Quick answer: as of November 2026, US, UK and Canadian citizens need a visa for mainland China; Australians can enter visa-free for up to 30 days. All four qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit.
Do You Need a Visa for China? (updated November 2026)
China's entry rules have changed repeatedly since 2024, so start with the current split as of November 2026:
- US passport holders need a visa for any mainland stay — tourism, business or family visits. Ten-year multiple-entry tourist visas are routinely issued.
- UK passport holders need a visa. Two-year multiple-entry tourist visas are issued as standard.
- Canadian passport holders need a visa. Ten-year multiple-entry visas are available, capped at the passport's expiry date.
- Australian passport holders do not need a visa for stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit, under a policy in place through at least 31 December 2026.
- All four nationalities can use 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit when continuing to a third country or region.
These policies are extended in six- to twelve-month increments, so re-check with the Chinese embassy or your nearest visa application centre before booking flights. Hong Kong and Macau have separate immigration rules, covered below.
Which Visa Should You Apply For?
Tourist (L) visa: the standard option
The L visa covers sightseeing and visiting friends. It is issued as single-entry or multiple-entry, and each stay typically runs 30 to 60 days as granted by the consular officer. First-time applicants almost always receive an L visa.
US and Canadian applicants: 10-year multiple entry
China issues 10-year multiple-entry L visas to US and Canadian citizens routinely, limited to your passport's validity — if your passport expires in six years, so does the visa. The 10 years is the window in which you may enter, not the length of each stay: individual visits are typically capped at 60 days.
UK applicants: two-year multiple entry as standard
UK passport holders typically receive two-year multiple-entry L visas, suitable for several trips with stays of up to 30 or 60 days per entry depending on what is granted.
Australian applicants: visa-free 30 days, or an L visa for longer trips
If your entire mainland trip fits within 30 days, you can skip the visa process altogether as of November 2026. For longer itineraries or frequent visits, apply for an L visa; multiple-entry visas with validity beyond one year have been available — confirm current validity options with your visa centre.
Where to Apply: Visa Centres, Not Embassies
In all four countries, applications are handled by Chinese Visa Application Service Centres (CVASC) rather than by embassies directly. You must apply at the centre covering your state, province or region of residence.
- United States: Washington DC, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The Houston consulate closed in 2020 and its states were reassigned, so check the jurisdiction map before booking.
- United Kingdom: London, Manchester and Edinburgh.
- Canada: Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal.
- Australia: Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Most centres require an online appointment, and walk-in slots are limited. If you live far from your designated centre, plan for one trip to submit and either a second to collect or a paid courier return.
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Complete the COVA form (China Online Visa Application) online for every traveller, including children, and print the confirmation.
- Book an appointment at your designated visa centre.
- Attend in person with the printed COVA form, appointment slip, passport, photo and supporting documents. Fingerprints are typically collected from applicants aged 14 to 70, though some missions have waived them for short-stay visas — check your centre's current rules.
- Pay the visa fee plus the service centre fee; accepted payment methods vary by location.
- Collect your passport in person or by courier.
Apply one to two months before travel. Single-entry visas are typically valid for three months from the issue date, so applying too early can burn the validity before you fly. Express processing (2-3 working days) and, at some centres, 1-2 day rush service are available for higher fees.
Documents You Need
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond your entry date, with at least two blank pages.
- Printed COVA confirmation and appointment slip.
- One recent photo, 33 × 48 mm, white background, taken within the past six months.
- Round-trip flight bookings and hotel reservations covering every night of the stay. If you are staying with friends or family, an invitation letter plus a copy of the host's Chinese ID or residence permit.
- For an M business visa: an invitation letter from the inviting Chinese company; since 2023, the separate government-issued PU letter is generally no longer required for ordinary business trips.
- Previous Chinese visas or old passports, if you have them.
- US applicants: proof of residence in the consular district, such as a driver's licence.
- Minors: birth certificate and copies of both parents' passports.
Book refundable or free-cancellation hotel rates to satisfy the itinerary requirement without financial risk while your application is pending.
Fees and Processing Times (as of November 2026)
The total cost has two parts: the consular visa fee, set by nationality and number of entries, and a service centre fee, set by processing speed. Fees change periodically, so confirm current amounts with your centre before applying.
- United States: US$140 for any ordinary visa, including the 10-year multiple-entry visa, under the temporary reduction valid to 31 December 2026 (standard fee US$185), plus a service fee of roughly US$30–90 charged by the visa centre.
- United Kingdom: £64 for a single, double or six-month multiple-entry visa, £128 for a five-year multiple-entry visa and £191 for a ten-year one (reduced fees valid to 31 December 2026), plus the visa centre’s service fee.
- Canada: typically CAD 100-250 depending on entries, with 10-year visas at the higher end, plus a service fee.
- Australia: typically AUD 110-200 depending on entries, plus a service fee.
Standard processing takes about 4-5 working days after submission; express is around 2-3 working days. Add buffer around Chinese New Year and the northern-hemisphere summer, when centres are busiest.
The 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Rule
As of November 2026, passport holders of 57 countries — including the US, UK, Canada and Australia — may enter mainland China without a visa for up to 240 hours (10 days) while in transit to a third country or region. Around 65 ports across 24 provinces participate, including Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Chengdu Tianfu and Xi'an Xianyang airports, plus selected rail and sea ports.
Requirements:
- A confirmed onward ticket to a country or region different from the one you arrived from. New York → Shanghai → Bangkok qualifies; New York → Shanghai → New York does not. Hong Kong and Macau count as third regions.
- Entry and exit through designated 240-hour transit ports.
- Stays within the permitted areas; the scheme spans 24 provinces, and travellers can generally move between permitted areas within them — confirm the exact boundaries for your route.
- Accommodation registration within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels handle this automatically; if you stay in a private home, register at the local police station.
The rule suits a three- to nine-day city break in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu or Guangzhou bolted onto a trip whose next stop is elsewhere. HXXC Travel regularly sequences routes — for example Guangzhou, Guilin and the Li River — so each segment fits inside a single transit window.
Hong Kong and Macau: Separate Entry Rules
A mainland visa does not cover Hong Kong or Macau; both run their own immigration policy. As of November 2026, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders can enter Hong Kong visa-free for up to 90 days, and UK passport holders for up to 180 days. Macau typically grants 30 days to these passports, with longer allowances for UK passports. Re-check current allowances before travel.
Mind your entries: if you fly into Shanghai, continue to Hong Kong and then return to the mainland, the return leg uses another entry on your visa. Double-entry and multiple-entry visas solve this; single-entry holders should plan the mainland portion as one continuous stay.
Common Mistakes That Delay Applications
- Applying more than three months before travel, so a single-entry visa expires before departure.
- Hotel bookings with a one-night gap — the itinerary must cover the entire stay.
- Submitting at the wrong centre for your home state or province.
- A passport with less than six months' validity or no blank pages.
- Assuming a 10-year visa means 10-year stays; each entry is typically capped at 60 days.
- Booking non-refundable flights before the visa is issued.
- Skipping police registration when staying in a private home.
How HXXC Travel Helps
HXXC Travel is a China inbound tour operator based in Jiangmen, Guangdong. The team plans itineraries around current entry rules, supplies booking confirmations and invitation letters in the format visa officers expect, and builds multi-city routes that fit inside 240-hour transit windows for travellers from the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
FAQ
Do US citizens need a visa for China in 2026?
Yes. As of November 2026, US passport holders need a visa for any mainland China trip for tourism, business or family visits, unless they use 240-hour visa-free transit to a third country.
Can Australians enter China without a visa?
Yes. Australian passports allow visa-free stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit, under a policy in place through at least 31 December 2026. Longer trips need an L visa.
How long does a China visa take to process from the UK?
Standard processing at the London, Manchester or Edinburgh centres takes about 4-5 working days; express service is roughly 2-3 working days for an extra fee. Apply one to two months before travel.
How much does a 10-year China visa cost?
US applicants typically pay around US$140 plus a service fee of roughly US$30–90; Canadians pay the equivalent in Canadian dollars. The visa is issued at consular discretion and expires with your passport.
Can I use 240-hour visa-free transit for a round trip?
No. Your onward ticket must be to a country or region different from the one you arrived from. Sydney → Shanghai → Hong Kong qualifies; Sydney → Shanghai → Sydney does not.
Do I need a separate visa for Hong Kong if I have a China visa?
No. Hong Kong sets its own entry rules: as of November 2026, US, Canadian and Australian passports get up to 90 days visa-free and UK passports up to 180 days.
Related private tours
- Southern Scenery — Guilin, Yangshuo & Dragon's Backbone — 6 days · From US$450
- Grand China Explorer — 15 Days — 15 days · From US$1,500
- Best of China — 19-Day Private Tour — 19 days · From US$2,450