China Visa Update — 3 June 2026

visa • 3 June 2026

China’s **visa policy in 2026** continues to broaden for tourists, with multiple nationalities now able to enter **visa-free for 30 days** under temporary or permanent arrangements. According to Fragomen, the temporary 30-day visa exemption for a large group of countries runs through **December 31, 2026**, while Russia’s temporary 30-day exemption runs through **December 31, 2027**.[1] For American travelers, the key practical point is that **U.S. citizens are not included in these visa-exemption lists** in the cited policy summary, so most trips to mainland China still require applying for a visa in advance.[1] The policy picture is still favorable for tourists overall, however, because China has expanded visa-free access across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and parts of Latin America, making entry easier for many inbound visitors and signaling a continued push to simplify tourism travel.[1][3] If you want, I can turn this into a **short traveler-facing update** focused specifically on what **U.S. tourists** need to do in 2026, or a broader **China visa policy roundup** with the latest eligible countries.

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