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Visa requirements for Chinese citizens
Administrative entry restrictions From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Visa requirements for Chinese citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of China who hold Mainland passport by the authorities of other states.
Historical perspective
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Before February 2014, Chinese immigration authorities did not generally allow mainland Chinese citizens to board cruise ships, flights, or go through land border crossings to other countries without having a valid visa for the destination country. This policy applied even if the destination country did not require a visa, or granted a visa on arrival to Chinese passport holders, unless the exit was approved by the Ministry of Public Security.
Exceptions were possible if the traveller had a third country's visa and a connecting flight from the initial destination country to the third country. As of 10 June 2017,[update] if the destination is a visa-on-arrival or e-visa issuing country this approval is no longer needed.[citation needed]
Visa requirements for Chinese citizens were lifted by:
Visas on arrival were introduced by:
Chinese citizens were made eligible for eVisas by:
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Visa requirements map
Mainland China
May enter with Entry–Exit Permit for Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR
Visa not required
Visa on arrival
eVisa
Visa available both on arrival or online
Visa required in advance
Visa often refused
Tourism admission restricted
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Visa requirements
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Perspective
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Dependent, disputed, or restricted territories
- Unrecognized or partially recognized countries
- Dependent and autonomous territories
- Other Territories
Australia. Ashmore and Cartier Islands - Special authorisation required.[239]
Colombia. San Andrés and Leticia - Visitors arriving at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport and Alfredo Vásquez Cobo International Airport must buy tourist cards on arrival.
Crimea - Visa issued by Russia is required.[240]
Ecuador. 
Galápagos - Online pre-registration is required. Transit Control Card must also be obtained at the airport prior to departure.[241]
Eritrea outside Asmara - To travel in the rest of the country, a Travel Permit for Foreigners is required (20 Eritrean nakfa).[242]
Fiji. Lau Province - Special permission required.[243]
Mount Athos - Special permit required (4 days: 25 euro for Orthodox visitors, 35 euro for non-Orthodox visitors, 18 euro for students). There is a visitors' quota: maximum 100 Orthodox and 10 non-Orthodox per day and women are not allowed.[244][245]
India. Prior approval from the MHA required for whole of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Sikkim and parts of states Uttaranchal, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh. Restricted Area Permit (RAP) required for all of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of Sikkim. Some of these requirements are occasionally lifted for a year.[246][247][248][249]
Iran. Kish Island - Visa not required.[250]
Kazakhstan. Closed cities - Special permission required for the town of Baikonur and surrounding areas in Kyzylorda Oblast, and the town of Gvardeyskiy near Almaty.[251]
Kurdistan Region. You can apply for an e-Visa (30 days) to visit the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.[252]
Malaysia. 
Sabah and 
Sarawak - Malaysian Visa / eNTRI required. These states have their own immigration authorities but same visa policies applies as West Malaysia. However a single entry Visa / eNTRI is valid for multiple entry/exit between the territories inside Malaysia.[253]
Maldives outside Malé - Permission required. Tourists are generally prohibited from visiting non-resort islands without the express permission of the Government of Maldives.[254]
North Korea outside Pyongyang - Special permit required. People are not allowed to leave the capital city, tourists can only leave the capital with a governmental tourist guide (no independent moving).
Russia - Several closed cities and regions in Russia require special authorization.[255]
Mecca and Medina - Special access required. Non-Muslims and those following the Ahmadiyya religious movement are strictly prohibited from entry.
Sudan. Darfur - Separate travel permit is required.[256]- Sudan outside Khartoum - All foreigners traveling more than 25 kilometers outside of Khartoum must obtain a travel permit.
Tajikistan. Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province - OIVR permit required (15+5 Tajikistani Somoni) and another special permit (free of charge) is required for Lake Sarez.[257][258]
Turkmenistan. Closed cities - A special permit, issued prior to arrival by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is required if visiting the following places: Atamurat, Cheleken, Dashoguz, Serakhs and Serhetabat.[259]
United States. Closed city of Mercury, Nevada, United States - Special authorization is required for entry into Mercury.- United States. United States Minor Outlying Islands - Special permits required for Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll and Wake Island.[260][261][262][263][264][265][266]
Venezuela. Margarita Island - Visa not required. All visitors are fingerprinted.[267]
Vietnam. Phú Quốc - Visa not required for 30 days.[268]
Yemen outside Sana’a or Aden - Special permission needed for travel outside Sana’a or Aden.[269]
UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus - Access Permit is required for travelling inside the zone, except Civil Use Areas.[270]- Korean Demilitarized Zone - Restricted area.
- UNDOF Zone and Ghajar - Restricted area.
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Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan
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Hong Kong and Macau SARs
- Rather than passports, Chinese citizens from mainland China are required to travel to Hong Kong and Macau with an in-lieu travel document named Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau (EEP-HKMO) to align with the position that Hong Kong and Macau are Chinese territories rather than foreign. EEP holders must apply for an endorsement which serves as both the exit permission from mainland China and the de facto visa for Hong Kong or Macau. EEP holders without an endorsement shall be prohibited from departing from mainland China. It is the Immigration in mainland China rather than that in Hong Kong and Macau that is responsible for issuing endorsements.[271]
- Chinese passport holders intending to transit via Hong Kong or Macao between mainland China and a foreign third place may travel directly with their Chinese passport without applying for EEP and an endorsement. They are eligible for stay up to 7 days without a (de facto) visa.[271]
- Chinese passport holders residing abroad on a long-term basis may apply for a sticker-style HKSAR entry permit at Chinese missions abroad. The sticker shall allow up to (1) two entries within three months, 30 days stay for each entry; or (2) multiple entries within two years, 14 days stay for each entry.[272] There is no similar sticker for Macao. Instead, they can enter Macao for 7 days (extendable to 90 days) if they possess a document showing that they reside abroad on a long-term basis.[273]
Taiwan
Taiwan and mainland China have been under separated governance since 1949, respectively ruled by the Government of the Republic of China and the Government of the People's Republic of China due to the Chinese Civil War. Even though neither party regards the people of the other as foreigner, movement of people between mainland China and Taiwan is subject to immigration restrictions impose by both parties, either for immigrants or visitors. Chinese Mainlanders are subject to Taiwan immigration requirements, and are also subject to Mainland exit permission requirements if they are boarding a ferry or flight directly heading to Taiwan departing from the Mainland.
Exit-related restrictions include:
- Rather than Chinese passports, Chinese Government requires Mainlanders to travel to Taiwan with an in-lieu travel document named Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Taiwan (EEP-TW) to align with its sovereignty claim over Taiwan.
- EEP-TW holders requires an endorsement (exit permission) or they will be refused exit from mainland China.
- Chinese passport holders intending to transit via Taiwan between mainland China and a foreign third place but without an endorsed EEP-TW are usually refused exit, unless they depart from Taiwan Transit Pilot Program cities: Chongqing, Nanchang, and Kunming.[274]
Entry-related restrictions include:
- Chinese Mainlanders need Exit & Entry Permit for Taiwan, Republic of China (hereinafter the "Permit") issued by Taiwan Immigration or they will be refused entry. The Permit, when produced, shall be accompanied by a mainland China travel document, either the Chinese passport or EEP-TW, as the case may be.
- For Mainlanders residing in the Mainland and applying for the Permit for the purpose of tourism, it's the policy of Taiwan Immigration that the Permit shall not be issued without a valid exit-permission issued by mainland China Immigration.[275] As the Mainland Immigration suspended issuance of such exit-permission since 2019, and the Taiwan Immigration suspended the issuance of the Permit accordingly, Mainlanders residing in Mainland may not travel to Taiwan for the tourism purpose for now.
- Chinese passport holders residing in Hong Kong, Macau or a foreign place on a long-term basis may apply directly to the Taiwan Immigration for a Permit. They do not need an EEP-TW or an endorcement (exit permission) to apply for the Permit, and may travel to Taiwan directly from a place other than mainland China.
- For tourists residing overseas (including Hong Kong and Macau) since September 1, 2023, and medical, business and student purpose permit issuance has been resumed earlier.
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Non-ordinary passports
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People's Republic of China
Visa-free for holders of both diplomatic and service passports
Visa-free for holders of diplomatic passports only
Holders of Chinese diplomatic or official / service passports may enter the following countries without a visa.
|
Diplomatic passports only O - Official passports are limited to those traveling with a delegation of ministerial level or higher. Diplomatic and official / service passports |
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APEC Business Travel Card
Full members of the scheme
Transitional members (United States, Canada)
Holders of an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) travelling on business do not require a visa to the following countries:[276]
1 - Up to 180 days
2 - Up to 90 days
3 - Up to 90 days in a period of 180 days
4 - Up to 60 days
The card must be used in conjunction with a passport and has the following advantages:[277]
- No need to apply for a visa or entry permit to APEC countries, as the card is treated as such (except by Canada and United States)
- Undertake legitimate business in participating economies
- Expedited border crossing in all member economies, including transitional members
- The rule is not available among the CHN, HKG, TWN travellers on business
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Exit and Entry Permit
In addition to passports, Exit and Entry Permit were issued to citizens of the People's Republic of China for visiting certain land neighboring countries for trade, tourism purposes without a passport, and visa to the country of visiting and vice versa under the bilateral agreements.[278]
Such permit is issued by the police stations in the related border administrative divisions. By far, travelers from the administrative divisions that share borders with North Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, India and Nepal could apply for the Exit-Entry Permit for crossing borders.[279]
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Non-visa restrictions
Blank passport pages
Many countries require a minimum number of blank pages to be available in the passport being presented, typically one or two pages.[280] Endorsement pages, which often appear after the visa pages, are not counted as being valid or available.
Vaccination
The African countries of Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia, require all incoming passengers older than nine months to one year[281] to have a current International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, as does the South American territory of French Guiana.[282]
Some other countries require vaccination only if the passenger is coming from an infected area or has visited one recently or has transited for 12 hours in those countries: Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.[283][284]
Passport validity length
Very few countries, such as Paraguay, just require a valid passport on arrival.
However many countries and groupings now require only an identity card – especially from their neighbours. Other countries may have special bilateral arrangements that depart from the generality of their passport validity length policies to shorten the period of passport validity required for each other's citizens[285][286] or even accept passports that have already expired (but not been cancelled).[287]
Some countries, such as Japan,[288] Ireland and the United Kingdom,[289] require a passport valid throughout the period of the intended stay.
In the absence of specific bilateral agreements, countries requiring passports to be valid for at least 6 more months on arrival include Afghanistan, Algeria, Anguilla, Bahrain,[290] Bhutan, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Curaçao, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel,[291] Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru,[292] Philippines,[293] Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Vietnam.[294]
Countries requiring passports valid for at least 4 months on arrival include Micronesia and Zambia.
Countries requiring passports with a validity of at least 3 months beyond the date of intended departure include Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Honduras, Montenegro, Nauru, Moldova and New Zealand. Similarly, the EEA countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, all European Union countries (except Ireland) together with Switzerland also require 3 months validity beyond the date of the bearer's intended departure unless the bearer is an EEA or Swiss national.
Countries requiring passports valid for at least 3 months on arrival include Albania, North Macedonia, Panama, and Senegal.
Bermuda requires passports to be valid for at least 45 days upon entry.
Countries that require a passport validity of at least one month beyond the date of intended departure include Eritrea, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macau, the Maldives[295] and South Africa.
Maximum passport age
Countries of the Schengen area require non-EU passports to be less than 10 years old upon entry.[296] A number of holders of British passports, which until September 2018 could be issued with a validity period of up to 10 years and nine months if the previous passport was not expired, were unable to travel to the EU subsequent to Brexit due to this restriction.[297]
Criminal record
Some countries, including Australia, Canada, Fiji, New Zealand and the United States,[298] routinely deny entry to non-citizens who have a criminal record, while others impose restrictions depending on the type of conviction and the length of the sentence.
Persona non grata
The government of a country can declare a diplomat persona non grata, banning them from entering the country or expelling them if they have already entered. In non-diplomatic use, the authorities of a country may also declare a foreigner persona non grata permanently or temporarily, usually because of unlawful activity.[299]
Israeli stamps
Kuwait,[300] Lebanon,[301] Libya,[302] and Yemen[303] do not allow entry to people with passport stamps from Israel or whose passports have either a used or an unused Israeli visa, or where there is evidence of previous travel to Israel such as entry or exit stamps from neighbouring border posts in transit countries such as Jordan and Egypt.
To circumvent this Arab League boycott of Israel, the Israeli immigration services have now mostly ceased to stamp foreign nationals' passports on either entry to or exit from Israel (unless the entry is for some work-related purposes). Since 15 January 2013, Israel no longer stamps foreign passports at Ben Gurion Airport. Passports are still (as of 22 June 2017[update]) stamped at Erez when passing into and out of Gaza.[citation needed]
Iran refuses admission to holders of passports containing an Israeli visa or stamp that is less than 12 months old.
Biometrics
Several countries mandate that all travellers, or all foreign travellers, be fingerprinted on arrival and will refuse admission to or even arrest travellers who refuse to comply. In some countries, such as the United States, this may apply even to transit passengers who merely wish to change planes rather than go landside.[304]
Fingerprinting countries/regions include Afghanistan,[305][306] Argentina,[307] Brunei, Cambodia,[308] China,[309] Ethiopia,[310] Ghana, Guinea,[311] India, Japan,[312][313] Kenya (both fingerprints and a photo are taken),[314] Malaysia upon entry and departure,[315] Mongolia, Saudi Arabia,[316] Singapore, South Korea,[317] Taiwan, Thailand,[318] Uganda,[319] the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Many countries also require a photo be taken of people entering the country. The United States, which does not fully implement exit control formalities at its land frontiers (although long mandated by its own legislation),[320][321][322] intends to implement facial recognition for passengers departing from international airports to identify people who overstay their visa.[323]
Together with fingerprint and face recognition, iris scanning is one of three biometric identification technologies internationally standardised since 2006 by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for use in e-passports[324] and the United Arab Emirates conducts iris scanning on visitors who need to apply for a visa.[325][326] The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to greatly increase the biometric data it collects at US borders.[327] In 2018, Singapore began trials of iris scanning at three land and maritime immigration checkpoints.[328][329]
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Foreign travel statistics
These are the numbers of mainland Chinese visitors to various countries or territories:
- Counting only guests in tourist accommodation establishments.
- Data for arrivals by air only.
- Including Hong Kong.
- Tourists only.
- Including Hong Kong and Macau.
- Data for arrivals by air only.
- Total number includes tourists, business people, students, exchange visitors, temporary workers and families, diplomats and other representatives and all other classes of non-immigrant admissions (I-94).
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See also
References and notes
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