Visa-free · 30 days
Do French citizens need a visa for China?
French passport holders enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days. Here's what the rule covers, the 30-day trap, and when you'd still need a visa.
France sits on one of the busiest air corridors between Europe and China — and since December 2023, none of those flights need a visa. French passport holders enter the mainland visa-free for up to 30 days, a rule that’s since been extended through 2026. With Air France and Air China running close to 20 Paris–Beijing flights a week, the trip is now mostly a question of picking dates. Here’s exactly what the rule covers — and the few things it doesn’t.
Are French citizens visa-free for China?
Yes. France was in the first wave of December 2023 — the original group of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Malaysia — and ordinary French passport holders now enter for up to 30 days with no visa. The arrangement has been renewed and currently runs through 31 December 2026.
Which scheme applies to you — read this first
China runs two separate entry doors, and confusing them is what gets people refused at check-in. For French travelers the 30-day visa-free door is the easy one, but it helps to see the whole map.
What the visa-free entry covers
The official wording is deliberately broad:
“Nationals of the above countries holding ordinary passports may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visits to relatives and friends, exchange visits, or transit, for stays of up to 30 days.” — Policy interpretation, National Immigration Administration
A holiday, a business trip, visiting family, or transiting all qualify — no advance form, no fee.
The 30-day rule that catches people out
Generous, but exact — and this is where refusals happen:
The counter starts at 00:00 the day after you land, giving you slightly more than 30 calendar days — but 30 days is a hard ceiling per entry, and a trip to Hong Kong or Macau does not reset it.
What to bring
Very little, though officers can ask:
- A French passport valid comfortably beyond your trip (six months is the safe standard).
- Proof of onward or return travel within 30 days.
- A rough idea of where you’re staying.
Do the China Digital Arrival Card online shortly before you land to clear immigration faster.
Visa-free vs 240-hour transit vs a tourist visa
For nearly every French trip, visa-free wins:
| 30-day visa-free | 240-hour transit | Tourist (L) visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applies to the French? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Apply in advance? | No | No | Yes |
| Max stay | 30 days | 10 days | Printed on visa |
| Onward third-country ticket? | Not required | Required | Not required |
| Best for | Almost every trip | A short layover only | Stays over 30 days |
When you’d still need a visa
The visa-free door is wide but not unlimited. You need a proper visa for:
- Any stay longer than 30 days.
- Work, study, journalism or paid activity.
- A 2027 trip, unless the policy is renewed past its 31 December 2026 end date.
Already hold an old Chinese visa?
A still-valid multi-year Chinese visa keeps working — it doesn’t vanish because visa-free arrived. But for trips of 30 days or less, you no longer need it.
Your language is covered now
The inbound-tourism push made the key apps multilingual: Alipay runs in French, and Amap’s map is now available in French, so paying and navigating no longer mean Chinese-only screens. Set both up before you go.
Sort these before you land
Entry is the easy part now — connectivity and payment are the real first-timer traps:
- Western SIMs mostly don’t work usefully here, so arrange a China travel eSIM before departure.
- Cash and foreign cards are awkward; setting up Alipay with a French card lets you pay like a local.
Then it’s timing and route — see the best time to visit China and our guides to Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.
Getting there from France
Paris Charles de Gaulle is the hub: Air France and Air China fly CDG → Beijing in about 11h 20m — roughly 19 services a week as of mid-2026 — and CDG → Shanghai in about 12h 35m. It’s a long-haul run, so most French visitors plan a single multi-week loop through Beijing, Shanghai and one or two more cities rather than short repeat trips.
If you do need a visa: applying in France
Only needed for stays over 30 days, work or study. China runs Visa Application Service Centres in Paris, Marseille and Strasbourg — the Lyon centre closed on 14 June 2024 as visa-free entry cut demand. Confirm the current list and fingerprint rules on the official CVASC site before travelling to one.
Other nationalities
- Germany — visa-free, 30 days
- Italy — visa-free, 30 days
- Spain — visa-free, 30 days
- United States — not visa-free; needs a visa or transit
- The two visa-free schemes, fully explained
Last verified: 15 June 2026. Visa rules change frequently and the 30-day policy has a published end date. This is a general guide, not legal advice — confirm your own case with the National Immigration Administration or the Chinese Embassy in France before booking.