Russians do not need a visa for China for tourism of up to 30 days. The visa-free conditions, who still needs a visa, what they ask at the border and how to extend your stay.
“Do I need a visa for China?” is the most common question asked before a trip, and the answer is currently a pleasant one: for Russians with an ordinary passport, no, if you are coming for no more than 30 days. But the visa-free regime has its own arithmetic, its own list of permitted purposes and a couple of obligations that most people learn about only on the spot: the electronic arrival form, accommodation registration, a passport validity margin. Let’s go through everything in order, taking into account that the visa-free period was extended in May 2026, and answering the questions most often typed into a search engine: “until what date is the visa-free regime”, “will it be extended”, “what do I need at the border”, “how do I count the days”.
- Regime: visa-free entry for citizens of Russia has been in force since September 15, 2025.
- Validity: extended until December 31, 2027 — the decision was announced by a spokesperson of the PRC Foreign Ministry on May 20, 2026.
- How long you can stay: up to 30 days per entry; the number of entries is not limited.
- Purposes: tourism, a business visit, visiting friends and relatives, exchanges, transit.
- Don’t forget: a passport with a margin, a return ticket, the electronic arrival form and accommodation registration if you are not staying in a hotel.
Do Russians need a visa for China in 2026 and 2027
No — if you are traveling on an ordinary (not official or diplomatic) passport for up to 30 days. Visa-free entry applies for the purposes of:
- tourism;
- a business trip;
- visiting relatives and friends;
- exchange visits;
- transit.
There is no limit on the number of entries: you can enter as many times as you like, and each time the count starts anew. There is no annual limit on days either. This is not a “trial regime for one season”, as it looked in September 2025, but a standing norm with a clear horizon — the end of 2027. Russia, for its part, maintains visa-free entry for citizens of China.
So the honest answer to “do I need a visa for China in 2027” is this: at the start of 2027, no, and after that everything depends on a decision about a new extension; as last time, it will be officially announced several months ahead. If you are planning a trip for 2028, follow the statements of the PRC Foreign Ministry.
Until what date is the visa-free regime for China and will it be extended
The regime was originally introduced as a one-year experiment: from September 15, 2025 to September 14, 2026. Many then wondered what would happen “after September 14, 2026”. The PRC Foreign Ministry gave the answer: on May 20, 2026 an official spokesperson announced an extension of visa-free entry for Russians until December 31, 2027. The conditions did not change — the same 30 days and the same ordinary passport.
| Question | Answer as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Is the visa-free regime in force now | Yes |
| Until what date is it extended | Until December 31, 2027 |
| Has the length of stay changed | No, still 30 days |
| Do you need to arrange anything in advance | A visa — no; the electronic arrival form — advisable |
| What happens after 2027 | No decision has been made; follow the official announcements |
If your tickets are bought for 2028, keep a fallback: a refundable fare or readiness to apply for a visa at a visa center.
How the 30 visa-free days are counted
The period is counted from the day after entry and runs continuously, including weekends and holidays. If you arrived on April 1, the first day counted is April 2, the last permitted day is May 1, and on that day you must manage to cross the border on exit.
Typical mistakes:
- Counting a “month” by the calendar. There is no recalculation in months: exactly 30 days.
- Buying a ticket for the last day. A delayed or canceled flight does not relieve you of responsibility. Plan your departure with a margin of at least 1–2 days.
- Forgetting about night flights. If departure is after midnight, the actual exit is already the next date. Check whether it fits within the period.
How many days you can be in China without a visa and whether you can extend
30 days per trip is the ceiling of visa-free stay. It cannot be extended on the spot as a formality: it is not a “tick in an app”. There are three paths if you need longer:
- Get a visa in advance, at home, at a PRC visa center. The most predictable option if you are planning a long trip from the start: a tourist L visa, a student X, a work Z — depending on the purpose.
- Apply for permission on the spot at the exit and entry administration of the public security authorities (出入境管理处). This is possible for valid reasons, but is not guaranteed and takes time.
- Leave and re-enter. Since the number of entries is not limited, a short trip to Hong Kong, Macao or a neighboring country gives a new visa-free period. But border officers sometimes question back-to-back entries — keep tickets, a booking and a clear route at hand.
If you are torn between a “long vacation” and a visa, get the visa: it is cheaper than the nerves at the border.
Who still needs a visa
| Situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| A trip longer than 30 days | A visa arranged in advance (most often L) |
| Study | A student visa (X1/X2) |
| Work | A work visa (Z) — more in the piece on relocating to China |
| Journalistic activity | A J visa, the visa-free regime does not apply |
| An official or diplomatic passport | Separate rules — check with the consulate |
The visa-free regime is precisely about the purposes in the list above. Paid work, study and journalistic activity are not possible under it, and you cannot “change the purpose” once in the country.
What you need at the border: a checklist
- A passport valid for the whole length of stay. Airlines and border officers are calmer about a passport with a six-month margin — with one you will have no questions.
- A return or onward ticket departing within 30 days. It is asked for at check-in in Russia too.
- Proof of accommodation — a hotel booking or the address where you will stay.
- The electronic arrival form and customs declaration. Since November 20, 2025 China has had an electronic entry card system: you can fill in the form online (in the NIA 12367 mini-app in WeChat or Alipay, on the immigration service website) or at terminals at the airport before passport control. The result is a QR code. Details are in the article about the migration card and entering China.
- Printouts and screenshots. It is better to have the booking and ticket offline: the airport internet can let you down. On how to set up connectivity, see the piece internet in China for tourists from Russia.
Cash and bank statements are rarely asked to be shown, but a border officer has the right to ask what funds you intend to live on. If the passport is new, only your entry is stamped in it and you are flying a clear route, there are usually minimal questions.
Accommodation registration within 24 hours
This is a requirement of Chinese law that little is written about. A foreigner must register their place of residence within 24 hours after entry.
- If you stay in a hotel — you do not need to do anything: the hotel registers you automatically at check-in, which is why it asks for your passport. When checking in, make sure the passport was scanned at the desk.
- If you stay in a private apartment (short-term rental, friends, relatives) — you must complete the registration yourself at the local police station. Take your passport, the address and, if you have it, the contract or the host’s contacts.
Fines are provided for the absence of registration. If you rent housing through short-term rental services, ask the host in advance whether they help with registration. Not all apartments are even entitled to accept foreigners — this is one of the arguments for a hotel, especially on a first trip.
Visa-free and a layover: transit, 144/240 hours
A Russian does not need a separate transit visa: a layover falls under the same visa-free regime. If your route passes through China to a third country, there is also its own transit scheme for 144/240 hours with permission to go into the city — its nuances we covered in the article visa-free transit in China. But when you are flying to China itself, the 30 days under the general visa-free regime are more convenient and simpler.
Visa-free and Hainan, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan
Hainan is an ordinary part of China, and no separate visa is needed for it. If you are going specifically to the island, read the piece do you need a visa for Hainan.
Hong Kong and Macao are special administrative regions with their own immigration control. A trip from mainland China to Hong Kong counts as an exit, and the return is a new entry with a fresh 30 days. This is often used to “reset” the counter. The rules for Hong Kong and Macao themselves (the length and conditions of visa-free stay) are set by their authorities, so check them separately before the trip. More on the region’s status is in the article Is Macao China or not.
Taiwan is governed by its own authorities and has its own entry rules: the PRC visa-free regime does not extend to it, and the requirements must be checked separately.
A step-by-step plan: what to do before the flight
- Check your passport. Its validity must cover the trip; ideally with a six-month margin. The pages for stamps must be clean.
- Buy tickets there and back with departure within 30 days. A one-way ticket is a frequent reason for being refused boarding.
- Book accommodation for at least the first nights. The booking can be canceled, but it is better to have the confirmation with you.
- Fill in the electronic arrival form and save the QR code. Details are in the section above.
- Set up payment and connectivity: the wallet and eSIM are done at home, not at the arrival airport.
- Save documents offline: screenshots of the booking, tickets and hotel addresses in Chinese.
- Get insurance if you are planning active recreation or a trip outside the large cities.
Myths about visa-free entry to China
| Myth | How it really is |
|---|---|
| “Visa-free is 30 days a year” | No: 30 days for each entry, the number of entries is not limited |
| “A passport is enough, nothing else is needed” | A border officer may ask for tickets and a booking; without a return ticket you may not be allowed on the flight |
| “Registration is only needed by those who rent an apartment” | Registration is needed by everyone, but a hotel does it itself |
| “The visa-free regime was extended by one year” | The extension is until December 31, 2027, that is, more than a year |
| “With visa-free you can work remotely or study” | The purposes of the visa-free regime are limited to a list; work and study require a visa |
| “Hainan is a special zone with different rules” | For Russians the general visa-free conditions apply across all of China |
How passport control goes
At large airports the queues to the foreigners’ counters are longer than to the Chinese ones, so after landing go straight to the electronic form terminals (if you did not fill it in beforehand) and to the queue for control. You may be asked to place your fingers on a scanner and your face will be photographed — this is the standard procedure. The officer usually asks the purpose of the visit and the length of stay; answer briefly and to the point: “tourism, ten days, departure on such-and-such a date”. You do not have to explain the route point by point, but if asked, name the cities and hotels.
Sea and land checkpoints are arranged similarly, but queues and opening hours differ. If you are not entering through an airport, check the checkpoint’s operating hours in advance.
Can you travel visa-free with children
Yes. Each child needs their own passport, and the same 30 days apply to a child. If you are flying without the other parent, check the airline’s requirements and the Russian rules for leaving with a child in advance — they apply as usual. The electronic arrival form is filled in for every passenger, including children.
Do you need insurance and money for visa-free entry
There is no mandatory insurance requirement for visa-free entry. But healthcare for foreigners is paid and not cheap, and the language barrier complicates any situation, so a policy is a matter of common sense. On trip safety and typical risks, see the article safety in China for tourists.
Money on the spot is a separate topic: Russian cards do not work in China, and payment goes through Alipay and WeChat. How to set that up is in the piece how to pay in China, and on cash exchange in the article currency exchange in China.
How to enter China visa-free overland
The visa-free conditions are not tied to an airport, but checkpoints for foreigners work under their own rules and schedules. So that you don’t lose a day at the border, read the breakdown how to get to China overland from Russia, and if you are planning a short trip from Blagoveshchensk — the guide to Heihe.
What happens if you stay longer than 30 days
An overstay is a violation of immigration rules: a fine and, in serious cases, detention and a ban on subsequent entries. If you realize you won’t make it (illness, a canceled flight), contact the exit and entry administration before the period expires and keep confirmations, for example certificates of a canceled flight. A gain of one or two days is never worth such a risk.
Frequently asked questions
Until what date is the visa-free regime for China?
Until December 31, 2027. The regime has been in force since September 15, 2025; the extension was announced on May 20, 2026.
Will visa-free entry to China be extended after 2027?
There is no decision yet. Last time the extension was announced several months before the end of the original period, so follow the statements of the PRC Foreign Ministry and the embassy website.
Do Russians need a visa for China in 2027?
No, for a trip of up to 30 days and with an ordinary passport — the regime is in force until the end of 2027.
Can I enter China visa-free several times in a row?
Yes, there is no limit on the number of entries. But frequent back-to-back entries may prompt additional questions from border officers; keep tickets and a booking.
What happens if I stay more than 30 days?
A fine and a risk of problems with future entries. To extend your stay, contact the immigration service in advance.
Do I need a visa for a layover in China?
No: transit falls under the visa-free regime. If you go into the city between flights, remember accommodation registration and the return ticket.
Do I need medical insurance?
Not mandatory, but advisable: treatment for foreigners is paid.
Will they ask for proof of funds?
As a rule, no, but a border officer may inquire. Keep a booking and a return ticket at hand.
Can I stay to work on a visa-free entry?
No. Work, study and journalism require the corresponding visa arranged in advance.
How do I fill in the electronic arrival form?
Online through the NIA 12367 mini-app in WeChat or Alipay, on the immigration service website or at a terminal at the airport. After filling it in you get a QR code — save it on your phone and take a screenshot in case there is no internet. Details are in the article on the migration card.
Do Russian cards work in China?
No. Payment in the country has almost entirely moved to Alipay and WeChat Pay, and a Russian card cannot be linked. Everything must be set up at home — details here.
What’s next
Entry is clear — move on to the practicalities. Sort out connectivity: internet and eSIM and the eSIM catalog for China. Choose dates: when to go to China. Estimate expenses: trip budget. And ready-made ideas for a route are collected in the routes in China section.
Sources
- PRC Consulate General: answers to frequently asked questions on the visa-free regime for citizens of Russia
- Russian Consulate General in Shanghai: on the introduction of the visa-free regime
- RIA Novosti: PRC Foreign Ministry on extending the visa-free regime for Russians (20.05.2026)
- ATOR: visa-free entry to China extended until December 31, 2027
Current as of October 2026. Visa and entry rules change; before your trip, check the website of the PRC embassy in Russia and of China’s immigration service — they are responsible for their own wording.
