will deny you, while immigration can refuse entry and send you back at your own expense. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended date of departure from China, not just date of entry. Airlines check this at boarding and will deny you if you are short — they face fines for returning inadmissible passengers. Immigration officers in China also verify it and can refuse entry on the spot, sending you back on the next flight at your own cost. Carry at least two blank pages: one for the entry stamp and one for any visa or special-region permit. Damaged passports (torn pages, water damage, detached cover) are routinely rejected. If you are traveling on a near-expiry passport, renew before booking. Note that some nationalities whose passports are renewed early keep the remaining validity credited, but China counts from the new issue date.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), U.S. Department of State — China travel information, UK FCDO — foreign travel advice: China

What do I declare on the arrival card and customs form?

Declare your identity and trip details on the arrival card, and on the customs section declare cash over ¥20,000 RMB or $5,000 USD equivalent, commercial goods, drones, and restricted medications. The arrival card captures identity and trip data: passport number, nationality, flight number, seat number, Chinese address, and purpose of visit. The customs declaration — now merged into the same digital form — asks whether you are carrying items above personal-use limits. You must declare cash exceeding ¥20,000 RMB (roughly $2,800 USD) or foreign currency above $5,000 USD equivalent. Declare commercial goods, items for others, and anything you plan to leave in China. Duty-free limits: 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars, 1.5 liters of spirits (above 12% ABV), and reasonable personal effects. If you check "nothing to declare" but are selected for a bag check and found over-limit, fines start at the value of the goods and can climb fast. When in doubt, declare — over-declaring carries no penalty.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), China Customs — entry regulations

How do I fill out the China Customs Pocket Declaration app?

Open the China Customs Pocket Declaration via WeChat mini-program or standalone app up to 24 hours before landing, fill in passport and flight details, answer the declaration checklist, and screenshot the green QR code. It asks for passport details, flight info, seat number, Chinese contact address, health status, and a yes/no checklist for dutiable and restricted goods. Chinese and English interfaces are both available. Save a screenshot of the final QR code in case of weak airport Wi-Fi. If you cannot access the app, every international terminal still has staffed counters and QR-code posters to complete the form on arrival.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), China Customs — entry regulations

Will I be fingerprinted or photographed at the border?

Yes, China collects fingerprints (both index fingers) and a facial photo from most foreign travelers aged 14–70 at major ports of entry — refusal means denial of entry. You will be asked to press both index fingers on a scanner and look into a camera for a face photo. Refusal means denial of entry. Some exceptions exist for diplomatic passport holders and certain visa categories, but assume you will be scanned. The data feeds China’s exit-entry management system and is retained. Children under 14 and adults over 70 are generally exempt from fingerprinting but still photographed. Smaller land borders and some regional airports have not yet rolled out the scanners, but the rollout is ongoing, so expect it everywhere by late 2026.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), U.S. Department of State — China travel information

What vaccinations or health checks do I need?

Only a yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory, and only if arriving from or transiting through a yellow-fever-endemic country for more than 12 hours. Routine travel vaccines are recommended but not enforced at the border: hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and an up-to-date MMR/DTP series. Consider Japanese encephalitis vaccine if you are visiting rural rice-growing areas for more than a month, and rabies pre-exposure if you will be around animals. Mosquito-borne dengue is present in southern provinces during summer — pack DEET. Travel insurance with evacuation cover is strongly advised; foreign patients pay out of pocket.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), U.S. CDC — travel health: China, Chinese Center for Disease Control — travel health

What can and can’t I bring into China?

Personal electronics and reasonable personal effects enter duty-free, but fresh fruit, meat, dairy, counterfeit goods, drones without declaration, and cannabis products are banned or restricted. Allowed duty-free: personal phones, laptops, cameras, a reasonable amount of toiletries, up to 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars, and 1.5 liters of spirits. Restricted or banned: fresh fruit, meat, dairy, and most animal products (seized at the x-ray); counterfeit branded goods; printed or digital material deemed "harmful to China’s politics, culture, or morality" — this is vague and can include certain religious texts, political books, or Tibetan/Uyghur-language material. Drones must be declared and are tightly regulated: real-name registration with the Civil Aviation Administration is required before flying, and many central Beijing and Tibetan areas are no-fly zones. Cannabis products (even CBD) are treated as narcotics — do not bring them. Prescription meds should be in original packaging with a doctor’s letter; narcotics like codeine or Adderall need advance approval.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), UK FCDO — foreign travel advice: China, China Customs — entry regulations

Can immigration inspect my phone or laptop?

Yes, border officers can require you to open phones, laptops, and social media accounts for inspection under expanded exit-entry rules — refusal can result in denial of entry and device seizure. In practice, random checks are more common for journalists, academics, NGO workers, and travelers of Uyghur, Tibetan, or certain other backgrounds — but anyone can be selected. Officers may look at photos, messages, installed apps, and stored documents. Refusal to open a device can result in denial of entry and device seizure. Practical advice: travel with a clean burner phone if your work is sensitive, remove private messaging-app history, delete VPN apps before arrival (they are illegal but enforcement is sporadic), and back up then wipe anything you do not need on the road.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), U.S. Department of State — China travel information, UK FCDO — foreign travel advice: China

Do I need to register my stay within 24 hours?

Yes, all foreigners must register their address with local police within 24 hours of arrival — hotels handle this automatically at check-in, but Airbnb or private stays require your host to file the registration. If you stay in a licensed hotel, hostel, or serviced apartment, reception handles it automatically when they scan your passport at check-in; you do nothing. If you stay in an Airbnb, a private apartment, or with friends, your host must take your passport to the local police station (派出所) and file the registration. Many hosts are used to this, but some are not — confirm before booking. Failure to register can mean a warning, a fine of up to ¥2,000, and a notation that complicates future visa applications. Keep the yellow registration slip; you may need it for visa extensions or when registering at a new address.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), UK FCDO — foreign travel advice: China

Do I need special permits for Tibet, Xinjiang, or Hong Kong and Macau?

Yes — Tibet requires a Tibet Travel Permit arranged through a licensed agency, Xinjiang requires no separate permit but has frequent ID checks, and Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are separate immigration areas from mainland China. For Tibet you need a Tibet Travel Permit (TTB), arranged only through a licensed travel agency and only as part of an organized tour — independent travel in the Tibet Autonomous Region is not permitted. Additional Area Permits are required for Ngari, Everest Base Camp, and other restricted zones, and are issued by your tour operator. Xinjiang requires no separate permit beyond your Chinese visa, but ID checks at train stations, hotels, and road checkpoints are frequent and thorough — carry your passport at all times. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are treated as separate immigration areas: a mainland visa does not enter them, and entering Hong Kong or Macau counts as exiting mainland China (relevant for single-entry visas). Plan multi-region itineraries with the entry-exit sequence in mind.

Sources: National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs — visa & entry, UK FCDO — foreign travel advice: China