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Visa requirements for Chinese citizens

Visa requirements for Chinese citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of China who hold Mainland passport by the authorities of other states.

As of 2026, Chinese citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 82 countries and territories, ranking the Chinese Passport 55th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.

Historical perspective

Before February 2014, Chinese immigration authorities did not generally allow mainland Chinese citizens to board cruise ships, flights, or go through land border crossings to other countries without having a valid visa for the destination country. This policy applied even if the destination country did not require a visa, or granted a visa on arrival to Chinese passport holders, unless the exit was approved by the Ministry of Public Security.

Exceptions were possible if the traveller had a third country's visa and a connecting flight from the initial destination country to the third country. if the destination is a visa-on-arrival or e-visa issuing country this approval is no longer needed.

Visa requirements for Chinese citizens were lifted by:

Visas on arrival were introduced by:

Chinese citizens were made eligible for eVisas by:

Visa requirements map

Visa requirements

Dependent, disputed, or restricted territories

Unrecognized or partially recognized countries
Dependent and autonomous territories
Other Territories

Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan

Hong Kong and Macau SARs

  • Rather than passports, Chinese citizens from mainland China are required to travel to Hong Kong and Macau with an in-lieu travel document named Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau (EEP-HKMO) to align with the position that Hong Kong and Macau are Chinese territories rather than foreign. EEP holders must apply for an endorsement which serves as both the exit permission from mainland China and the de facto visa for Hong Kong or Macau. EEP holders without an endorsement shall be prohibited from departing from mainland China. It is the Immigration in mainland China rather than that in Hong Kong and Macau that is responsible for issuing endorsements.
  • Chinese passport holders intending to transit via Hong Kong or Macao between mainland China and a foreign third place may travel directly with their Chinese passport without applying for EEP and an endorsement. They are eligible for stay up to 7 days without a (de facto) visa.
  • Chinese passport holders residing abroad on a long-term basis may apply for a at Chinese missions abroad. The sticker shall allow up to (1) two entries within three months, 30 days stay for each entry; or (2) multiple entries within two years, 14 days stay for each entry. There is no similar sticker for Macao. Instead, they can enter Macao for 7 days (extendable to 90 days) if they possess a document showing that they reside abroad on a long-term basis.

Taiwan

Taiwan and mainland China have been under separated governance since 1949, respectively ruled by the Government of the Republic of China and the Government of the People's Republic of China due to the Chinese Civil War. Even though neither party regards the people of the other as foreigner, movement of people between mainland China and Taiwan is subject to immigration restrictions impose by both parties, either for immigrants or visitors. Chinese Mainlanders are subject to Taiwan immigration requirements, and are also subject to Mainland exit permission requirements if they are boarding a ferry or flight directly heading to Taiwan departing from the Mainland.

Exit-related restrictions include:

  • Rather than Chinese passports, Chinese Government requires Mainlanders to travel to Taiwan with an in-lieu travel document named Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Taiwan (EEP-TW) to align with its sovereignty claim over Taiwan.
  • EEP-TW holders requires an endorsement (exit permission) or they will be refused exit from mainland China.
  • Chinese passport holders intending to transit via Taiwan between mainland China and a foreign third place but without an endorsed EEP-TW are usually refused exit, unless they depart from Taiwan Transit Pilot Program cities: Chongqing, Nanchang, and Kunming.

Entry-related restrictions include:

  • Chinese Mainlanders need Exit & Entry Permit for Taiwan, Republic of China (hereinafter the "Permit") issued by Taiwan Immigration or they will be refused entry. The Permit, when produced, shall be accompanied by a mainland China travel document, either the Chinese passport or EEP-TW, as the case may be.
  • For Mainlanders residing in the Mainland and applying for the Permit for the purpose of tourism, it's the policy of Taiwan Immigration that the Permit shall not be issued without a valid exit-permission issued by mainland China Immigration. As the Mainland Immigration suspended issuance of such exit-permission since 2019, and the Taiwan Immigration suspended the issuance of the Permit accordingly, Mainlanders residing in mainland China may not travel to Taiwan for the tourism purpose for now.
  • Chinese passport holders residing in Hong Kong, Macau or a foreign place on a long-term basis may apply directly to the Taiwan Immigration for a Permit. They do not need an EEP-TW or an endorsement (exit permission) to apply for the Permit, and may travel to Taiwan directly from a place other than mainland China.
  • For tourists residing overseas (including Hong Kong and Macau) since 1 September 2023, and medical, business and student purpose permit issuance has been resumed earlier.

Non-ordinary passports

Holders of Chinese diplomatic or official / service passports may enter the following countries without a visa.

APEC Business Travel Card

Holders of an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) travelling on business do not require a visa to the following countries:

<sub>1 - Up to 180 days</sub><br /> <sub>2 - Up to 90 days</sub><br /> <sub>3 - Up to 90 days in a period of 180 days</sub><br /> <sub>4 - Up to 60 days</sub>

The card must be used in conjunction with a passport and has the following advantages:

  • No need to apply for a visa or entry permit to APEC countries, as the card is treated as such (except by Canada and United States)
  • Undertake legitimate business in participating economies
  • Expedited border crossing in all member economies, including transitional members
  • The rule is not available among the CHN, HKG, TWN travellers on business

Exit and Entry Permit

In addition to passports, Exit and Entry Permit were issued to citizens of the People's Republic of China for visiting certain land neighboring countries for trade, tourism purposes without a passport, and visa to the country of visiting and vice versa under the bilateral agreements.<br /> Such permit is issued by the police stations in the related border administrative divisions. By far, travelers from the administrative divisions that share borders with North Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, India and Nepal could apply for the Exit-Entry Permit for crossing borders.

Non-visa restrictions

Foreign travel statistics

See also

References and notes

Notes