China Travel Decisions · Visa-Free Entry
Can I enter China visa-free in 2026 and leave in 2027?
Two dates matter: the policy’s current effective window for your nationality, and your personal 30-day stay counted from 00:00 on the day after entry. Because the published texts do not spell out every cross-year edge case, trips that depend on January departure should be rechecked with NIA 12367 before lock-in.
Policy lifecycle · checked 16 October 2026
This page is intentionally date-bound
Use this page only for an entry that relies on the published 2026 visa-free window and a departure that crosses into 2027. For an entry on or after 1 January 2027, do not reuse this 2026 page as proof; start with the current China entry checker → and follow whatever policy is actually published for that date.
Quick answer: It depends on your nationality. Most covered passports are visa-free only through 31 Dec 2026, but Russian passports run to 31 Dec 2027; a 2026 entry allows up to 30 days, counted from the day after entry.
Calculate the 30-day stay span
Enter your China dates
The calculator checks only the 30-day length. It does not decide whether the waiver is still legally available to your nationality on the chosen entry date.
You are dealing with two different clocks
| Clock | What it controls | Question to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Policy effective window | Whether your nationality can use the unilateral waiver on the date of entry | Is the waiver in force when I arrive? |
| Individual stay clock | How long you may remain after an eligible entry | Is my exit within the 30-day calculation? |
NIA’s current country list says the stay is calculated from 00:00 on the day after entry. An entry on 20 December therefore does not make 20 December “day 1” under that wording.
Examples — use these as structure, not a 2027 guarantee
| Entry | Exit | 30-day span | What still needs confirmation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 2026 | 10 Jan 2027 | Within 30 days | Waiver must be in force for your nationality on 20 Dec; confirm cross-year interpretation |
| 31 Dec 2026 | 10 Jan 2027 | Within 30 days | Whether 31 Dec entry is accepted under the expiring policy and the cross-year stay remains valid |
| 1 Jan 2027 | 10 Jan 2027 | Length is short, but that is not enough | Do not assume the 2026 policy continues unless an extension/new policy has been published |
Why CTD still recommends a 12367 confirmation
The official texts reviewed give the policy end date and the individual 30-day counting rule, but they do not publish a dedicated FAQ sentence saying “a traveler who enters on 30 December may remain until late January after the policy’s listed end date.” This is precisely the kind of boundary where an official confirmation is more useful than forum consensus.
Ask NIA 12367
我的国籍目前适用单方面免签政策，政策公布有效至2026年12月31日。我计划2026年12月【日期】入境，2027年1月【日期】离境，停留不超过30日。请确认这种跨年度行程是否仍可按该次免签入境的30日停留期执行。
My nationality is currently covered by the unilateral visa-free policy published through 31 December 2026. I plan to enter on [date] in December 2026 and leave on [date] in January 2027, within 30 days. Please confirm whether this cross-year itinerary remains valid under the 30-day stay granted at that entry.
Protect the trip from a policy-date surprise
- Check the NIA/embassy page again shortly before ticketing and again before departure.
- Save the policy page showing your nationality and effective period.
- Keep a visa application timeline available if the cross-year interpretation is not confirmed.
- Do not buy a non-refundable January-entry trip before a 2027 policy exists.
Other questions
Does 31 Dec 2026 mean everyone must leave China that day?
No. The published pages separately describe the policy effective window and the 30-day individual stay, but they do not spell out the cross-year edge case in a dedicated FAQ. Confirm your exact dates with 12367 before relying on it.
Can I enter on 1 Jan 2027 because my trip is only 10 days?
Not under a policy published as effective only until 31 Dec 2026. A new or extended policy would need to cover your entry date; Russian passport holders are the listed exception, with cover to 31 Dec 2027.
Will China definitely extend the policy for the other 48 countries?
No extension is published for those countries beyond 31 Dec 2026. Do not plan on a future extension until it is officially announced.
I hold a Russian passport. Does the 2027 date apply to me?
Yes. The unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary Russian passport holders is published as effective until 31 Dec 2027, so a 2027 entry date can be covered if your purpose and passport meet the conditions.
How is the 30-day stay counted?
From midnight on the day following your date of entry. For example, entering on 30 December 2026 starts the count on 31 December 2026.
Official sources
Rules, prices, operating routes and platform support can change. CTD is an independent travel resource. Recheck the linked official channel before paying or relying on a reservation.