China Visa — Quick Reference
By xiaoyue \Update June 6.2025
Hey HYrox athletes – huge welcome to China!
Let’s quickly chat about China Visa.
Great news: many of you can enter China without a visa at all!
Depending on your different nationalities, no matter where you come to China from, there are three forms of visa free that you can choose from, namely transit visa-free, unilateral visa-free and mutual vis-afree.
Perfect if you’re just here for the competition and some quick exploring!
Three types for Visa-free
Visa-free Type | Transit Visa-free (240-hour) | Unilateral Visa-free | Mutual Visa-free |
Applicable Countries | Europe (40):Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland，Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Monaco. | Europe (32): Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland | Europe (5 )：Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, San Marino |
Americas (6): USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile | Americas (5): Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay | Americas (7)：Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Dominica, Ecuador, Suriname, Grenada | |
Oceania（2）:Australia, New Zealand | Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand | Oceania (4 )：Solomon Islands, Tonga, Fiji，Samoa | |
Asia(6): Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar | Asia(8): Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Brunei，audi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain | Asia (9 )：Thailand, Singapore，Maldives, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Armenia, Georgia，Uzbekistan | |
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| Africa (2)：Mauritius, Seychelles | |
Duration | 10 days | 15-30 days | 30 days |
Stay Area | Designated areas in 24 provinces (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong; cross-province travel permitted within zone) | Nationwide (all open ports) | Nationwide (all open ports) |
Procedure | 1. Hold valid passport + confirmed onward ticket to third country | Direct entry with passport + proof of itinerary (e.g., return ticket, hotel booking) | Direct entry with passport; some require additional docs (e.g., Uzbekistan: onward ticket for >30-day stays) |
Extension | Overstay requires application for stay permit from local PSB | Beyond 30 days requires visa; emergency extensions via PSB | Generally not extendable; overstay requires visa application |
Remarks | Must leave for third country(0r area) within 240 hours; no work/study; | For tourism/business/family visits only; no work/study | Must comply with purpose of visit; work/study require separate visas |
Not from a visa-free country? Or perhaps you’d like to stay longer and travel around China after your race?
No problem! Simply apply for a Tourist Visa (L Visa), which allows you to explore China for up to 90 days.
The process is straightforward:
- Apply online via China’s visa application website.
Online visa portal: https://cova.mfa.gov.cn
- Visit your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate with your passport and photo.
That’s it! Minimal paperwork, and you’re good to go.
Note: Online visa applications are not available for all countries. Please verify eligibility before starting.
For detailed information on China’s visa-free policies or step-by-step visa application guidance, click read more！