Under any of the following circumstances, foreigners may be exempt from applying for visas:
1.With a bilateral agreement. According to the bilateral agreements between China and foreign countries, citizens of some countries who meet requirements set out in the bilateral agreements may enter China without a visa. For specific information, please refer to the List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption Between China and Foreign Countries (http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/lhqz/lhqzjjs/202312/t20231208_11197270.shtml).
2. Transit through China
(1) Foreigners who hold connected passenger tickets and are in transit to a third country or region by an international aircraft, ship or train via China, and stay for no more than 24 hours in China without leaving the restricted area of the port of entry, may be exempted from visas.
(2)Foreigners who hold connected passenger tickets and are in transit to a third country or region by an international aircraft, ship or train via China, will stay for no more than 72 or 144 hours in China without leaving the restricted area of the port of entry, may be exempted from visas. For specific information, please check with the website of National Immigration Administration of China (https://en.nia.gov.cn/n162/n227/c117540/content.html).
3. With a valid “ Residence Permit for Foreigner ”in the People's Republic of China issued by the Public Security organs in China. Foreigners who have entered China with the J1, Q1, S1, X1, or Z visas and have applied to the public security organs for the residence permit for foreigners may stay in China, will enjoy multiple entries and exits without a separate visa during the validity period of the residence permit.
4. With a valid “ Permanent Residence Card for Aliens ”of the People's Republic of China. Those who hold a valid Permanent Residence Card for Aliens of the People's Republic of China may stay in China, and enjoy multiple entries and exits without a separate visa.
5. With a valid “ APEC Business Travel Card ”. The APEC Business Travel Card is equivalent to a multiple-entry visa for 5 years. The cardholder may enter China within the validity period of the travel card together with a valid passport consistent with the card. The duration of each stay is up to 60 days or 90 days.
6. Group tour to the Zhujiang River Delta, Hainan Island, and Guilin
(1) Citizens holding ordinary passports of the countries having diplomatic relations with China and on a tour to Hong Kong or Macao, and participating in group tours to the Zhujiang River (Pearl River) Delta Area for a stay of less than 6 days organized by the travel services registered in Hong Kong or Macao, shall not need to apply for a visa. The Zhujiang River (Pearl River) Delta Area refers to the following cities: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing and Huizhou. The above-mentioned policies are also applicable to the above-mentioned group's travel to Shantou, providing direct exit from Shantou, and the scope of activities does not exceed the administrative area of Shantou.
(2) Citizens of the following 59 countries holding ordinary passports can enjoy visa-free entry to Hainan Province through its ports opened to outside and are entitled to stay in the administrative regions of Hainan Province for 30 days: Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Monaco, Belarus.
(3) Tourist groups from the 10 ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines) to Guilin for a stay of no more than 6 days organized by the travel services approved by the Guilin Municipal Tourism Administration shall not need to apply for a visa, providing direct enter/exit from the Guilin Airport.
7. Citizens of specified countries holding ordinary passports may enter China without a visa provided that they travel to China for tourism, family visit, business or transit, and intend to stay in China for no more than 15 days.
8. Citizens of Thailand. Holders of valid ordinary passports of the Kingdom of Thailand shall be exempted from visa requirement for entry into,exit from or transit through the territory of China, for each single stay not exceeding thirty (30) days and for a cumulative period of stays not exceeding ninety (90) days in any one hundred and eighty (180)-day-period. The above mentioned passport holders who intend to stay in China for a period of more than thirty (30) days or to reside or engage in employment, study, media activities, or other activities which require prior approval from the competent authorities, shall apply for an appropriate visa before entering China.