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.
French travelers land in the left branch: on the 30-day visa-free list, no onward ticket required.
## 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](https://en.nia.gov.cn/)
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:
30 days is a hard ceiling per entry; the clock starts at 00:00 the day after you land.
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](/en/esim/) before departure.
- Cash and foreign cards are awkward; [setting up Alipay with a French card](/en/pay/alipay-for-foreigners/) lets you pay like a local.
Then it's timing and route — see [the best time to visit China](/en/best-time-to-visit-china/) and our guides to [Beijing](/en/beijing/), [Shanghai](/en/shanghai/) and [Chengdu](/en/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.
Paris–Beijing runs about 11h 20m, roughly 19 times a week.
## 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](https://www.visaforchina.cn/) before travelling to one.
## Other nationalities
- [Germany](/en/visa-free/germany/) — visa-free, 30 days
- [Italy](/en/visa-free/italy/) — visa-free, 30 days
- [Spain](/en/visa-free/spain/) — visa-free, 30 days
- [United States](/en/visa-free/us/) — not visa-free; needs a visa or transit
- [The two visa-free schemes, fully explained](/en/visa-free/)
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**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](https://en.nia.gov.cn/) or the Chinese Embassy in France before booking.
