Here's an update for visa free travel in China

If you are a digital nomad considering a journey to China, understanding the current visa-free entry policies is essential. While the term 'digital nomad' can imply working remotely, it is crucial to note that China's visa-free policies are specifically for tourism, business, and exchange activities, not for employment. This guide provides an overview of the key visa-free options available, allowing you to plan your trip with confidence.

Unilateral Visa-Free Entry for a 30-Day Stay

China has implemented a unilateral visa-free policy for nationals of several countries, allowing them to enter and stay for up to 30 days. This policy is designed to facilitate tourism, business, and personal visits. As of the latest updates, this includes citizens from the following countries:

France
Germany
Italy
Spain
The Netherlands
Malaysia
Switzerland
Ireland
Hungary
Austria
Belgium
Luxembourg
New Zealand
Australia
Poland
Portugal
Greece
Cyprus
Slovenia
Slovakia
Norway
Finland
Denmark
Iceland
Brunei
Andorra
Monaco
Liechtenstein
Korea
Bulgaria
Romania

In addition to the above, other countries are also eligible for visa-free travel based on bilateral agreements, including:

Singapore (for up to 15 days)
Thailand (for up to 30 days)
Georgia (for up to 30 days)
Serbia (for up to 30 days)
United Arab Emirates (for up to 30 days)

Permitted Activities

During your visa-free stay, you are permitted to engage in activities such as:

Tourism and sightseeing
Business activities and meetings (NOT PAID WORK)
Visiting family and friends
General cultural and educational exchanges
Transiting through the country

It is imperative to understand that this policy does not permit activities related to work, study, or journalism. Engaging in these activities could result in penalties, including fines or deportation.

Ports of Entry

The unilateral visa-free policy applies to travellers arriving through any sea, road, and air port in China that is open to foreign nationals. This offers significant flexibility for your travel plans.

For those considering a brief stopover, China also offers a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy for citizens of over 50 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, as long as they are travelling to a third country or region. This policy has expanded to allow entry through any of the 60 open ports in 24 provinces.

Some of the major ports of entry for the transit policy include:

Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing Daxing International Airport
Tianjin Binhai International Airport
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport

For longer stays beyond 30 days or for purposes not covered by the visa-free policy, you must apply for the appropriate visa in advance.

I will say again, the visa free entry does not allow you to work in China, even if your business is outside of China. To legally work in China you need the Z visa, and as of now, there is not one for digital nomads. The wording from an official Chinese government website is, "no paid work is allowed on the visa free entry" Business is allowed, and I take this as meaning meetings. Read into this what you will!

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