🇮🇩Indonesia

🇨🇳ChinaID-CN

Indonesia to China visa requirements

Q: Can Indonesians use China's 240-hour visa-free transit?

Yes, since 12 June 2025, if transiting through China to a third country or region via eligible ports, holding valid travel documents and a confirmed onward ticket within 240 hours. A simple Indonesia-China-Indonesia round trip does not qualify.

Q: Can Indonesians visit Hainan without a visa?

Yes, under the 59-country Hainan regional policy, Indonesian ordinary passport holders may stay in Hainan Province for up to 30 days for covered short-stay purposes such as tourism, business, visits, family visits, medical treatment, conferences, exhibitions, or sports competitions. Work and study are excluded, and travel outside Hainan requires proper status.

Q: What passport validity do I need?

For regular visa applications, CVASC Jakarta lists an original passport with at least 6 months' remaining validity and blank visa pages. For 240-hour transit, the local Indonesian notice says the travel document must be valid for at least 3 months and meet the third-country entry rules; keeping 6+ months remains prudent for airline checks.

Q: Do I need to register with police after arrival?

Hotels register guests automatically. If you stay in a non-hotel address, you or your host must register with local public security within 24 hours. Online registration is being piloted in some regions, but offline registration remains available.

Q: Can I work or study during 240-hour transit or Hainan visa-free entry?

No. Work, study, journalism/news reporting, residence, or other activities requiring prior approval need the appropriate Chinese visa before travel.

Q: Are Hong Kong and Macau covered by this page?

No. Hong Kong and Macau are separate immigration jurisdictions. Indonesian citizens have separate visa-free arrangements for Hong Kong and Macau, both commonly listed as 30 days.

Visa required for ordinary mainland China visits. Indonesian ordinary passport holders are eligible for limited visa-free transit and regional exceptions, including 240-hour transit from 12 June 2025 and 30-day Hainan-only entry. Indonesian ordinary passport holders need a Chinese visa before ordinary tourism, business, family visit, work, study, journalism, or other mainland China trips. China NIA's current unilateral 30-day visa-free list, compiled as of 17 February 2026, does not include Indonesia, so the previous 30-day mainland visa-free statement is not supported by official sources. The key visa-free exception is transit: from 12 June 2025, Indonesians may use China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy when continuing to a third country or region through designated ports, holding valid international travel documents and confirmed onward tickets. NIA's July 2025 transit policy page lists Indonesia among 55 eligible countries and allows up to 10 days in permitted areas; tourism, business, visits, family reunions, and similar short activities are allowed during transit, but work, study, and news reporting still require prior approval and the proper visa. Indonesia is also on the 59-country Hainan regional policy, allowing up to 30 days only within Hainan Province for tourism, business, visits, family visits, medical treatment, conferences, exhibitions, sports competitions, and similar short stays, excluding work and study. Separate group-only regional policies may apply to ASEAN tour groups entering Xishuangbanna or Guilin for up to 6 days. For regular visas in Indonesia, CVASC Jakarta requires online submission before passport submission; passports should have at least 6 months' remaining validity and blank visa pages. Travellers must also follow China's accommodation registration rule: hotels register guests automatically, while private stays must be registered with public security within 24 hours; an online registration pilot began in seven provincial-level regions on 20 March 2026.

VISA REQUIREDTOURISMFLEXIBLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-20

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 2026-06-20

Visa type

Pre-arranged Chinese visa for ordinary mainland visits

Maximum stay

Visa-specific; separate 240-hour transit and Hainan 30-day exceptions

per entry

Entries

Single, double, or multiple as issued by the consular officer

from issue date

Visa fee

Varies by visa type, entries, and service option

consular fee only

Processing time

Jakarta CVASC regular collection on the 4th working day; express on the 3rd working day after offline passport submission

standard track

Validity

Set by the consular officer; Indonesia is not on China's current unilateral mainland visa-free list

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Confirm whether an exception fits

A normal Indonesia-China-Indonesia visit needs a visa. Use 240-hour transit only if you are continuing to a third country or region with confirmed onward travel; use the Hainan policy only for stays limited to Hainan Province.

· visa baseline· transit / Hainan exceptions

/02

Choose the correct visa category

Use L for tourism, M/F for commercial or exchange visits, Q/S for family or private matters, X for study, Z for work, J for journalism, or G for transit when the visa-free transit conditions are not met.

· L, M, F, Q, S, X, Z, J, G

/03

Complete the online application

For ordinary-passport applications in Jakarta, complete the CVASC online form, upload passport, photo, and supporting documents, and wait for online preliminary approval before submitting the passport.

· online submission

/04

Prepare passport and documents

Bring the Visa Application Certificate, current passport and old passport from the past 5 years if any, photo if requested, and purpose-specific supporting documents. CVASC lists at least 6 months' passport validity and blank visa pages for visa applications.

· 6 months· blank pages

/05

Submit and pay at CVASC

After online approval, submit the passport at the correct Visa Application Service Center and pay the visa and service fees by the accepted methods. Fingerprints may be required unless an exemption applies.

· CVASC· fees· fingerprints

/06

Hotels register foreign guests automatically. If staying with friends, relatives, or other non-hotel accommodation, register with local public security within 24 hours; online registration is being piloted in some regions.

· 24-hour rule

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

14 items

Personalized checklist

Indonesia -> China · Pre-arranged Chinese visa for ordinary mainland visits

0 / 14 complete

Visa typeTravel date

Deadline reminderAdd a date before export

RequiredIndonesian ordinary passport

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

For visas: 6+ months remaining and blank visa pages; for 240-hour transit, valid travel document and third-country entry eligibility

RequiredChinese visa

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Required for ordinary mainland visits unless a narrow transit/regional exception applies

RequiredVisa Application Certificate

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Printed after CVASC online preliminary approval

ConditionalRecent photo

Use the official size, background, and recency rules for this route

Bring a physical photo if the uploaded photo is marked unqualified

RequiredPurpose documents

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

Itinerary, hotel booking, invitation letter, admission documents, work permit, or other category-specific evidence

RequiredTransit onward ticket

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

For 240-hour transit only: confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region within 240 hours

RequiredHainan-only plan

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

For Hainan regional entry: stay within Hainan and leave or regularize status before the 30-day limit

RequiredAccommodation address

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

Hotel booking or host address for registration and border questions

ConditionalFunds evidence

Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances

Cash or cards if asked by airline, consular, or border officers

RequiredAccommodation registration

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

Hotels handle this; private stays require 24-hour public-security registration

RequiredSpecial permits

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Tibet and some border/restricted areas require separate permits even with a visa

RequiredOfficial application form or online application

Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed

Use the current form from the official or designated application channel.

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 NIA - unilateral visa exemption countries, published 17 Feb 2026 Embassy of China in Indonesia - 240-hour visa-free transit for Indonesia, published 12 Jun 2025 China NIA - Indonesia added to 240-hour visa-free transit, published 12 Jun 2025

Application link included: China NIA - unilateral visa exemption countries, published 17 Feb 2026

Open link

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Ordinary Chinese visaVariesVisa fee and CVASC service fee depend on category, entries, and service option; Jakarta CVASC posts the current fee table.

240-hour visa-free transitFreeOnly for eligible third-country/region transit through designated ports and permitted areas.

Hainan 30-day regional visa-free entryFreeOnly within Hainan Province and only for covered short-stay purposes; work and study excluded.

ASEAN Xishuangbanna / Guilin tour-group policiesFreeGroup-only regional exceptions for up to 6 days when organized and received by a China-registered travel agency.

Overstay penaltiesUp to CNY 500/dayWarnings, fines, detention, or future entry problems may apply under Chinese exit-entry rules.

Total estimateFree only for qualifying transit/regional exceptions — Varies by visa and CVASC service optionincl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

Regular visa through Jakarta CVASC

4th working day collection after offline submission

Online preliminary approval is required before passport submission; the passport submission day counts as working day 1.

Express visa through Jakarta CVASC

3rd working day collection after offline submission

Available where accepted by the center and consular review.

240-hour transit

At port

Handled by border inspection at eligible ports when the itinerary and documents meet the transit conditions.

Hainan regional visa-free entry

At port

For eligible Indonesian ordinary passport holders entering through Hainan's open ports and remaining within Hainan.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

Indonesia not on unilateral list

NIA's 17 February 2026 unilateral visa-free list does not include Indonesia, so ordinary mainland visits need a visa.

High

/02

Transit itinerary does not qualify

A round trip such as Indonesia-China-Indonesia is not 240-hour transit; the onward leg must be to a third country or region with confirmed date and seat.

Medium

/03

Leaving a regional visa-free area

Hainan, Xishuangbanna, Guilin, cruise, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao policies are geographically and procedurally limited.

Medium

/04

Wrong activity type

Work, study, journalism/news reporting, residence, or other prior-approval activities require the appropriate visa even when a visa-free transit or regional policy otherwise applies.

Medium

/05

Passport or documents insufficient

Visa applications require at least 6 months' passport validity and blank visa pages; transit also requires valid travel documents and onward tickets.

Medium

/06

Accommodation registration missed

Private accommodation must be registered with public security within 24 hours; failure can lead to a warning or fine.

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.

2026-06-20 · major

Codex rechecked ID-CN China entry rules

Codex rechecked official Chinese embassy, NIA, and CVASC sources; corrected the baseline from mainland 30-day unilateral visa-free to visa-required, added 240-hour transit and Hainan/regional exceptions, and refreshed dates.

2025-06-12 · major

Indonesia added to 240-hour transit

China NIA and the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia announced Indonesian nationals became eligible for China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy from 12 June 2025.

2024-02-09

Hainan regional policy expanded

China expanded Hainan's 30-day regional visa-free entry purposes for 59 countries, including Indonesia, excluding work and study and limited to Hainan Province.

2026-05-27 · major

Earlier review superseded

A previous review had described ordinary Indonesian passport holders as eligible for mainland 30-day unilateral visa-free entry; the 2026-06-20 official-source review corrects that statement.

/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do Indonesian citizens need a visa for mainland China?—

Yes for ordinary visits. Indonesia is not on China's current unilateral 30-day mainland visa-free list, so ordinary tourism, business, family visit, work, study, or journalism trips require the correct Chinese visa unless a narrow transit or regional exception applies.

Can Indonesians use China's 240-hour visa-free transit?+

Can Indonesians visit Hainan without a visa?+

What passport validity do I need?+

Do I need to register with police after arrival?+

Can I work or study during 240-hour transit or Hainan visa-free entry?+

Are Hong Kong and Macau covered by this page?+