[China Visa-Free Entry] Can You Really Enter China Without a Visa? First-Hand Immigration Experience Report

In late November 2024, the Chinese government announced visa exemption measures for tourists from some countries. This means that for tourism or business purposes of up to 30 days, entry into mainland China is now possible without the previously required visa. China had actually implemented similar measures for Japan before, but they were temporarily suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This marks the resumption of the policy after approximately four years.

However, when this news broke, I was honestly skeptical. Could we really enter China without a visa as reported? There were also rumors that in South Korea, where visa exemption was already implemented, people were being denied entry for unclear travel reasons. I felt I had to verify this myself, so I promptly booked a flight to Shanghai.

From Booking to Departure

I chose Spring Japan Airlines for my flight. Despite being a low-cost carrier, the direct flight from Narita to Shanghai was fairly booked at the time of reservation. However, what I saw at Narita Airport Terminal 3 on the day of departure was mostly Chinese travelers. I hardly spotted anyone who appeared to be Japanese.

I was naturally a bit nervous when checking in at the counter. Would they point out that I didn’t have a visa? I remembered being thoroughly questioned about my travel plans during my previous trip. However, the staff checked my passport with familiarity and issued my boarding pass without any fuss. It seems that the airline staff were well-informed about the visa exemption for Japanese travelers.

Thoroughly Prepared

To minimize the risk of being denied entry, I prepared very carefully in advance. I had confirmation of my round-trip flight booking, of course, as well as hotel reservation confirmations showing that payment had been made. I also created a detailed itinerary showing my tourism plans, and prepared cash, credit cards, and travel insurance certificates. Even with all this preparation, I headed to Shanghai with a sense of tension, thinking I might still be interrogated at immigration.

Finally at Shanghai Pudong Airport Immigration

I arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on schedule late at night. The immigration area looked slightly different compared to my previous transit visit. The number of people in the foreigners’ lane had clearly increased. This was probably due to the increase in visa-exempt countries.

The waiting time was longer than expected, about an hour. It was apparent that they were taking time with each person’s inspection. This is typical of China’s thoroughness. Watching the inspection of the person ahead of me, I could see them carefully checking passports and sometimes asking additional questions. The tension was undeniable.

Finally, My Turn…

At last, it was my turn. I approached the inspector, ready to show all the data I had prepared. When I presented my passport, the inspector silently began checking something on the computer.

Amid this tense atmosphere, there was an unexpectedly pleasant moment. My passport cover was designed to resemble a Moroccan passport, which made the immigration staff smile and exclaim, “Oh! Morocco!”

After carefully examining various pages of my passport, I was asked, “Do you have any citizenship other than Japanese?” This was probably because my passport had numerous stamps and visas. I reflexively responded, “I’m not Moroccan either, so don’t worry,” which made the staff smile a little.

Without any further questions, they simply stamped my passport. They didn’t even ask, “Where’s your visa?” This suggests that the visa exemption for Japanese nationals has been well communicated among immigration officers. While China is known for strict entry controls, I was surprised to discover that there can also be warm, human interactions.

Unexpectedly Smooth

Despite my prior concerns, entry was smoother than expected. I didn’t need to show any of the documents I had prepared, nor was I asked about having a visa. However, this was just my case, and not everyone may enter so easily. It’s still advisable to prepare all necessary documents thoroughly.

After the Verification

To summarize what I learned from this trip: visa-free entry for Japanese nationals is indeed being implemented, and the system has thoroughly permeated immigration checkpoints. However, immigration checks may take time, so it’s advisable to have documents proving your purpose of entry, just in case.

The visa-free entry I was worried about posed no problems for me. Nevertheless, I recommend that those planning to travel to China still make thorough preparations. To avoid unexpected troubles, it’s wise to prepare all necessary documents before traveling.

With visa exemption having just begun, it seems many Japanese travelers are still taking a wait-and-see approach. However, I hope this article helps lower the barriers to traveling to China, even slightly.