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Travelling to China with a Spanish passport: visa waiver and visas

Viajar a China con pasaporte español: exención de visado y visados

What it is

According to China's embassy and consulates in Spain, holders of an ordinary Spanish passport can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting family or friends, exchanges and transit, for stays of up to 30 days; the measure applies until 31 December 2026. The 30 calendar days are counted from the day after entry. Minors have the same conditions as adults. You need an ordinary passport valid for the trip; the waiver does not apply to travel documents or temporary or emergency documents. It does not cover work, study or news reporting: for these, or to stay more than 30 days, you must apply in advance for the corresponding visa at Chinese consulates; anyone who entered without a visa and needs to stay longer for good reason applies for a stay permit to the Chinese police exit and entry authority. It is advisable to carry documents proving the purpose of the trip (invitation, tickets, hotel bookings). In Spain, visas are applied for through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Madrid (www.visaforchina.cn).

Official wording
免签入境停留期限自入境次日起计算，可连续停留30个自然日。

Official sources

Where it applies
All of Spain

Official information

Official sources

Go to the official website: Visa waiver FAQ (Consulate in Barcelona)

When

For trips to China for business, tourism, visiting family or friends, exchanges or transit of up to 30 days, entering by 31 December 2026 (the date to which the exemption for Spain has been extended).

Official wording
中方对西班牙等国单方面免签政策延期至2026年12月31日24时。

Official sources

Steps

  1. Step 1: Check the purpose and length

    Work, study or news reporting are not covered, nor stays over 30 days: in those cases you must get the corresponding visa beforehand.

    Official wording
    来华工作、学习、采访报道等人员不属于免签范围。

    Official sources

  2. Step 2: Fill in the arrival card online (optional)

    Since 20 November 2025, before travelling you can fill in the arrival card online: the National Immigration Administration website, the “移民局12367” app, WeChat or Alipay mini-programs, or by scanning the card’s code.

    Official wording
    自2025年11月20日起，外国人来华前，可通过中国国家移民管理局政府网站

    Official sources

  3. Step 3: Enter through any open port

    There is no need to notify the consulate in advance. You can depart from any country and enter through any air, sea or land port open to foreigners. Border police check the purpose and admit you.

    Official wording
    符合条件的外国人适用免签政策来华无需事先向中国驻外使领馆申报。

    Official sources

  4. Step 4: Count the 30 days

    The 30 calendar days count from the day after entry. If, for a justified reason, you then need to stay longer, apply for a stay permit to the police exit-entry authority.

    Official wording
    免签入境停留期限自入境次日起计算，可连续停留30个自然日。

    Official sources

Documents

Your ticks are saved on this device only.

🖨 Printable bilingual document card (you can show it at the counter)

FAQ

Can I enter several times?

Yes. There is currently no limit on entries or total days, but you may not do activities that do not match the purpose of entry.

Official wording
目前对免签次数、总停留天数暂无限制

Official sources

I am only transiting through China

With 240-hour visa-free transit, a valid international travel document and a through ticket with confirmed date and route to a third country, you can enter through one of 65 ports in 24 provinces and stay up to 10 days in the permitted areas.

Official wording
可从24个省份65个开放口岸中的任一口岸免签入境，并在规定区域停留活动不超过10天。

Official sources

What if I only go to Hainan?

Spanish citizens can enter Hainan without a visa through any of its open ports, for tourism, business, visits, medical treatment, fairs or sport (not work or study), for up to 30 days.

Official wording
可从海南省的所有对外开放口岸免签入境海南，最长可停留30天。

Official sources

I lost my passport in China

You can leave with a new passport or emergency document: border police check your identity, entry record or loss report and the consulate’s documents; if you have not overstayed, they let you leave.

Official wording
如上述材料无误，且当事人未有超过免签期限停留等违法行为的情况，可依法为其办理出境手续。

Official sources

Related procedures

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