Important Information for U.S. and Canadian Citizens Entering the Country

I. Documents and Visas (Latest Policy for Canadian Citizens)
1. Passport Requirements
Validity: Must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure
Blank Pages: At least 2 consecutive blank visa pages
Condition: Must be free of damage, alterations, or severe water stains
2. Visa Waiver Policy for Canadian Citizens (February 17, 2026 – December 31, 2026)
30-Day Visa-Free Entry: Tourism / Business / Family Visits / Transit; single stay ≤ 30 days; no prior visa required. China Consular Services Website
Eligibility: Holders of ordinary passports; purpose of entry is tourism, business, family visits, or transit; stay not exceeding 30 days. Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada
Exclusions from Visa-Free Entry: Work, study, media interviews, stays exceeding 30 days; corresponding visas must be applied for in advance (e.g., L tourist visa, M business visa) Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada
240-Hour Transit Visa-Free Entry: Applicable for connecting flights; generally not applicable for round-trip travel to Canada for tourism purposes only
3. Recommended Items to Carry (for Inspection)
Round-trip flight tickets, hotel reservations, itinerary (random checks may still occur even under visa-free entry)
Contact information in China / travel agency details (name, phone number, address)
Passport copy + mobile/cloud backup
II. Border Inspection Process
Boarding / Onboard: Obtain the “Foreign National Entry Card,” or complete an electronic declaration in advance using the “China Border Inspection Declaration” mini-program
Key: The address in China (residence or hotel) must be provided in full detail (including the exact street name and house number)
Border Inspection Counter: Present your passport + Entry Card; travelers aged 14–70 must provide fingerprints + have their photo taken on-site
Common Questions (Answer truthfully)
Purpose: Tourism
Stay: X days (≤30)
Accommodation: Hotel name + city
Itinerary: Cities (e.g., Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai)
III. Customs Declaration and Prohibited / Restricted Items
1. Must be declared (use the red channel)
Cash: Equivalent to over $5,000 (RMB or foreign currency)
Valuables: Cameras, computers, and jewelry with a unit price exceeding 5,000 RMB
Medications: Prescription drugs must be accompanied by an English prescription and original packaging; psychotropic and narcotic drugs are strictly prohibited
Animals and plants: Fresh fruits, meat, seeds, soil, and biological specimens are strictly prohibited from entering the country
Tobacco and Alcohol: 2 cartons of cigarettes + 1.5 liters of alcohol (excess amounts must be declared and taxed)
2. Strictly Prohibited Items
Firearms, ammunition, controlled knives, flammable and explosive materials
Narcotics, psychotropic substances, and anesthetics
Pornographic, violent, or subversive publications / audio-visual materials / digital content
Cultural relics (without a Chinese export permit), endangered flora and fauna and their products
Fresh/chilled meat (beef, pork, poultry, etc.), uninspected animal and plant products
IV. Stay in China and Compliance Reminders
Duration of Stay: Visa-free stay strictly limited to 30 days (calculated from the day after entry); overstaying = illegal residence, resulting in fines and potential impact on future entry Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada
Accommodation Registration: Handled by the hotel; if staying with relatives or friends, register at the local police station within 24 hours
Internet and Communications
Google, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp cannot be accessed directly; it is recommended to prepare a functional VPN in advance or use Chinese apps (WeChat, Alipay, Baidu Maps)
Purchase a Chinese SIM card (4G/5G) at the airport or in the city using your passport
Payment: RMB cash + Visa/Mastercard + Alipay / WeChat Pay (foreign cards can be linked)
Special Areas: Tibet, parts of Xinjiang, and border ports require a Border Pass or Letter of Entry to Tibet; travel agencies can assist with processing
V. Common Reasons for Entry Denial or Delays (Avoid in Advance)
Passport validity of less than 6 months or insufficient blank pages
Previous overstay, illegal residence, or unauthorized employment in China
Carrying prohibited items (fresh meat, drugs, pornographic materials)
Inaccurate information on the entry card or contradictory answers during border inspection
Lack of a reasonable itinerary or hotel reservations (subject to random checks for visa-free travelers)

I. Documents and Visas (Latest U.S. Visa Policies)
1. Passport Requirements
Validity: At least 6 months remaining (calculated from the date of departure from China)
Blank Pages: At least 2 blank visa pages
No damage, no alterations, and no severe water stains
2. U.S. Visa Policies (Updated May 2026)
30-Day Visa Waiver (Tourism / Business / Family Visit): The U.S. is included in the list of 55 visa-waiver countries. For single stays of 30 days or less, no visa is required in advance; entry is permitted directly with a passport (policy valid through December 31, 2026)
240-hour (10-day) Transit Visa Waiver: Applicable only for “China → Third Country/Region” connecting flights; allows a 10-day visa-free stay. Generally not applicable for purely tourist-purpose round-trips to the U.S. Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region
Stays exceeding 30 days or non-tourist purposes: Must apply in advance for an L (Tourist) or M (Business) visa (Processed at Chinese embassies and consulates in the U.S.)
3. Recommended to carry the following (for inspection):
Round-trip flight reservations, hotel reservations, itinerary (although visa-free entry has been simplified, immigration officials may still conduct random checks) Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States
Contact information in China / travel agency details (name, phone number, address)
Passport copy + digital backup (mobile phone / cloud storage)
II. Immigration Inspection Process
Boarding / Onboard: Collect and complete the “Foreign National Entry Card” (or complete the electronic declaration in advance via the “China Border Inspection Declaration” mini-program)
Key Point: The address in China (residence or hotel) must be provided in full detail (including the exact street name and house number) National Immigration Administration
Border Inspection Counter: Submit your passport and entry card; travelers aged 14–70 must provide fingerprints and have their photo taken National Immigration Administration
Frequently Asked Questions (Answer truthfully)
Purpose: Tourism
Length of Stay: X days
Accommodation: Hotel name + city
Itinerary: Cities to visit (e.g., Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai)
III. Customs Declaration and Prohibited/Restricted Items
1. Must be declared (proactively use the red channel)
Cash: Equivalent to over 5,000 USD (RMB or foreign currency)
Valuables: Cameras, computers, jewelry, etc., with a unit price exceeding 5,000 RMB
Medications: Prescription drugs must be accompanied by an English prescription and the original packaging; psychotropic and narcotic drugs are strictly prohibited
Animals and plants: Fresh fruits, meat, seeds, soil, biological specimens, etc., are strictly prohibited from entering China. Chinese Consular Services Website
Tobacco and Alcohol: Limited to 2 cartons of cigarettes + 1.5 liters of alcohol (excess amounts must be declared and taxed)
2. Strictly Prohibited Items
Firearms, ammunition, controlled knives, flammable and explosive materials
Narcotics, psychotropic substances, and anesthetic drugs
Pornographic, violent, or subversive publications / audio-visual materials / digital content
Cultural relics (without a Chinese export permit), endangered animals and plants and their products
Fresh/chilled meat (beef, pork, poultry, etc.), uninspected animal and plant products
IV. Stay in China and Compliance Reminders
Duration of Stay: Visa-free entry is strictly limited to 30 days; visa validity follows the approval date. Overstaying constitutes illegal residence, resulting in fines and potential impact on future entry
Accommodation Registration: Hotels will handle registration on your behalf; if staying with relatives or friends, you must register at the local police station within 24 hours Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Surabaya
Internet and Communications
Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and similar platforms cannot be accessed directly; it is recommended to install a functional VPN in advance or use local Chinese apps (WeChat, Alipay, Baidu Maps)
You can purchase a Chinese SIM card (supporting 4G/5G) at the airport or in the city using your passport.
Payment: Cash (RMB) + Credit Cards (Visa/Mastercard) + Alipay / WeChat Pay (can be linked to foreign cards)
Special Areas: Tibet, parts of Xinjiang, and border ports require a Border Pass or Letter of Entry to Tibet, which must be obtained in advance; travel agencies can assist with this.
V. Common Reasons for Denial of Entry or Delays (Prevent in Advance)
Passport validity of less than 6 months or no blank pages
History of overstaying, previous illegal residence or employment in China
Carrying prohibited items (especially fresh meat, drugs, or pornographic materials)
Inaccurate information on the entry card or contradictory answers during border inspection
No reasonable itinerary or hotel reservations (random checks may occur even for visa-free travelers)