China entry requirements for US citizens
Short answerUS 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 more than 6 months with at least 2 blank visa pages
- Visa application completed in the China Online Visa Application (COVA) system
- Proof of residence (e.g. driver's license, utility bill, bank bill)
- Original passport presented at the Visa Office
- Good to know
- US ordinary-passport holders are not on China's unilateral visa-free list (NIA list dated 2026-02-17) and need a visa before travel. The Chinese Embassy in the US states that, from 1 January 2024, tourist (L) visa applicants in the US no longer need to submit a round-trip air ticket booking, hotel reservation, itinerary or invitation letter. Applications go through the new COVA system, launched at the Embassy on 30 September 2025. Regular processing is 4 business days.
Is your passport valid long enough?
The rule: Passport valid for more than 6 months with at least 2 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 Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America — Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (Updated September 2025)Checked against the source on 2026-10-19
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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
- Indiavisa required
- 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
Other destinations for US citizens
- Albaniavisa-free short stay
- Argentinavisa-free short stay
- Armeniavisa-free short stay
- Australiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Bahamasvisa-free short stay
- Bosnia and Herzegovinavisa-free short stay
- Brazilvisa required
- Canadavisa-free short stay
- Chilevisa-free short stay
- Colombiavisa-free short stay
- Costa Ricavisa-free short stay
- Cyprusvisa-free short stay
- Dominican Republicvisa-free short stay
- Ecuadorvisa-free short stay
- Egyptvisa required
- Fijivisa-free short stay
- Georgiavisa-free short stay
- Ghanavisa required
- Hong Kongvisa-free short stay
- Indiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Indonesiavisa on arrival
- Irelandvisa-free short stay
- Israelelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Jamaicavisa-free short stay
- Japanvisa-free short stay
- Jordanvisa on arrival
- Kenyaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Macaovisa-free short stay
- Malaysiavisa-free short stay
- Maldivesvisa on arrival
- Mauritiusvisa-free short stay
- Mexicovisa-free short stay
- Mongoliavisa-free short stay
- Montenegrovisa-free short stay
- Moroccovisa-free short stay
- New Zealandelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Nigeriavisa required
- Peruvisa-free short stay
- Philippinesvisa-free short stay
- Qatarvisa on arrival
- Rwandavisa on arrival
- Saudi Arabiavisa on arrival
- Serbiavisa-free short stay
- Seychelleselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Singaporevisa-free short stay
- South Africavisa-free short stay
- South Koreaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Sri Lankaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Taiwanvisa-free short stay
- Tanzaniavisa on arrival
- Thailandvisa-free short stay
- Turkeyvisa-free short stay
- United Arab Emiratesvisa-free short stay
- United Kingdomelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Uruguayvisa-free short stay
- Uzbekistanvisa-free short stay
- Vietnamelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Zambiavisa-free short stay
- Zimbabwevisa on arrival
Informational only — not legal advice. Entry rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history