Thinking about traveling to China? Here’s the best news: you probably don’t even need a visa! 🎉
China has dramatically opened its doors in recent years. As of 2026, citizens of 50+ countries can enter China completely visa-free for up to 30 days. No applications, no embassy visits, no paperwork — just book your flight and go!
On top of that, 55 countries qualify for the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit program, which covers all of Fujian Province — including Wuyishan, where the China Flow Retreat takes place.
Below, we’ve broken it down by region so you can see exactly what applies to you. Spoiler: it’s super easy. ✨
🇪🇺 Europe · 🇺🇸🇨🇦 US & Canada · 🇦🇺 Australia & NZ · 🌏 Asia · 🌎 South America · ✈️ 240-Hour Transit · 📋 How to Apply · 🔗 Official Links
30 days visa-free — valid until December 31, 2026
If you hold a passport from any of the countries below, you can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days. That’s it — no application, no fees, no waiting. Just grab your passport and fly! ✈️
🇫🇷 France · 🇩🇪 Germany · 🇮🇹 Italy · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · 🇪🇸 Spain · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · 🇮🇪 Ireland · 🇭🇺 Hungary · 🇦🇹 Austria · 🇧🇪 Belgium · 🇱🇺 Luxembourg · 🇵🇱 Poland · 🇵🇹 Portugal · 🇬🇷 Greece · 🇨🇾 Cyprus · 🇸🇮 Slovenia · 🇸🇰 Slovakia · 🇳🇴 Norway · 🇫🇮 Finland · 🇩🇰 Denmark · 🇮🇸 Iceland · 🇦🇩 Andorra · 🇲🇨 Monaco · 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein · 🇧🇬 Bulgaria · 🇷🇴 Romania · 🇭🇷 Croatia · 🇲🇪 Montenegro · 🇲🇰 North Macedonia · 🇲🇹 Malta · 🇪🇪 Estonia · 🇱🇻 Latvia · 🇸🇪 Sweden · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · 🇷🇺 Russia
What you need:
- A valid ordinary passport (valid for at least the duration of your stay)
- A return or onward ticket (sometimes asked at check-in)
- That’s literally it! 😄
You can enter China multiple times — there’s no limit on the number of entries. Each stay can be up to 30 days.
🔗 Official source: National Immigration Administration of China
Don’t worry! Additional European countries — such as Czech Republic, Ukraine, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Belarus — qualify for the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit program.
The 240-hour transit is perfect for our retreat — Wuyishan Airport is an eligible entry port, and the entire Fujian Province is within the allowed area. You just need a confirmed onward flight to a third country (or back home) within 10 days.
👉 See the How the 240-Hour Transit Works section below for details.
🇨🇦 Canada — No Visa Needed!
Canadian citizens can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days. Same easy process as Europe — just bring your passport and go! Valid until at least December 31, 2026.
U.S. citizens are not currently on the 30-day visa-free list, but don’t let that stop you! You have two great options:
Option 1: 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit (Easiest!) 🌟
U.S. citizens qualify for the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit. This is perfect for the China Flow Retreat because:
- ✅ Wuyishan Airport is an eligible entry port
- ✅ Fuzhou Changle Airport is an eligible entry port
- ✅ The entire Fujian Province is within the allowed travel area
- ✅ 10 days is more than enough for the retreat!
What you need:
- A valid U.S. passport
- A confirmed ticket to a third country or region (your departure flight from China must be to somewhere other than where you came from — but this can be Hong Kong, Macau, or any connecting flight)
- That’s it! No application needed 🎉
💡 Pro tip: Book a return flight with a layover in a third country (e.g., Seoul, Tokyo, or Hong Kong) and you automatically qualify!
Option 2: Tourist Visa (L Visa)
If you prefer a longer stay or want to travel beyond Fujian, U.S. citizens can apply for a 10-year multiple-entry tourist visa. It’s a one-time application that covers you for a decade!
- 📋 Apply through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC)
- 📋 Or directly at the Chinese Embassy in the U.S.
- 💰 Processing fee: ~$140 USD
- ⏱️ Processing time: 4–7 business days
- 📄 Documents: passport, photo, application form, flight itinerary, hotel booking
🔗 Official source: U.S. State Department — China Travel Advisory
Great news! 🎉 Citizens of Australia and New Zealand can both enter China visa-free for up to 30 days. The policy is valid until December 31, 2026.
What you need:
- A valid ordinary passport
- That’s all! No visa application, no fees, no waiting 🙌
You can enter multiple times and stay up to 30 days per visit. Perfect for the retreat!
🔗 Official source: National Immigration Administration of China
Visa-Free (30 days) 🎉
🇯🇵 Japan · 🇰🇷 South Korea · 🇧🇳 Brunei · 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia · 🇴🇲 Oman · 🇰🇼 Kuwait · 🇧🇭 Bahrain
No visa needed — just your passport. Valid until December 31, 2026.
🇸🇬 Singapore · 🇦🇪 UAE · 🇶🇦 Qatar · 🇮🇩 Indonesia
These countries qualify for the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit, which covers Fujian Province (where the retreat takes place). Just need a confirmed onward ticket to a third country.
Other Asian Countries
If your country isn’t listed above, you’ll need to apply for a tourist visa (L Visa) at your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate. The process is straightforward:
- 📋 Apply through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center
- 📄 Documents: passport, photo, application form, flight itinerary, hotel booking
- ⏱️ Processing: usually 4–7 business days
🔗 Official source: National Immigration Administration of China
Visa-Free (30 days) 🎉
🇧🇷 Brazil · 🇦🇷 Argentina · 🇨🇱 Chile · 🇵🇪 Peru · 🇺🇾 Uruguay
No visa needed — just your passport. Valid until December 31, 2026. Same easy rules as Europe: up to 30 days, multiple entries allowed.
If your South American country isn’t listed above, check whether you qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit below — or apply for a tourist visa through the CVASC.
The 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit is a fantastic option if your country isn’t on the 30-day visa-free list. Here’s how simple it is:
Step-by-Step
- Book your flights — Make sure your departure from China is to a different country than where you departed from (e.g., fly in from the U.S., fly out to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, or any other city)
- Arrive at an eligible port — Wuyishan Airport, Fuzhou Changle Airport, and Shanghai Pudong/Hongqiao are all eligible
- At immigration — Tell the officer you’re using the 240-hour visa-free transit. Show your passport and onward ticket
- Enjoy up to 10 days — Stay anywhere within Fujian Province (and 23 other provinces!)
- Depart — Leave within 240 hours through any eligible port
- 🛬 Wuyishan Airport is an eligible entry port (fly directly!)
- 🛬 Fuzhou Changle Airport is an eligible entry port
- 🌿 The entire Fujian Province is within the allowed travel area
- ⏱️ 10 days is plenty for the retreat program
- 📄 No application needed — it’s handled at immigration on arrival
55 countries are eligible, including all of Europe, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and more.
🔗 Full eligible country list & ports: China’s 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy — China Briefing
🔗 Official FAQ: 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit FAQ — CVASC
If your country isn’t on the visa-free list and the 240-hour transit doesn’t work for your travel plans, applying for a Chinese tourist visa is straightforward:
Tourist Visa (L Visa) — What You Need
- Valid passport — at least 6 months validity and 2 blank pages
- Completed application form — available on the CVASC website
- Recent passport photo — white background, 48mm × 33mm
- Flight itinerary — round-trip booking confirmation
- Hotel reservation — or invitation letter from your host
- Proof of financial means — bank statement (some consulates)
Where to apply:
- 🌐 Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) — Find your nearest center worldwide
- 🇺🇸 Chinese Embassy in the U.S.
- 🇬🇧 Chinese Embassy in the U.K.
- 🇦🇺 Chinese Embassy in Australia
⏱️ Processing time: Usually 4–7 business days (express service available)
💰 Cost: Varies by country — typically $30–$140 USD
✅ Pro tip: Apply at least 4 weeks before your trip, just to be safe!
- 🛂 Passport validity: Your passport must be valid for at least the duration of your stay. We recommend at least 6 months validity for smooth travel.
- 📱 Entry card: You’ll fill out an arrival card at immigration — it’s quick and simple
- 🏨 Registration: Within 24 hours of arrival, you must register with local police. Hotels do this automatically! For the retreat, we handle this for you.
- ⏰ 30-day count: The 30 days are counted from the day after entry. So if you arrive September 15th, your last day is October 14th.
- 🔄 Multiple entries: You can enter and leave China multiple times under the visa-free policy — there’s no limit!
- 🚫 No work/study: The visa-free entry is for tourism, business visits, family visits, and transit only. You cannot work or study.
- 📋 Tibet: Visiting Tibet requires a special permit regardless of your visa status. This doesn’t affect the retreat in Wuyishan.
- 💡 Visa policies can change: While the current policies are valid through December 31, 2026 (and likely to be extended), always double-check the latest regulations before booking.
- 🇨🇳 National Immigration Administration of China — Official visa policy announcements
- 🌐 Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) — Apply for a visa worldwide
- 📄 Official Visa-Free Entry FAQ — Detailed Q&A on the 30-day visa-free policy
- 📄 240-Hour Transit FAQ — Official transit visa-free FAQ
- 🇺🇸 Chinese Embassy in the U.S. — Visa Office
- 📊 China Visa-Free Travel Complete Guide — China Briefing (updated regularly)
Now that you know how easy it is to enter China, check out our other travel guides to prepare for the retreat:
- How to Get to the China Flow Retreat — Overview of all travel routes
- Travel from Fuzhou Airport — Detailed route guide
- Travel from Shanghai — Step-by-step guide
- Travel from Wuyishan Airport — The easiest route
- How to Hail a Taxi & Book Train Tickets
- Install & Use WeChat & Alipay
- China Travel Essentials — What to bring & prepare
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out! We can’t wait to welcome you. 🙏