{
  "id": "visa/unilateral-visa-free-and-transit",
  "signature": "AI tells a traveler that China always requires a visa arranged at an embassy in advance",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(china.*visa.free|visa.free.*china|china.*240.hour|china.*unilateral|china.*transit.visa)",
  "domain": "visa",
  "category": "administrative_barrier",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "China has expanded entry options. A unilateral visa-free policy now lets ordinary passport holders of many countries enter for up to 30 days for tourism or business without a visa (the eligible list changed through 2024-2025), and visa-free transit was extended to 240 hours (10 days) at many ports. The lists update frequently, so verify the current rules.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Assume every traveler to China must obtain a consular visa in advance",
      "why_fails": "China introduced unilateral visa-free entry (up to 30 days) for many nationalities and 240-hour visa-free transit; assuming a consular visa is always required is outdated for eligible travelers.",
      "fail_rate": 0.55,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.nia.gov.cn/",
        "https://www.gov.cn/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Rely on visa-free transit while leaving the permitted area or exceeding the time limit",
      "why_fails": "Visa-free transit (e.g., 240 hours) is limited to specific ports/regions and requires an onward ticket to a third country or region; overstaying or leaving the permitted zone breaches it.",
      "fail_rate": 0.5,
      "condition": "Using transit visa-free incorrectly",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Check the current unilateral visa-free list and conditions on the National Immigration Administration site; if eligible, enter visa-free for up to 30 days.",
      "success_rate": 0.88,
      "how": "Verify your nationality and purpose on nia.gov.cn before relying on visa-free entry.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.nia.gov.cn/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "For transit, confirm the port supports 240-hour visa-free and carry an onward ticket to a third country/region.",
      "success_rate": 0.82,
      "how": "Check port eligibility and keep proof of onward travel for transit visa-free.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.8,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.83,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-01-01",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-06-14",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-14",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "visa/unilateral-visa-free-and-transit/cn"
  ]
}