China visa-free travel: what to know.

The policy in brief

China's current visa-free policy allows eligible Australian ordinary passport holders to visit China for up to 30 days per entry, for tourism, business, family or friend visits, exchanges, and transit. The policy is currently extended until 31 December 2026. Travellers who do not meet these requirements — for example, those staying longer than 30 days, travelling for work or study, or holding a passport other than an Australian ordinary passport — still need to apply for an appropriate visa before entering China. Rules can change and border officials make the final decision on entry, so always confirm the latest requirements with official Chinese embassy or consulate sources before booking.

For the official notice, see the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Australia — FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China.

What the visa-free policy generally covers

• Stays of up to 30 days per entry
• Travel purposes including tourism, business, family or friend visits, exchanges, and transit
• Australian ordinary passport holders (other passport and document types may have different rules)
• The policy is currently extended until 31 December 2026

When you may still need a visa

• Stays longer than 30 days
• Purposes not covered by the visa-free policy — for example, work or study
• Travel on documents other than an Australian ordinary passport
• Individual circumstances that affect eligibility

If any of these apply, an appropriate visa must be arranged before entering China. Rules can change, and border officials make the final decision on entry.

How we can help

As part of trip planning, we prepare a practical pre-departure checklist — covering documents to carry, arrival procedures, and the apps and payments setup that make landing in China much smoother. What we can't do is assess or guarantee your eligibility — that always rests with official sources and border authorities.