Passport Atlas
China

Passport Atlas

China travel, immigration and PR

China has widened transit without visa and some unilateral visa-free lists, but work, residence and the Chinese green card remain a strict, separate system.

Travel

Openness rank

#136

Entry openness

81

Visa free

81

Briefing updated

2026-09

Country profile

Capital

Beijing

Population

1.41 billion

Area

9,596,960 km²

Currency

Chinese yuan CNY

Languages

Chinese

Time zone

UTC+08:00

Foreign-born

1.6 million · 2024

Migrant share

0.1%

Ethnic groups · 2021

  • Han Chinese91.1%
  • ethnic minorities8.9%

Foreign-born counts are UN international migrant stock via the World Bank (mostly 2024). Ethnic groups follow each country's published categories — most do not census by skin colour. Indicative only.

Entry visas and immigration pathsPassport visa-free listPaperwork and passport photosVisa siteImmigration site

Who this handbook is for

For foreign-passport holders planning transit, business or tourism, and anyone who must distinguish L / M / Z visas from a residence permit.

How to visit, and for how long

Transit without visa (24 / 72 / 144 / 240 hours) is bound to ports, geography and onward tickets — it is not a tourist visa. Some passports get unilateral visa-free short stays. Port lists move quickly; use the National Immigration Administration notice.

How to work or reside

Work needs a Z visa plus a work and residence permit, usually after an employer and expert-bureau approval. X is study, Q family, S private affairs. A tourist visa is not permission to work.

PR and citizenship

The Chinese green card is a high bar: typically high-level talent, substantial investment or a Chinese spouse, with limited grants. It is not citizenship. Use current NIA rules.

Time to PR：No single clock; talent and family dominate

How popular passports enter

FAQ

Can TWOV be used for a multi-city trip?

It depends on the hour band and the geographic scope tied to the port. Outside that area, or without a qualifying onward ticket, apply for a visa instead.

Does a foreign spouse automatically get a Chinese green card?

No. Marriage is one possible ground, still subject to years, residence and screening. Approval is not a right.

Does a US passport need a visa?

On this site’s matrix the result is “Visa required”. confirm length of stay with the destination. The port and mission are authoritative.

Related destination guides

Handbooks summarise public sources so you can cross-check the visa matrix and policy playbooks. They are not legal advice. Quotas, stay lengths and visa-free lists move — confirm with the destination government and its missions before you travel or file.