Last reviewed: October 17, 2026. Entry rules change often. Check the official links in this post and your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate before you book flights.
China entry rules for founders are the visa and visa-free options that decide how a US or European hardware founder can legally enter mainland China for a short business trip, such as a factory visit in Shenzhen. As of October 17, 2026, most EU passports can use a visa-free entry, US passports need a visa, and both can use a transit option in some cases.
Rules as of October 17, 2026: check your consulate
This post summarizes official notices that were live on the review date above. It is not legal advice. The visa-free policy for most EU states is scheduled to end at 24:00 on December 31, 2026. If China announces a renewal for 2027, we will update this post and the review date.
Which European passports can enter China without a visa in December 2026?
China runs a one-way (unilateral) visa-free policy for ordinary passports from a fixed list of countries. The Chinese embassy notice of November 4, 2025 extended it to 24:00 on December 31, 2026, for 45 countries. Holders can stay for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchange or transit.
The EU states on that list are France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Denmark, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Malta, Estonia and Latvia. The list also covers Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. Sweden was added from November 10, 2025, according to the Beijing municipal government (November 4, 2025).
Two EU states, Czechia and Lithuania, do not appear in the published list. If you hold one of those passports, ask your consulate which option applies to you.
UK and Canadian founders often travel with European teams. Their passports were added from February 17, 2026, on the same terms and with the same December 31 end date, as the Shanghai government reported on February 15, 2026.
Do US citizens need a visa for a business trip to China in 2026?
Yes, in most cases. The United States is not on the visa-free list above. A founder who visits factories, meets suppliers or attends a business program usually applies for a business (M) visa. The Chinese embassy in the United States explains how to apply through the visa centers and consulates.
The embassy's fee notice (updated December 29, 2025) lists USD 140 for a single-entry visa for US citizens, at a reduced rate that runs until December 31, 2026. Visa centers can add service fees, so check the total before you submit.
Before you travel, also read the US State Department's travel advisory for mainland China. In October 2026 it shows Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution".
What is the 240-hour visa-free transit, and can a founder use it?
The 240-hour visa-free transit lets citizens of eligible countries enter China without a visa when they travel through China to a third country or region. The State Council announced the 240-hour (10-day) stay on December 17, 2024. The United States is on the eligible list.
The Shanghai government's policy page (updated August 20, 2026) lists 57 countries, 65 ports and permitted areas in 24 provincial-level regions. Guangdong, the province of Shenzhen, is one of them. Business visits are allowed. Work, study and news reporting are not.
The Beijing government FAQ (February 26, 2025) lists the conditions:
- A passport of an eligible country, valid for at least three months.
- A confirmed onward ticket (date and seat) to a third country or region, leaving within 240 hours.
- You meet the entry rules of that third country or region.
- An arrival card for temporary entry. The border officer decides on the spot.
The key word is third. A round trip from the US to China and back to the US does not fit the rule as written. A trip such as US to Shenzhen, then on to Tokyo, can fit. Many travelers use Hong Kong as the onward region. The official pages above do not say this in plain words, so confirm with your airline and the border authority before you rely on it.
Can I fly into Hong Kong and cross into Shenzhen?
Yes, and many founders do. Hong Kong has its own entry rules. The Hong Kong Immigration Department lists a visa-free visit of up to 90 days for US ordinary passports. Check the same table for your own passport.
Hong Kong entry does not give you entry to mainland China. At the border with Shenzhen you need a Chinese visa, a visa-free passport, or a valid transit case. Shenzhen has several land crossings, for example Luohu, Futian, Huanggang and Liantang, which the Shenzhen government named in its November 3, 2025 notice. The same notice added the West Kowloon high-speed rail port and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge port to the 240-hour transit list.
What is an invitation letter, and when do I need one?
An invitation letter is a short letter from a host in China. It supports a business visa application. The consulate uses it to check who you are, why you come and who is responsible for the visit. It usually states:
- About you: full name, gender, date of birth and passport number.
- About the trip: purpose, arrival and departure dates, places you will visit and who pays.
- About the host: name, address, phone number, official stamp, signature of the legal representative and the date.
The exact list depends on the visa center. Read the M-visa checklist on the embassy site for your area. Visa-free travelers usually do not need a letter, but a copy of your program and hotel booking helps if the border officer asks why you are visiting.
Entry options by passport group (December 2026)
| Passport | Main option for a Shenzhen trip | Backup option | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most EU states, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland | Visa-free entry, up to 30 days, until Dec 31, 2026 | Business (M) visa | Embassy notice, Nov 4, 2025 |
| Czechia, Lithuania | Ask your consulate | 240-hour transit, if eligible | Shanghai policy page, Aug 20, 2026 |
| United Kingdom, Canada | Visa-free entry, up to 30 days, until Dec 31, 2026 | Business (M) visa | Shanghai government, Feb 15, 2026 |
| United States | Business (M) visa | 240-hour transit with an onward ticket to a third country or region | State Council, Dec 17, 2024 |
What happens if the visa-free policy is renewed for 2027?
As of the review date, China has not announced a renewal of the unilateral visa-free policy beyond December 31, 2026. Past extensions came as short notices from the Foreign Ministry and the embassies, like the November 2025 notice above. If a renewal comes, it does not change a trip in December 2026. It matters only if your stay crosses into January 2027. In that case, plan your exit before midnight on December 31, or apply for a visa.
We re-check the official sources every week until December and change the review date at the top when anything moves.
A simple checklist for founders
- Check your passport. The business visa checklist asks for at least six months of validity and blank visa pages. The transit rule asks for at least three months.
- Find your group in the table above and open the official link.
- US founders: apply for the visa early, or plan a real onward ticket for the 240-hour transit.
- Keep a printed copy of your program, hotel booking and return ticket.
- Buy travel and medical insurance for the whole trip.
Next steps in this series: how to find a manufacturer in Shenzhen in 2026, the Huaqiangbei electronics market guide, what a founder tour looks like day by day, and what a Shenzhen factory trip costs.
Visit Shenzhen factories with a small founder group
The Future Factory × Illuminious: Shenzhen Founder Tour takes up to 20 hardware founders inside Shenzhen robotics and electronics factories, labs and markets, December 6–11, 2026. Accepted founders get visa guidance, and an invitation letter on request.
Frequently asked questions
Can a German founder visit Shenzhen factories without a visa in December 2026?
Yes, as of October 17, 2026. Germany is on the visa-free list for stays of up to 30 days for business, until December 31, 2026. Check the embassy notice before you fly.
Can a US founder use the 240-hour transit for a factory trip?
Only if the trip goes on to a third country or region within 240 hours, with a confirmed ticket, and you enter through an approved port. A US-China-US round trip does not fit. Business visits are allowed under the rule.
Is Hong Kong entry enough to visit Shenzhen?
No. Hong Kong and mainland China have separate borders. You need a Chinese visa, a visa-free passport or a valid transit case to cross into Shenzhen.
Will this post be updated if the rules change?
Yes. We re-check the official sources weekly until December 2026 and change the review date at the top of the post.
