Since July 2023, China has been continuously expanding the scope of unilateral visa-free entry for foreign nationals. Against the backdrop of the accelerated recovery of international passenger flights, this series of policies is bringing greater convenience to international visitors planning to travel to China for tourism, business exchanges and short-term visits.

As of February 2026, China has implemented unilateral visa-free policies for 50 countries and reached mutual visa exemption arrangements with 28 countries. With the continuous expansion of visa-free scope, China’s openness to global personnel exchanges is steadily rising, creating a more convenient environment for international exchanges and cooperation.

List of Unilateral Visa-Free Countries

At present, China applies unilateral visa-free policies to the following 50 countries:

Europe (35 countries)：France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom

Oceania (2 countries)：Australia, New Zealand

Asia (7 countries)：Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain

Americas (6 countries)：Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Canada

Policy Notes:Citizens of the above countries holding ordinary passports may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit, with a stay not exceeding 30 days. The duration of stay starts from 00:00 on the day following the date of entry.

List of Mutual Visa-Exemption Countries

In addition, China has mutual visa exemption arrangements with 28 countries:

Asia (11 countries)：Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Qatar, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan

Europe (5 countries)：Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, San Marino, Serbia

Americas (6 countries)：Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Suriname

Oceania (4 countries)：Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands

Africa (2 countries)：Mauritius, Seychelles

Policy Notes:Citizens of mutual visa-exemption countries may stay in China for no more than 30 days per entry, and no more than 90 days in total within 180 days. The visa-free policy is valid for the long term in principle, while specific arrangements will be updated in a timely manner in accordance with future policy adjustments. The policy applies to all ports of entry and exit in Chinese mainland.

As China’s visa-free “circle of friends” continues to expand, the threshold for international business exchanges has been further lowered. For global pet industry professionals, this means not only easier travel, but also an excellent opportunity to engage with the core of the global supply chain — China International Pet Show (CIPS).

The above information is compiled from public materials of the National Immigration Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (as of February 17, 2026).