1. Do I need a visa to travel to China from Spain in 2026?
No. Since 1 December 2023 China has applied a unilateral visa exemption to holders of ordinary Spanish passports. It started as a 15-day pilot, was extended to 30 days in November 2024 and, in November 2025, was renewed until 24:00 on 31 December 2026. This is confirmed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by China's consulates in Spain.
The exemption covers five purposes: tourism, business (meetings, trade fairs, commercial visits), visiting family or friends, exchanges and transit. It does not cover work, study or residence — those require a specific visa before leaving Spain.
A private trip to China of 10, 14 or even 21 days, like the ones we design, fits comfortably within the 30 days allowed.
2. China visa-free in 2027: will the exemption be extended?
As of this update, China has not announced an extension beyond 31 December 2026 for Spain or the other European countries. There is no reason for alarm, but there is every reason to plan carefully:
- Every previous extension was announced in November (late November 2024 and 3 November 2025), and the policy has never lapsed.
- The trend is expansive: in 2026 China added the United Kingdom and Canada, and in May it already extended Russia's exemption to the end of 2027.
- Until there is an official announcement, a trip starting on or after 1 January 2027 cannot be assumed to be visa-free.
Travelling in January or February 2027? Book flights and hotels with free changes or cancellation and wait for the November announcement. If there is no confirmation by early December, the prudent move is to apply for a tourist visa (L) before 31 December, while the reduced fee and the fingerprint exemption for short-stay visas still apply.
3. Requirements to enter China visa-free
Visa-free does not mean check-free. At the border you may be asked to show that you meet the conditions. Always carry:
- A valid ordinary Spanish passport. Mainland China does not require a minimum validity, but Hong Kong requires six months and many airlines apply that rule at boarding — we recommend at least six months of validity.
- A confirmed onward or return ticket within the 30 days. If you cannot prove your departure, entry may be refused.
- Accommodation bookings or your trip itinerary (included in your travel dossier).
- The arrival card, which since 20 November 2025 can be completed online before you travel.
- Travel insurance with broad medical cover and repatriation: Spanish public healthcare does not operate in China and treatment is usually paid upfront.
How the 30 days are counted: from the day after arrival. Plan your departure with one or two days to spare — overstaying can lead to heavy fines, administrative detention and problems with future entries.
4. Online arrival card, registration and other steps on arrival
Online arrival card
You can complete it before flying via the website of China's National Immigration Administration, the 12367 app, the WeChat or Alipay mini-programs, or by scanning the QR code at the airport. It saves time in the immigration queue.
Accommodation registration within 24 hours
Hotels register their guests automatically. If you stay in a private home, you must register at the nearest police station within 24 hours (72 hours in rural areas).
Look after your passport
Do not let tourist attractions put souvenir stamps in your passport: they are not official and can cause problems at border control. Do not hand over your passport except for brief official procedures.
Hong Kong, Macau and Tibet
Hong Kong and Macau have their own rules: 90 days visa-free for tourism. Tibet requires a special permit (Tibet Travel Permit) and travel with an authorised agency.
5. If your trip exceeds 30 days or starts in 2027: tourist visa and 240-hour transit
Tourist visa (L)
Apply online through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Madrid (visaforchina.cn). Usual processing: 4 to 10 working days. Until 31/12/2026: reduced fee and no fingerprints for visas under 180 days.
240-hour transit
Up to 10 days visa-free entering through one of 65 designated ports, with a confirmed ticket to a third country or region and staying within the permitted provinces. Madrid → Shanghai → Madrid does not qualify; Madrid → Shanghai → Hong Kong does, and so does Madrid → Beijing → Seoul → Madrid. No end date has been announced.
Hainan
China's tropical southern island allows visa-free entry for up to 30 days to citizens of 59 countries, Spain included, for tourism, business or medical treatment.
For longer business stays there is the M visa; for work, the Z visa; for study, the X visa. All must be obtained before travelling.
6. China visa for Latin Americans: Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mexico and more
Since 1 June 2025 China has applied the same 30-day exemption to five Latin American countries, also until 31 December 2026:
Dual nationality? Travel on the passport that qualifies for the exemption and use it from start to finish of the trip.
7. How we handle it at Viavora Travel
Our job is to make sure the visa is never a worry. On every trip to China:
- We review your case (nationality, dates, length and route) before finalising the proposal and tell you whether you need a visa.
- We monitor the rules and let you know as soon as an official change affects your trip.
- If a visa is needed, we handle it for you: the service appears in your proposal with its own fee, and consular fees are charged at actual cost.
- It's optional: if you already have a visa or prefer to apply yourself, we remove it from the quote.
- Your travel dossier includes the entry checklist, the arrival card explained step by step and our 24-hour contact.