01 · CHOOSE YOUR ENTRY BASIS
Which entry option fits your trip?
| Entry option | When it may fit | Can it support Jiuzhaigou or a wider Sichuan trip? |
|---|---|---|
| Unilateral visa exemption | Your nationality, ordinary passport, purpose and stay meet the current official rule. | Yes, as a national entry basis. It is not limited by the 240-hour policy’s 11-city Sichuan area. Check local access separately. |
| Mutual visa exemption | A current agreement covers your country, passport type, purpose and intended stay. | Yes, when your agreement applies. Its own conditions control; it is separate from 240-hour transit. |
| Ordinary tourist visa (L visa) | Tourism is your purpose and no visa exemption fits, or you prefer to travel under a visa. | Yes. An L visa is the ordinary category issued for tourism. Apply through the authority serving your place of application. |
| 240-hour visa-free transit | Your passport, designated entry port, confirmed onward journey to a third country or region and itinerary all qualify. | Not for Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Aba, Garze or Liangshan. Travel is limited to official permitted areas. |
| 24-hour visa-free transit | You are making a short international connection and normally remain within the port’s restricted area. | No, not as a Sichuan touring plan. Leaving the restricted area requires a temporary entry permit from immigration. |
| Port visa | You meet the official grounds and document requirements for a designated port visa authority. | Do not treat it as routine visa on arrival. It is not a normal substitute for arranging a tourist entry basis before travel. |
First confirm how you may enter China. Then confirm whether your particular destination and route are open and accessible on your travel dates.
02 · UNILATERAL VISA EXEMPTION
A 30-day exemption can support travel beyond Chengdu
The National Immigration Administration’s list dated February 17, 2026 covers 50 countries. Nationals of those countries holding ordinary passports may enter visa-free for business, tourism, visits to relatives and friends, exchange visits or transit for stays of up to 30 days.
For an eligible traveler using it for tourism, this is a national entry basis. The Chengdu 240-hour transit area does not become the boundary of the trip. Confirm that your nationality remains listed, your passport type and purpose qualify, and your stay fits the current rule before departure.
The exemption removes the need to obtain a visa in advance under its conditions. It does not cancel temporary closures or local controls affecting border areas, protected areas, roads or individual attractions.
03 · MUTUAL VISA EXEMPTION
Read the agreement for your country and passport type
China’s mutual visa-exemption agreements do not all cover the same passports or allow the same length of stay. Some cover ordinary passports; others cover only diplomatic, service or other specified documents. Use the National Immigration Administration’s agreement table to check the exact passport type, effective status, duration and notes.
If your agreement covers your trip, it is separate from the 240-hour transit policy and does not carry that policy’s 11-city Sichuan limit. Stay within the agreement’s own conditions and continue to check local destination rules.
04 · ORDINARY TOURIST VISA
An L visa is the standard visa category for tourism
China’s official visa instructions describe the L visa as the category issued to people who intend to travel to China for tourism. If your nationality is not covered by a suitable visa exemption and you want a normal Sichuan itinerary, check an L visa before departure.
Start from the Chinese embassy or consulate responsible for your application location, or select your application country and city on the Chinese Visa Application Service Center website. Requirements and procedures can vary by country, visa center and individual case, so this guide does not present one local document checklist as a worldwide rule.
TWO WORKED EXAMPLES
What an L visa application can look like
These examples show how the decision and application route change by passport, trip length and place of application. They are illustrations checked on October 29, 2026, not universal document lists.
UNITED STATES · WASHINGTON, D.C. RESIDENT
US passport holder planning Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou and Garze
- Choose the entry basis: A US ordinary passport is not on China’s current unilateral 30-day exemption list. The 240-hour transit policy does not cover Jiuzhaigou or Garze, so this traveler checks an L tourist visa.
- Use the correct jurisdiction: A Washington, D.C. resident falls within the Chinese Embassy’s stated jurisdiction. A resident of another state must first identify the responsible embassy or consulate.
- Apply online: Register in the China Online Visa Application system, choose the L category, complete the form and upload the documents requested for that applicant.
- Follow the current US checklist: The Embassy’s current guidance says US-based L-visa applicants are not routinely required to submit round-trip flight bookings, hotel reservations, an itinerary or an invitation letter. It lists passport pages, the latest Chinese visa or residence permit when applicable, and proof of US residence among the online materials. Individual cases can require more.
- Submit the passport after online review: When the order shows “Passport to be submitted,” provide the original passport, the barcode information page and any requested originals to the responsible visa office. Preliminary online review is not approval of the visa.
US online application guide → · US requirements and jurisdiction →
FRANCE · 45-DAY TOURISM PLAN
French passport holder planning more than 30 days in China
- Check whether a visa is needed: A French ordinary-passport holder taking a 21-day tourism trip can use the current unilateral exemption if all conditions are met. For a planned 45-day tourism trip, the official French embassy guidance says to obtain the appropriate visa before travel rather than assume the 30-day exemption can cover the itinerary.
- Choose the L category: Tourism is the purpose, so this traveler checks an L visa and the duration requested for the full trip.
- Apply through Paris: Use the Paris Chinese Visa Application Service Center portal to complete the form and upload the required files. After receiving the application voucher, print it and the form, sign where instructed and follow the center’s submission notice.
- Follow the France-specific materials: The current French embassy page lists a passport with more than six months’ validity and a blank visa page, the application form and photo, plus round-trip flight and hotel bookings or an invitation letter for an individual L application. A third-country national applying in France must also check the legal-stay or residence evidence requirement.
- Wait for the issued visa before relying on it: The visa officer decides whether to issue the visa, its entries, validity and permitted stay. Check those fields on the issued visa before finalizing a trip longer than 30 days.
The United States and France currently ask for different supporting materials. Do not copy either example into an application made in another country or jurisdiction. Confirm the live checklist, submission route and current fee on the responsible embassy, consulate or visa-center website.
Confirm its validity, number of entries and permitted duration of stay before booking the final route.
05 · WHY 240-HOUR TRANSIT DOES NOT FIT A FULL SICHUAN TRIP
The policy permits travel only within named areas
The 240-hour policy is for eligible travelers transiting through China to a third country or region. It requires an ordinary passport from an eligible country, a designated entry port, confirmed onward travel and compliance with the official permitted stay area.
In Sichuan, the permitted area is Chengdu, Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Yibin, Ya’an, Meishan and Ziyang. Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture are not on that list.
Ya’an is one of the 11 permitted cities and is often grouped into western Sichuan itineraries. Check the exact administrative destination, not a broad regional label.
Use our Chengdu 240-hour visa-free transit guide for eligible passports, route conditions, TFU and CTU entry and the full 11-city boundary.
06 · JIUZHAIGOU, HUANGLONG & THE WEST
Match the administrative destination to your entry basis
Both are in Aba Prefecture, outside the 11-city Sichuan area for 240-hour transit. Use a qualifying national visa exemption or valid ordinary visa instead.
Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Songpan, Mount Siguniang and other Aba destinations sit outside the Sichuan transit list.
Kangding, Danba, Tagong, Litang and Daocheng Yading are in Garze, which is outside the transit list.
Xichang and other Liangshan destinations are outside the transit list.
Ya’an is inside the official 11-city transit area. Its inclusion is why a blanket statement about “western Sichuan” would be inaccurate.
Check the destination’s prefecture-level administration against the official list before assuming it is permitted under 240-hour transit.
A suitable national entry basis answers the immigration question. It does not guarantee that every border-area road, reserve, attraction or route is open to foreign visitors on every date.
07 · 24-HOUR TRANSIT & PORT VISAS
Neither is a routine substitute for a Sichuan holiday entry plan
Under the 24-hour visa-free transit policy, an international transit passenger normally stays within the port’s restricted area. A traveler who needs to leave that area must first obtain a temporary entry permit from immigration at the port. This is designed for a short connection, not an overland tour through Sichuan.
A port visa is also not a general tourist visa on arrival. National Immigration Administration guidance describes qualifying urgent humanitarian, business and other important reasons, supporting materials and application through a designated port visa authority. Arrange the entry basis for an ordinary holiday before departure.
08 · BEFORE YOU DEPART
Check the passport, the route and the place separately
- Passport and nationalityUse the exact nationality and passport type shown in the official exemption list or agreement.
- Purpose and stayConfirm that tourism is permitted and that the full trip fits the allowed duration.
- Visa detailsIf using a visa, check validity, entries and duration of stay shown on the issued visa.
- Transit patternIf using 240-hour transit, confirm a true route to a third country or region, designated ports and every permitted stay area.
- Administrative locationCheck the prefecture-level location of each stop; familiar labels such as “western Sichuan” are too broad for the transit rule.
- Local accessRecheck temporary opening, border-area, nature-reserve, attraction, road and transport rules close to departure.
- Official confirmationFor a complex route, use the National Immigration Administration’s 12367 service and the Chinese embassy, consulate or visa service responsible for your application location.
FAQ
Entry questions for a full Sichuan trip
Do I need a visa to visit Jiuzhaigou?
You need a China entry basis that covers ordinary travel beyond the 240-hour transit area's 11 permitted Sichuan cities. Depending on your passport and trip, that may be China's unilateral visa exemption, an applicable mutual visa-exemption agreement or a valid ordinary visa such as an L tourist visa. Jiuzhaigou is in Aba Prefecture and is outside the Sichuan area permitted under Chengdu's 240-hour transit policy.
Can I visit western Sichuan under the 240-hour transit policy?
Only destinations inside the official permitted area. In Sichuan that area is Chengdu, Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Yibin, Ya'an, Meishan and Ziyang. Aba, Garze and Liangshan prefectures are outside it. Ya'an is included, so it is inaccurate to say that every western Sichuan destination is excluded.
Does China’s 30-day unilateral visa exemption cover travel outside Chengdu?
Yes. For an eligible ordinary-passport holder entering for a permitted purpose and within the allowed stay, the unilateral exemption is a national entry basis and does not carry the 240-hour transit policy's 11-city Sichuan boundary. Local destination access, border-area, protected-area, transport and temporary restrictions can still apply.
Is a mutual visa exemption the same as the 240-hour transit policy?
No. A mutual visa exemption comes from an agreement between China and another country and depends on the passport type, stay limit and conditions in that agreement. The 240-hour policy is a transit arrangement that requires an eligible nationality, a route to a third country or region, designated ports and travel only within permitted areas.
Should I apply for an L visa if my nationality is not visa-exempt?
If no visa exemption applies and tourism is your purpose, an L visa is the ordinary tourist category to check before departure. Use the Chinese embassy, consulate or visa application service for the place where you apply, because procedures and supporting documents can vary by location and individual case.
Is a port visa a tourist visa on arrival?
No. Do not plan a normal Sichuan holiday around a port visa. Official guidance describes port visas for qualifying urgent humanitarian, business or other important reasons, with supporting materials and application at a designated port visa authority.
Can entry rules or local access rules change after I book?
Yes. Recheck the official entry rule for your passport and travel date, then separately verify access and transport for every destination. A valid national entry basis does not override temporary closures or local rules for border areas, protected areas and particular routes.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Sources and verification date
- National Immigration Administration · Unilateral visa exemption listOrdinary-passport nationalities, permitted purposes and up-to-30-day stay · published February 17, 2026.
- National Immigration Administration · Mutual visa exemption agreementsCountry, passport type, effective status and duration vary by agreement · page dated April 14, 2025.
- National Immigration Administration · 24-hour and 240-hour visa-free transitTransit conditions, eligible nationalities, ports and permitted stay areas · updated August 20, 2026.
- National Immigration Administration · Port visa policyOfficial grounds, supporting documents and designated-port application conditions.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs · China visa application instructionsOfficial visa categories, including the L visa for tourism.
- Chinese Visa Application Service CenterSelect the country and city where you will apply for location-specific procedures and requirements.
- Chinese Embassy in the United States · Online visa application guideOnline form, jurisdiction check, preliminary review and passport-submission sequence.
- Chinese Embassy in the United States · Current L-visa requirementsUS-specific simplified tourism materials and documents still requested for online review.
- Chinese Embassy in France · Paris online visa serviceOnline service notice dated January 26, 2026.
- Chinese Embassy in France · Visa application instructionsParis application route and France-specific L-visa supporting materials.
All links and policy descriptions on this page were checked on October 29, 2026. Recheck the official rule for your passport and travel date before departure.