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Do France passport holders need a visa to visit China?

Visa-free up to 30 days under China's unilateral policy. Extended through 31 December 2026. French ordinary passport holders enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, or transit. France was among the first six European countries added to China's unilateral visa exemption pilot on 14 March 2024 (15 days), extended to 30 days on 17 November 2024, and extended through 31 December 2026 in China's November 2025 announcement. No application, no fee, no online registration is required — present an ordinary French passport valid for at least 6 months. The policy excludes paid work, formal study, journalism, and stays beyond 30 days.
VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-27
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.
France (PR)Living in France as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-27
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 validity
French passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival. One blank visa page is needed.
· 6 months validity
/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

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
French passport
Valid 6+ months, 1 blank visa page
Return or onward ticket
Required for visa-free travelers
Accommodation address
Hotel booking or host's address with full PRC postal code
Arrival/departure card
Filled on arrival; digital version on most flights
Funds evidence
Cash or cards for the trip
Mobile payment setup
Alipay TourCard or WeChat Pay International for foreign cards
Insurance
Recommended; SOS evacuation cover advisable
Vaccination record (if applicable)
Only for arrivals from yellow fever risk countries
Address registration (派出所)
Within 24 hours for non-hotel stays
Customs declaration
Online or paper for restricted goods
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/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 Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg.
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
Passport must be valid for at least 6 months on arrival. Less than 6 months means boarding refusal by airlines.
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
Diplomatic/service passports
Visa-free does not apply to diplomatic or service passports on official duty — those require a specific diplomatic 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
2026-05-27
France to China route verified
Confirmed unilateral 30-day visa-free entry, policy extended through 31 December 2026.
2025-11-04 · major
Visa-free policy extended through end of 2026
China extended its unilateral visa-free entry policy for 50+ countries (including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, UK, and Canada) through 31 December 2026.
2024-11-17
Stay extended to 30 days
China extended the unilateral visa-free stay from 15 to 30 days for eligible nationalities including France.
2024-03-14
France added to visa-free pilot
France was among the first European countries (with Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Malaysia) added to China's unilateral 15-day visa-free pilot.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do French citizens need a visa for China in 2026?—
No — French ordinary passport holders enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days under China's unilateral policy. Extended through 31 December 2026.
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 mobile payments and apps?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the France passport

🇫🇷⇄
Compare the France passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇫🇷◐
France visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇫🇷▤
France passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
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