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🇪🇸Spain
🇨🇳ChinaES-CN

Spain to China visa requirements

Visa-free up to 30 calendar days under China's unilateral policy, currently through 31 December 2026. Spanish ordinary passport holders may enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 calendar days for business, tourism, visits to relatives or friends, exchanges, or transit. Spain was included in the initial six-country unilateral pilot from 1 December 2023, the stay limit was expanded from 15 to 30 days from 30 November 2024, and the policy has been extended through 24:00 Beijing time on 31 December 2026. No visa application, fee, or advance consular declaration is required for eligible trips; carry a valid ordinary Spanish passport, and keep proof matching the trip purpose such as air tickets, hotel bookings, or invitation letters. Work, formal study, news coverage, and stays over 30 days require the appropriate visa or stay permit.
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.
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/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-19
Visa type
Unilateral visa-free entry (China policy)
Maximum stay
Up to 30 calendar days per entry, counted from 00:00 on the day after entry
per entry
Entries
Multiple; no current numeric cap for eligible stays
from issue date
Visa fee
Free
consular fee only
Processing time
Border inspection on arrival
standard track
Validity
Policy currently extended through 31 December 2026
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Carry an ordinary Spanish passport
Visa-free entry applies to ordinary passports, not travel documents or temporary/emergency documents. The passport must be valid for the intended stay; six months' validity and blank pages remain the safer buffer, and are required for visa applications.
· ordinary passport· valid for stay
/02
Confirm the trip purpose
Visa-free entry covers business, tourism, visits to relatives or friends, exchanges, conferences, exhibitions, study tours, sports events, and transit when the stay does not exceed 30 days. Work, formal study, and news coverage require the proper visa.
· business/tourism/visits· 30 days
/03
Carry purpose evidence
Chinese border officers may examine the purpose of stay. Carry documents that match the trip, such as return or onward tickets, accommodation reservations, conference details, or invitation letters.
· ticket· hotel/invitation
/04
Complete the arrival card
Since 20 November 2025, foreigners can fill arrival information online before travel through NIA channels; travelers who do not do so can complete it at the port by QR code, smart device, or paper card. Direct 24-hour transit without leaving the restricted area is exempt.
· online or at port
/05
Register accommodation in China
Hotels submit accommodation registration automatically. For private or other non-hotel stays, the traveler or host must register within 24 hours; NIA began an online pilot in seven provincial-level regions on 20 March 2026 and will expand it, while offline registration at local public-security offices remains available.
· 24-hour registration
/06
Track the 30-day count
The 30-day stay is calculated from 00:00 on the day after entry and lasts 30 calendar days. Eligible travelers may use the waiver multiple times, but activities must remain consistent with the visa-free purpose.
· calendar days· multiple entries
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

14 items
Personalized checklist
Spain -> China · Unilateral visa-free entry (China policy)
0 / 14 complete
Deadline reminderAdd a date before export
RequiredSpanish ordinary passport
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
Valid for the intended stay; six months' validity is the safer travel buffer
RecommendedReturn or onward ticket
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Recommended evidence for border questioning and airline checks
RequiredAccommodation details
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Hotel booking or host address in mainland China
RequiredPurpose documents
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Invitation letter, conference details, or itinerary when relevant
RequiredArrival card
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Complete online before travel or at the port on arrival
ConditionalFunds evidence
Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances
Cash or cards for the trip if asked
RequiredMobile payment setup
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Alipay/WeChat Pay foreign-card setup is strongly practical in China
RecommendedInsurance
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Recommended; include medical and evacuation cover
ConditionalVaccination record (if applicable)
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Yellow-fever certificate only if arriving from or transiting through a risk country
RequiredAccommodation registration
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Hotel handles it; private/non-hotel stays register within 24 hours online where available or with local public security
RequiredCustoms declaration
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Use online or paper channels when carrying restricted or declarable 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 sourcesChina State Council - six-country unilateral visa-free pilot (updated 2023-11-24)Chinese Embassy in Spain - visa-free stay expanded to 30 days (2024-11-22)Chinese Embassy in Spain - visa-free policy extended through 2026 (2025-11-05)
Application link included: China State Council - six-country unilateral visa-free pilot (updated 2023-11-24)
Open link
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Visa-free entryFreeUp to 30 calendar days; policy currently through 31 December 2026
Chinese visa if neededFrom EUR 45Regular visa fee for Spain/Schengen applicants under the reduced-fee table; service, express, or courier fees may add cost
240-hour transit visa-freeFreeAlternative for eligible third-country/region transit through 65 ports in 24 provincial-level regions
Work/study visaFrom EUR 45Required for work, formal study, news coverage, or other non-waiver purposes
Accommodation-registration violationUp to CNY 2,000Possible warning or fine for non-hotel stays not registered as required
Overstay penaltyUp to CNY 10,000Plus possible removal or future entry issues for serious violations
Total estimateFree — Freeincl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa-free arrival
Minutes
Standard border inspection after arrival-card processing and purpose checks.
Chinese visa if needed
4 working days regular
Embassy instructions list regular service at 4 working days, with express options of 3 or 2 working days after acceptance.
240-hour transit
On arrival
Available to Spanish nationals transiting to a third country or region through eligible ports with confirmed onward arrangements.
Arrival card
Before travel or on arrival
Online filing through NIA channels is available; port QR, smart-device, and paper filing remain available for travelers who did not file in advance.
Accommodation registration
Within 24 hours
Hotels handle it automatically; private or non-hotel stays use NIA online channels where available or local public-security registration.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Wrong purpose of visit
Visa-free entry covers business, tourism, visits to relatives or friends, exchanges, conferences, exhibitions, study tours, sports events, and transit only. Work, formal study, and news coverage require the correct visa.
Medium
/02
Wrong document type or passport validity
The waiver requires a valid ordinary passport for the intended stay. Travel documents and temporary or emergency documents are not eligible for visa-free entry.
Medium
/03
Insufficient purpose evidence
Border officers may ask for proof corresponding to the stated purpose, such as invitation letters, air tickets, or accommodation bookings.
Low
/04
Past Chinese immigration violations
Prior overstays, removal orders, or other immigration violations can still affect admission under the waiver.
Low
/05
Accommodation registration missed
Private and other non-hotel stays must be registered within 24 hours, online where available or through local public security.
Low
/06
Sensitive or restricted items
Restricted printed materials, drones, professional media equipment, or undeclared goods can trigger customs or border issues.
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 · major
Codex checked and re-verified ES-CN
Re-verified Spanish ordinary-passport eligibility against official Chinese Embassy, Consulate, MFA/NIA, and visa-fee sources; corrected passport-validity wording, the pilot start date, 30-day stay calculation, visa fees, arrival-card guidance, and accommodation-registration details.
2025-11-05 · major
Visa-free policy extended through end of 2026
Chinese Embassy in Spain notice confirmed the unilateral visa-free policy for Spain and listed countries is extended through 24:00 Beijing time on 31 December 2026.
2024-11-30
Stay expanded to 30 days
China expanded Spain's unilateral visa-free stay from 15 to 30 days and added exchange visits from 00:00 Beijing time on 30 November 2024.
2023-12-01
Spain included in initial unilateral pilot
China began the 15-day unilateral visa-free pilot for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do Spanish citizens need a visa for mainland China in 2026?—
No for eligible short visits. Spanish ordinary passport holders can enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 calendar days for business, tourism, visits to relatives or friends, exchanges, or transit. The policy is currently extended through 31 December 2026.
How is the 30-day stay counted?+
Does my passport need six months of validity?+
Do I need to register anywhere?+
Can I work or study on visa-free entry?+
Does this cover Hong Kong or Macau?+
Do I have to file anything online before travel?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the Spain passport

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