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Do German passport holders need a visa for China?

Covers 11 passports and 80 destinations. Rules older than 30 days are flagged for re-check.

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We read the official notice for each pair and record the date. Nothing here is generated; a pair with no written check is not shown.

No visa. German passport holders enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026.

The Auswärtiges Amt lists business and tourist travel, visits, academic and cultural exchange and transit, and adds that you must register with the police within 24 hours of arrival; a hotel does this for you. Hong Kong and Macao have separate entry rules.

Source: National Immigration Administration of China; Auswärtiges Amt. Checked Oct 2, 2026See the source

Maximum stay: 30 days; Per visit; counted from the day after entry.
Valid until: 31 Dec 2026; Current extension of the scheme.
Passport validity: Planned stay; Auswärtiges Amt: for visa-free entry, at least the planned stay.
Arrival card: Required; Entry declaration; electronic form recommended.
Pre-registration: None; No application for the exemption.

Before you fly

China visa-free entry

Who qualifies, the 240-hour transit

Read the guide China travel guide

Entry, money, when to go

Read the guide eSIM and phones

Data plans before you land

DestinationsWhere to go, when to go and how to get around in 221 countries. Every practical fact shows the date we checked it and who checked it.Where to stayNeighborhoods walked end to end: who each area suits, how far it is from the airport train, and the hotels we would book ourselves.PlanVisas and entry rules, travel insurance, eSIMs and rail passes, explained in plain words and rechecked when the rules change.EventsFestivals, concerts and tours with confirmed dates, rooms near the venue and the fastest way on to the next city.StoriesField reports and data stories from the road. We time the queues, count the costs and say what changed since last year.