Guangzhou Visa-Free: Visa-free Stay for 6 to 30 Days
Guangzhou's visa-free policies fall into three types: the ordinary visa-free policy, which includes a 30-day mutual visa-free and a unilateral visa-free.
Another is a transit visa exemption, covering a 240-hour visa-free transit and a 15-day cruise visa-free.
The third type is a regional visa exemption, which means a 6-day visa-free stay for foreign tour groups from the Hong Kong and Macao regions.
If you meet the requirements for both ordinary visa exemption and transit visa exemption, it's advisable to choose the more lenient and flexible ordinary visa exemption. This way, you can not only stay for a longer period but also have fewer restrictions on your itinerary.
| Policy | Eligible Country | Requirement | Stay Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Visa-free | 31 countries | Hold a Valid Passport | 30 days |
| Unilateral Visa-free | 47 Countries | Hold a Valid Passport | 30 days |
| 240-hour Visa-free Transit in Guangzhou | 55 Countries | Bound for a Third Country or Third Region | 10 days |
| 6-day Visa-free from Hong Kong and Macao to Guangzhou | 183 countries | At Least 2 People | 6 days |
| 15-day Cruise Visa-free in Guangzhou | / | At Least 2 People | 15 days |
30-day Visa-free in Guangzhou
China has implemented unilateral visa-free or mutual visa-exemption policies for many countries. As long as you come from these countries and have a passport valid for more than 6 months, you can enter through any open port in Guangzhou and stay visa-free for 30 days in Guangzhou.
You can enter or exit through the following main 3 ports with a valid passport: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Guangzhou Pazhou Ferry Terminal, and Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Home Port.
Eligible Countries for Mutual Visa-Free (31 countries)
- Asia (11 countries): the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Armenia, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan
- Europe (5 countries): San Marino, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania, Russia
- Americas (7 countries): Bahamas, Ecuador, Grenada, Barbados, Suriname, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda
- Oceania (5 countries): Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Independent State of Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia
- Africa (2 countries): Seychelles, Mauritius
Allowable Countries for Unilateral Visa-Free (47 countries)
- Europe (33 countries): France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Russia, Canada, the United Kingdom
- Asia (7countries): South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Brunei
- Oceania (2 countries): New Zealand, Australia
- Americas (5 countries): Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay
30-day Visa-free in Guangzhou Requirements
1. You come from one of the visa-free countries.
2. Your passport is valid for more than 6 months.
3. Starting from the day after your arrival, your stay cannot exceed 30 days.
240-Hour Visa-free Transit in Guangzhou
Citizens from 55 countries who are flying through Guangdong to a third country or region can stay visa-free in Guangdong for 10 days.
Americas (6 countries): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
Europe (40 countries): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway
Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand
Asia (7 countries): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia
240-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Guangzhou Requirements
1. Come from one of the 55 countries eligible for transit without a visa.
2. Hold a passport valid for more than 3 months.
3. Fill out the Temporary Entry Card for Foreigners and accept inspection and inquiry from Chinese customs staff.
4. Hold a connecting ticket to a third country or region. The departure date of this connecting ticket must be within 10 days after you enter China, and it must have confirmed seat information.
Eligible 240-hour Visa-free Transit Route
You must be traveling to a third country or region to enjoy the 240-hour transit. A third country refers to any country other than your country of departure and China, while a third region refers to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
How to Calculate 240 Hours
The 10-day visa-free stay period starts from 00:00 on the day after arrival. For example, if you arrive in Guangzhou at 15:00 on June 1st, your visa-free stay will begin at 00:00 on June 2nd. You need to leave before 24:00 on June 11th.
Related Reading: 240-hour Visa-free Transit in China
6-day Visa-Free from Hong Kong and Macao to Guangzhou
Citizens from countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, upon arriving in Hong Kong or Macau and booking their itinerary through a locally registered travel agency, can enjoy a 6-day visa-free stay in Guangzhou.
Below are the 183 countries that have established friendly diplomatic relations with China:
Asia (45 countries): Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, North Korea, East Timor, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
Europe (44 countries): Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
America (28 countries): Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela
Oceania (13 countries): Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea
Africa (53 countries): Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
6-day Visa-Free from Hong Kong and Macao to Guangzhou Requirement
1. You must hold a passport valid for more than 6 months.
2. You come from one of the countries that have established diplomatic relations with China.
3. Join a tour group of at least 2 people organized by a travel agency registered in Hong Kong or Macau.
4. The tour group must enter and exit China together.
5. Your stay in Guangzhou cannot exceed 6 days, counting from the day after your arrival.
Related Reading: Do you need a visa to enter Hong Kong
15-day Cruise Visa-free in Guangzhou
After booking your trip with China Travel and entering via Guangzhou Nansha Passenger Port, you can stay visa-free in Guangzhou for up to 15 days.
15-day Cruise Visa -free in Guangzhou Requirements
1. You must hold a passport valid for more than six months.
2. Join a tour group of at least 2 people organized by a Chinese travel agency.
3. The tour group must enter and exit China together by ship.
4. Your stay in Guangzhou cannot exceed 15 days, starting from the day after your arrival.
How to Plan Your Guangzhou Visa-free Tour
If your stay is less than one day, you can visit must-see attractions in Guangzhou, such as the Canton Tower or Chen Clan Ancestral Hall. If your stay exceeds one day, you might as well delve into Guangzhou's culture and cuisine, or even take a trip to nearby cities.
24-Hour: Check Out Classic Attractions
First Stop: Visit the Canton Tower
The Canton Tower is a modern symbol of Guangzhou. You can take photos with the Slender Waist (another name for the tower) on the Haixin Bridge or ascend to the tower's top for a panoramic view of the city.
How to Get to Guangzhou Tower: take Line 3 or the APM line, get off at Canton Tower Station, and exit through Exit A.
Second Stop: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall or Shamian Island
Experience the essence of Lingnan architecture or European charm. Shamian Island is perfect for a stroll and an afternoon tea, making it an ideal spot to relax after a long flight.
How to Get to Chen Clan Ancestral Hall: take Line 1 or Line 8, get off at Chen Clan Ancestral Hall Station, and exit via Exit D.
2-Day: Immerse in Culture and Savor Cuisine
Day 1: Journey Through Time. Spend the morning at Yuexiu Park to see the Five-Goat Statue, visit Yongqing Fang in the afternoon to admire the arcade buildings, and end the day with a night cruise on the Pearl River.
How to Get to Yongqing Fang: take Line 1 or Line 6, get off at Huangsha Station, and leave through Exit B.
Day 2: Culinary Adventure. Head to Beijing Road Pedestrian Street, where you can not only see the thousand-year-old ancient road ruins but also enjoy countless street snacks (rice noodle rolls, double-skinned milk, wonton noodles).
How to Get to Beijing Road Pedestrian Street: take Line 1 or Line 2, get off at Gongyuanqian Station, and exit from Exit D.
4-Day: Explore the Greater Bay Area
The 30-day visa exemption and 240-hour visa-free transit allow you to travel across cities, extending your itinerary to nearby cities.
Foshan: Just an hour's drive from Guangzhou, visit Bruce Lee's hometown and watch the Lion Dance performance at the Ancestral Temple.
Shunde: A true food paradise, it's definitely worth a trip for a taste of Shunde cuisine.
Shenzhen: Experience the speed and modernity of China's Silicon Valley, just a 35-minute high-speed train ride from Guangzhou South Railway Station.
Travel Tips:
- Download Alipay or WeChat on your phone and link an overseas credit card before entering the country. Most places in Guangzhou, including street stalls, now support QR code payments for foreign tourists.
- Purchase an international roaming package in advance or get a temporary SIM card at the airport for easy access to maps at any time.
Related Reading: Apps for China Travel
Booking Your Guangzhou Tour
To make your visa-free trip truly hassle-free, we offer comprehensive services: from thoughtful airport pick-up/drop-off to custom tours that dive deep into local food culture; from helping you get a temporary SIM card to guiding you through mobile payment setup.
We'll not only help you avoid minor issues during policy implementation but also ensure you efficiently explore the best Lingnan attractions within your limited time. Contact your trip advisor-let us craft a delightful visa-free Guangzhou trip for you!
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