China Entry Requirements for U.S. Citizens in 2025

We are an independent information and assistance service, not the Chinese government or the National Immigration Administration.

Information about this new digital system is still being updated, and more details are expected around and after November 20, 2025.

Are you a U.S. citizen planning to visit China? This page explains the documents required, the China entry requirements U.S. travelers must comply with before visiting the country and what is the China Arrival Card for Americans.

Do US Citizens Need a Visa to Enter China for Tourism?

For mainland China, U.S. citizens almost always need a visa in advance, even for a short vacation.

Key points for mainland China (PRC):

  • A valid tourist “L” visa is required for most US travelers visiting mainland China as tourists.
  • You must apply before you travel at a Chinese embassy, consulate, or Chinese Visa Application Service Center in the United States. There is no standard visa on arrival for US tourists.
  • Your U.S. passport should generally be valid for at least 6 months beyond entry and have blank visa pages (exact rules can vary slightly by consulate).
  • Airlines will usually refuse boarding if you don’t have the correct visa, and Chinese border authorities can deny entry or order immediate return at your expense.

If you are an American tourist and want a simple holiday that includes Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, or other mainland cities (not just Hong Kong or Macao), you should plan on getting a Chinese tourist visa before you fly.

Please note that, as of November 2025, visitors from the United States and other countries must also present a valid China Arrival Card upon entry.

How long can I stay in China with a tourist visa as a U.S. citizen?

For most US citizens, a tourist (L) visa for China allows a short stay of around 30 days per entry.

The exact number of days you’re allowed to stay is printed on the visa itself, as “Duration of Each Stay” (for example, 30 days per entry). That number is what Chinese immigration and airlines will follow.

Important: your total visa validity (e.g., 10 years) is not the same as your allowed stay per trip. For instance, if your Chinese visa shows 30 days per entry, you must leave mainland China on or before day 30, unless you have obtained a legal extension.

American citizens who overstay, even by a few days, can face fines, problems at departure, or issues getting future visas.

Can U.S. Travelers Visit China Without a Visa?

If you’re a U.S. passport holder not doing a simple round trip, but transiting through China on the way to a third country, you may not need a tourist visa at all.

China’s transit without visa (TWOV) schemes include:

  • 24-hour transit without a visa at many ports, for most nationalities, as long as you leave China within 24 hours and continue to a third country (not back to the US directly).
  • Up to 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit for eligible nationalities, including US passport holders, when using specific airports and routes and continuing on to a third country.

Important conditions usually include:

  • You must be in transit: for example, US-China-Japan, not US-China-US.
  • You need a confirmed onward ticket and sometimes proof of accommodation during your stay.
  • You must enter and exit through approved ports and stay within allowed regions for the transit policy you’re using.

TWOV is not a replacement for a full tourist L visa if you’re doing a regular there-and-back vacation.

What is the China Arrival Card for U.S. Travelers?

The China Arrival Card (also called an entry card or electronic entry form) is a short, mandatory entry form that American passengers must submit before entering China.

This travel document records the identity, trip details, and basic declarations so border officers can process travelers from the United States on arrival.

For U.S. citizens, the China arrival card:

  • Confirms passport and contact details
  • States travel purpose and length of stay
  • Records the address where the traveler will stay in China

The arrival card is not a visa and does not replace a Chinese visa where one is required. It is an additional entry requirement alongside the passport and visa.

What Documents Do U.S. Citizens Need to Apply for the China Arrival Card?

Passport details for American citizens who want to travel to China

U.S. travelers must enter the information exactly as shown on their U.S. passport:

  • Full name
  • Passport number
  • Nationality (United States)
  • Date of birth

Any difference between the arrival card and the passport can cause delays at immigration.

Travel and stay information in China for U.S. citizens

The arrival card for U.S. citizens normally requires:

  • Arrival date and port of entry
  • Flight number or transport details
  • Planned length of stay in China
  • Main destination city
  • Accommodation address (hotel or host)

American travelers should keep their bookings handy while filling out the form.

Contact and health declarations in China for U.S. citizens

Depending on current regulations, the form may ask U.S. travelers for:

  • Contact phone number and email
  • Emergency contact details
  • Basic health or recent-travel declarations

How Do U.S. Citizens Fill Out the China Arrival Card?

  1. Step 1: Prepare information

    Before starting, U.S. travelers should have:

    • Passport
    • Flight details
    • Hotel confirmation or host address

    Having these documents nearby helps avoid mistakes and incomplete fields.

  2. Step 2: Complete the guided form for Americans

    On ArrivalCardChina.com, American citizens follow a short, structured form. Each screen explains:

    • Which field is required
    • How the information should appear
    • Examples when something might be confusing

    This helps reduce spelling errors, missing digits, or mismatched dates that could slow down border checks.

  3. Step 3: Review and submit

    The system prompts U.S. travelers to review every section before sending. Our team checks the information for:

    • Obvious typing mistakes
    • Missing mandatory fields
    • Inconsistencies between answers

    If something needs clarification, Customer Support contacts the traveler so corrections can be made in time for the trip.

  4. How Long Can U.S. Citizens Stay in China With a Valid Visa?

    The allowed time in China for U.S. travelers depends on:

    • The type of Chinese visa (tourist, business, transit, family visit, etc.)
    • The number of entries and the duration printed on that visa

    Typical stays for American travelers may range from a few days (for transit or short visits) to several weeks or months for other visa types.

    However:

    • The arrival card must match the planned stay and travel purpose.
    • If a U.S. citizen extends their stay, they must follow local immigration rules, which may include updating registration details with local authorities.

Important: The China Arrival Card itself does not set the maximum stay for U.S. citizens. The visa does.

Do U.S. Citizens Need to Visit a Chinese Embassy for the Arrival Card?

For most travelers, the China Arrival Card does not require a visit to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate.

  • Embassy visits are usually related to visa applications, visa renewals, or special consular requests
  • The arrival card is an entry declaration, completed shortly before travel

ArrivalCardChina.com offers an online service so U.S. citizens can prepare this requirement without going to an embassy office. The platform focuses on clarity and support, especially for travelers who prefer to handle documents in English with extra guidance.

How Does ArrivalCardChina.com Support U.S. Citizens in Their China Arrival Card Application?

Our site ArrivalCardChina.com can help travelers from the United States as follows:

  • Shares up-to-date, highly specialized information about the China Arrival Card
  • Provides instructions tailored to U.S. citizens and common American travel patterns
  • Reviews applications to help catch errors before they lead to issues at the border
  • Offers multilingual customer support in more than 15 languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and others
  • Protects personal data with secure encryption and never sells information to third parties
  • Allows travelers to request a refund of our service fee if an application is rejected, under the conditions stated on our site

FAQs: China Arrival Card for U.S. Citizens in 2025

Should I apply for a visa when visiting Hong Kong or Macao as an American citizen? Toggle faqs

American travelers must remember that Hong Kong and Macao have their own entry rules.

Citizens from the United States can usually visit Hong Kong and Macao visa-free for up to 90 days, but this does not replace a visa for mainland China.

Crossing from Hong Kong or Macao into mainland China still requires the proper mainland visa (or an eligible transit/port arrangement).

Do U.S. citizens always need a China Arrival Card? Toggle faqs

Yes. As a rule, U.S. citizens entering China must complete the arrival card, even when they already hold a valid visa or qualify for short-term transit.

Can American travelers complete one arrival card for the whole family? Toggle faqs

No. Each U.S. traveler, including children, should have an individual form with their own details.

Can U.S. citizens change their accommodation after submitting the arrival card? Toggle faqs

Plans can change, but U.S. travelers should keep records of their final hotel or host details. Local registration rules may apply depending on where they stay in China.

What if a U.S. citizen makes a mistake on the arrival card? Toggle faqs

If a mistake is noticed before travel, travelers from the U.S. using ArrivalCardChina.com can reply to the Customer Support team so corrections can be handled promptly.