Do I Need a Visa for China? — 60-Second Check

1. Which passport will you travel on?

Ordinary passports only. Emergency/temporary passports are excluded from the visa-free programs.

2. What does your route look like?

This matters more than anything else. China's "visa-free transit" only applies if you're genuinely passing through to somewhere else.

Round trip — I fly home to the same country I left from. (US → China → US) Passing through — after China I continue to a different country or region. (US → China → Japan, or → Hong Kong, China / Macao, China) Not sure yet — I haven't booked onward travel

3. How many days will you spend in mainland China?

4. What's the main purpose of your visit?

Tourism, visiting friends/family, or business meetings Working, studying, or journalism