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🇩🇪Germany
🇨🇳ChinaDE-CN

Germany to China visa requirements

Visa-free up to 30 days under China's unilateral policy. Extended through 31 December 2026. German ordinary passport holders enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family or friends visits, exchanges, or transit. The unilateral policy for Germany began on 1 December 2023 as a 15-day arrangement, was expanded to 30 days from 30 November 2024, and is currently extended through 31 December 2026. No visa application, fee, or advance declaration to Chinese embassies or consulates is required, but travelers still complete normal entry formalities and should carry documents matching the trip purpose. The ordinary German passport (Reisepass) must be valid for at least the intended stay; 6+ months validity and spare pages remain prudent for airline checks and visa fallback. Work, formal study, journalism, stays over 30 days, and non-ordinary German travel documents such as service, temporary, or replacement passports still require the appropriate visa.
VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-19
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
Policy alertWatch this route for rule changesSave this passport and destination for email summaries and optional browser notifications.Subscribe →Germany (PR)Living in Germany as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-19
Visa type
Unilateral visa-free entry (China policy)
Maximum stay
Up to 30 days per entry
per entry
Entries
Multiple
from issue date
Visa fee
Free
consular fee only
Processing time
On arrival
standard track
Validity
Per entry; policy extended through 31 December 2026
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Check passport eligibility
Use a German ordinary passport (Reisepass). For visa-free entry, China requires an ordinary passport valid for at least the intended stay; 6+ months validity and spare pages are still prudent for airline checks and visa fallback.
· ordinary passport· valid for intended stay
/02
Confirm trip purpose
Visa-free covers tourism, business meetings, family visits, exchange visits, and transit. Not paid work, study, journalism, or stays beyond 30 days.
· tourism/business/family
/03
Book travel and accommodation
Confirmed return or onward ticket, plus accommodation address, are usually checked at boarding and at Chinese immigration.
· return ticket· accommodation
/04
Register accommodation in China
Foreign visitors must register their address with the local police within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels do this automatically; private stays require a visit to the local派出所 (police station).
· 24-hour registration
/05
Track 30-day cap
The 30 days is per entry. Leaving and re-entering resets the count but repeated short trips can attract questions about residency intent.
· 30 days per entry
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

13 items
Personalized checklist
Germany -> China · Unilateral visa-free entry (China policy)
0 / 13 complete
Deadline reminderAdd a date before export
RequiredGerman ordinary passport (Reisepass)
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
Valid for intended stay; 6+ months and spare pages prudent
RequiredReturn or onward ticket
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Required for visa-free travelers
RequiredAccommodation address
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Hotel booking or host's address with full PRC postal code
RequiredEntry declaration
Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed
Complete the required China entry declaration, preferably via NIA's electronic form
RequiredFunds evidence
Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances
Cash or cards for the trip
RequiredMobile payment setup
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Alipay TourCard or WeChat Pay International for foreign cards
RecommendedInsurance
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Recommended; SOS evacuation cover advisable
ConditionalVaccination record (if applicable)
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Only for arrivals from yellow fever risk countries
RequiredAddress registration (派出所)
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Within 24 hours for non-hotel stays
RequiredCustoms declaration
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Online or paper for restricted goods
ConditionalOfficial application form or online application
Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed
Visa-free routes usually do not require a visa form; submit any arrival card or authorization if required.
RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary
Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it
Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.
RecommendedTravel medical insurance
Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates
Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.
Official sourcesChinese Embassy in Germany — FAQs on Visa-free Entry into ChinaNational Immigration Administration — Unilateral Visa Exemption CountriesChinese Embassy in Germany — Extension of Unilateral Visa Exemption
Application link included: Chinese Embassy in Germany — FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China
Open link
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Visa-free entryFreeUp to 30 days; extended through 31 December 2026
Tourist visa (if needed)EUR 126Required for stays beyond 30 days
240-hour transit visa-freeFreeAlternative for shorter transit through multiple cities
Work/study visaEUR 126Z visa for work, X visa for study
Overstay penaltyCNY 500-10,000Plus possible bans for serious overstays
Total estimateFree — Freeincl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa-free arrival
Minutes
Standard immigration at PEK, PVG, CAN, SZX, HGH, and other major airports.
Tourist visa (if needed)
4-7 working days
Apply at China Visa Application Centre (CVASC) in Germany — Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, Hamburg.
240-hour transit
On arrival
Visa-free transit up to 240 hours (10 days) through eligible ports for travelers with onward third-country tickets.
Address registration
Same day
Hotels register automatically; private stays require a same-day police station visit.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Wrong purpose of visit
Visa-free covers tourism, business meetings, family visits, exchanges, and transit only. Paid work, formal study, journalism, or NGO work requires a specific visa.
Medium
/02
Insufficient passport validity
For visa-free entry, the ordinary passport must be valid for the intended stay. Airlines may still apply stricter document checks, so 6+ months validity is prudent.
Medium
/03
Past Chinese immigration violations
Prior overstays, criminal convictions in China, or removal orders can affect future entries even under visa-free policy.
Low
/04
Sensitive items at customs
Religious materials, certain printed material, drones, and journalist equipment can be confiscated or trigger detention.
Low
/05
Non-ordinary German documents
Visa-free entry is for ordinary passports. German service passports, temporary passports, replacement travel documents, and similar non-ordinary documents need the appropriate visa.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Use the foreign visitor lanes, keep hotel or invitation details handy, and make sure your entry purpose matches the visa-free category.
/02
Registration
Hotels normally register foreign guests automatically. If staying in a private residence, complete temporary residence registration with local police within 24 hours.
/03
Connectivity
Install maps, translation, and payment apps before travel. Some foreign services may not work reliably without roaming or a compliant VPN.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-06-19
Reviewed by Claude Code
Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.
2026-06-19
Germany to China route re-verified
Confirmed against Chinese embassy, NIA, and German Foreign Office sources: German ordinary passport holders can enter mainland China visa-free for eligible short-term purposes up to 30 days through 31 December 2026. Updated passport-validity wording and corrected the policy history.
2026-05-27
Germany to China route verified
Confirmed unilateral 30-day visa-free entry, policy extended through 31 December 2026.
2025-11-03 · major
Visa-free policy extended through end of 2026
China extended the unilateral visa-free entry policy for countries including Germany through 31 December 2026.
2024-11-30
Stay extended to 30 days
China expanded the unilateral visa-free stay from 15 to 30 days for eligible nationalities including Germany and added exchange visits as an eligible purpose.
2023-12-01
Germany added to visa-free pilot
China began offering unilateral 15-day visa-free entry to German ordinary passport holders for tourism, business, family visits, and transit.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do Germans need a visa for China in 2026?—
No — German ordinary passport holders enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days under China's unilateral policy. Extended through 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027 the policy may be renewed, replaced, or expire.
How long can I stay?+
Do I need to register anywhere?+
Can I work on visa-free entry?+
Does visa-free cover Hong Kong or Macau?+
What about TikTok and other apps?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the Germany passport

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