China entry requirements for Indian citizens
Short answerIndian citizens need a visa to visit China. Your visa sets how long you can stay.
- How long you can stay
- Your visa sets how long you can stay.
- What you need
- Passport valid for at least 6 months with blank visa pages
- Chinese visa (typically L/tourist visa) obtained in advance from a Chinese embassy/consulate or visa application service centre
- Completed visa application form and photo
- Proof of itinerary, accommodation, and return/onward ticket
- Good to know
- China's National Immigration Administration publishes an official list of countries whose ordinary-passport holders get unilateral visa-free entry (for business, tourism, family/friend visits, exchanges, or transit up to 30 days). As of the version checked (dated 2026-02-17), the list covers 50 countries across Europe, Oceania, part of Asia (Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain) and the Americas (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Canada) — India is not among them. Indian nationals must therefore obtain a Chinese visa in advance; there is no visa-on-arrival or fixed self-service stay length for this track (validity/duration is set by the issuing consulate per application).
Is your passport valid long enough?
The rule: Passport valid for at least 6 months with blank visa pages
These dates stay in your browser. They aren't saved or sent anywhere. Six months from arrival, or after you leave? How the rules compare
Source National Immigration Administration of China (NIA) — List of Countries with Unilateral Visa-Free PolicyChecked against the source on 2026-09-03
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China for other passports
- Argentinavisa-free short stay
- Australiavisa-free short stay
- Brazilvisa-free short stay
- Canadavisa-free short stay
- Chilevisa-free short stay
- Francevisa-free short stay
- Germanyvisa-free short stay
- Israelvisa required
- Italyvisa-free short stay
- Japanvisa-free short stay
- Malaysiavisa-free short stay
- Mexicovisa required
- Netherlandsvisa-free short stay
- New Zealandvisa-free short stay
- Singaporevisa-free short stay
- South Koreavisa-free short stay
- Spainvisa-free short stay
- Ukrainevisa required
- United Kingdomvisa-free short stay
- United Statesvisa required
Other destinations for Indian citizens
- Argentinavisa required
- Armeniavisa required
- Australiavisa required
- Bahamasvisa required
- Bosnia and Herzegovinavisa required
- Brazilvisa required
- Canadavisa required
- Chilevisa required
- Colombiavisa required
- Costa Ricavisa required
- Cyprusvisa required
- Dominican Republicvisa required
- Ecuadorvisa required
- Egyptvisa required
- Fijivisa-free short stay
- Georgiavisa required
- Ghanavisa required
- Hong Kongvisa-free short stay
- Indonesiavisa on arrival
- Irelandvisa required
- Israelvisa required
- Jamaicavisa-free short stay
- Japanvisa required
- Jordanvisa on arrival
- Kenyaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Macaovisa-free short stay
- Malaysiavisa-free short stay
- Maldivesvisa on arrival
- Mauritiusvisa-free short stay
- Mexicovisa required
- Mongoliavisa required
- Montenegrovisa required
- New Zealandvisa required
- Nigeriavisa required
- Peruvisa required
- Philippinesvisa-free short stay
- Qatarvisa-free short stay
- Rwandavisa on arrival
- Saudi Arabiavisa required
- Serbiavisa required
- Seychelleselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Singaporevisa required
- South Africavisa required
- South Koreavisa required
- Sri Lankaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Taiwanelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Tanzaniavisa on arrival
- Thailandvisa-free short stay
- Turkeyvisa required
- United Arab Emiratesvisa required
- United Kingdomvisa required
- United Statesvisa required
- Uruguayvisa required
- Uzbekistanvisa required
- Zambiavisa required
- Zimbabwevisa on arrival
Informational only — not legal advice. Entry rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history