Last checked: 2 November 2026. Ordinary passport holders from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand can enter mainland China without a visa for up to 30 days per entry under mutual agreements, and Brunei has China’s unilateral 30-day exemption. Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste need a visa for a normal visit, although Indonesian and Vietnamese citizens can use 240-hour visa-free transit. Rules change: check the official notice for your own passport and purpose before you book.
At a glance: 11 passports
| Passport | Visa-free visit to mainland China? | Stay | Basis, since | 240-hour transit? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | Yes | Up to 30 days per entry | Mutual agreement, 9 Feb 2024 | Yes |
| Malaysia | Yes | Up to 30 days per entry, 90 in any 180 days | Mutual agreement, 17 Jul 2025 | Not listed (not needed for stays the exemption covers) |
| Thailand | Yes | Up to 30 days per entry, 90 in any 180 days | Mutual agreement, 1 Mar 2024 | Not listed (not needed for stays the exemption covers) |
| Brunei | Yes | Up to 30 days | China’s unilateral exemption, 30 days from 30 Nov 2024; no end date published | Yes |
| Indonesia | No, visa needed | — | — | Yes, since 12 Jun 2025 |
| Vietnam | No, visa needed | — | — | Yes, since 20 Aug 2026 |
| Philippines | No, visa needed | — | — | No |
| Cambodia | No, visa needed | — | — | No |
| Laos | No, visa needed | — | — | No |
| Myanmar | No, visa needed | — | — | No |
| Timor-Leste | No, visa needed | — | — | No |
The exemptions cover ordinary passports and short visits such as tourism, business and visiting family or friends. Work, study, journalism and other activities that need approval still require the right visa.
What “visa needed” means here
China’s Exit and Entry Administration Law (Article 15) says foreigners apply for a visa to enter China unless another rule provides otherwise. For the seven passports marked “visa needed”, we found no mutual or unilateral exemption for ordinary passports in the official lists as of the date above. Apply through the Chinese embassy or consulate that serves your country, and allow time before departure.
240-hour visa-free transit
Under NIA Announcement No. 4 of 2026, citizens of 57 countries, including Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and Vietnam, can transit mainland China without a visa for up to 240 hours. You need an ordinary passport and a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, and you must stay within the permitted areas and use a designated port. A round trip from Jakarta back to Jakarta does not qualify.
Regional options: Hainan and Xishuangbanna
- Hainan, 30 days. Hainan Province has its own visa-free entry for 61 countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. It covers Hainan only.
- Xishuangbanna, ASEAN tour groups. Groups of ASEAN citizens organised by a travel agency in China can enter Xishuangbanna in Yunnan visa-free for up to six days, staying within the prefecture.
The 31 December 2026 expiry
China’s unilateral 30-day visa exemption for 45 countries, mostly in Europe and the Americas, runs to 24:00 on 31 December 2026. No Southeast Asian country is on that list, so the expiry does not change the table above. As of 2 November 2026 we found no announcement of a further extension. Last year’s extension was announced on 3 November, and we will update this page when anything is published.
Tibet (Xizang) and Xinjiang
A visa or visa exemption lets you into mainland China. Some regions add their own checks.
Tibet. China’s Foreign Ministry says it applies “regulatory and protection measures” to foreigners entering the region. Tour operators such as China Highlights and Windhorse Tour describe this as a Tibet Travel Permit arranged through a licensed travel agency in China, with an organised, guided itinerary; some areas need further permits. Confirm the current process with the agency handling your trip. Note also that the NIA suspended border-area permits for Shigatse from 28 August 2026, with resumption to be announced; Shigatse includes the Everest region.
Xinjiang. Independent operators report that cities such as Urumqi, Turpan and Kashgar need no special regional permit. Border areas are different: places such as Tashkurgan and parts of the Karakoram Highway are border administration areas. Since 15 April 2026 foreign nationals apply for the electronic Border Administration Area Permit in person at a public security exit-entry office, and areas not open to foreigners need an Aliens’ Travel Permit. If your route goes near a border, plan the permit before fixing dates.
Hong Kong and Macao
Mainland China’s exemptions do not cover Hong Kong or Macao. Check Hong Kong’s Immigration Department and Macao’s entry requirements separately, and treat crossing back into the mainland as a new entry.
Before you book
Once you know your entry route, check the arrival card and the other steps in Entry essentials. If a winter trip is on your list, see Harbin and the northeast in winter.
Our team has been hosting international visitors in China for more than 10 years, working with carefully selected local travel partners. Entry sorted? Tell us where you want to go and who is travelling, and our team will get back to you.
Starting from Singapore? China trip from Singapore covers visa-free entry, direct flights from Changi and how many days to plan.
Questions travellers ask
Do Malaysians need a visa for China?
No, for ordinary passports on a short visit. Malaysia and China have a mutual exemption of up to 30 days per entry and 90 days in any 180 days, in force since 17 July 2025.
Do Filipinos need a visa for China?
Yes, for a normal visit to mainland China. As of 2 November 2026 the Philippines is not on China’s exemption or 240-hour transit lists; Hainan’s 30-day visa-free entry covers Hainan only.
Can Indonesians enter China without a visa?
Only in transit or for Hainan. Indonesian citizens can use 240-hour visa-free transit with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, or Hainan’s 30-day entry. A normal visit needs a visa.
Is Brunei affected by the 31 December 2026 expiry?
No. Brunei’s 30-day exemption is a separate unilateral policy and no end date has been published.
Do I need a permit for Xinjiang?
Not for the main cities, according to independent operators. Border areas such as Tashkurgan need a Border Administration Area Permit, applied for in person.
Can I travel to Tibet on my own?
Tour operators say no: foreign visitors need a Tibet Travel Permit arranged through a licensed travel agency in China, on an organised itinerary. Confirm the current process before booking.
