Americans no longer need a visa to visit China for up to 10 days
If you have China on your travel Bingo card for 2025, I have good news for you. Effective immediately, Americans will be able to visit the country for up to 10 days without a visa.
This is a significant positive development for everything from last-minute trips to long-planned vacations, eliminating the paperwork, costs and stress of the visa application process. real.
Additionally, 52 other countries will also be able to take advantage of these newly relaxed visa procedures, and the majority of them will be able to stay up to 30 days without a visa (however, the United States is not yet eligible). conditions to stay longer). ).
Below are some key points about China’s new visa exemption policy for foreign visitors.
What was the previous Chinese visa policy for Americans
Before this week, Americans had to have a visa to enter China.
Although you can apply for a multiple-entry visa valid for 120 months, there is no guarantee that your application will be approved or that you will receive the full 10-year version, even if Your visa request is granted.
TPG senior writer Ashley Kosciolek applied for a China visa last fall Recent cruise with Viking. She submitted her application at the consulate in New York, along with an official fee of $140. Although she was issued a visa (which she had to pick up in person a few days later), it was only issued for one entry and allowed her to enter the country for 30 days. However, several passengers on her cruise said they applied through the service the cruise offered and were approved for 10-year visas, but at a cost of about $1,200 per person — a markup. Significant price differences include service fees and shipping costs.
Why Americans no longer need a visa to visit China
Although China has gradually relaxed visa requirements for many countries since the fall, until yesterday (December 16), the country still required US citizens to apply for a visa before entering the country. they can enter the country. These visas cost $140 per person and take at least four days to process.
Starting in the fall of 2023, China has relaxed travel requirements for foreign visitors, allowing citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway and Malaysia to visit for the first time. Visit this country without a visa. Brief information about China. Now, the US along with 52 other countries will be able to visit China for at least 10 days without a visa and up to 30 days for some countries (although the maximum visa-free stay of United States is 10 days).
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As of today, December 17, the requirement for short trips has been lifted and Americans can now stay up to 10 days (or more specifically, 240 hours) when entering the country through through one of 60 entry points across 24 provinces. That means that for the type of travel we mentioned above, there will be no visa or expense required to visit the country as long as you are visiting for less than 10 days (for a longer stay, you still visa required). ).
Limitations to note
Although visa-free travel is possible for trips lasting up to 240 hours, a passport is still required to travel to China, and the passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the country.
Bottom line
If the thought of applying and paying for a visa to visit China made you hesitant to visit the country, that obstacle has now been removed.
Effective immediately, you can visit the country for up to 240 hours with a valid passport and no other documents are required.
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