China Visa and Entry for School Groups

Entry rules are set by nationality. A group from one school can hold several passports, and a teacher may hold a different one from the students. The first step is a list of every traveller's nationality, checked one by one against the official source.

As published on the National Immigration Administration page and summarised on 13 September 2026, there are three visa-free routes with different country lists, stays and conditions: unilateral visa-free entry for citizens of fifty countries for stays of up to thirty days, a 240-hour transit exemption, and a thirty-day exemption for entry through Hainan. The lists have been revised several times since 2023. The Visa and Permits guide gives the details and the official links, and it is the page to read before any dates are fixed.

1. List the passports. Name, nationality, passport number and expiry date for every student and adult.
2. Check the route. Check each nationality against the current lists at nia.gov.cn, and check the conditions of the route, including the length of stay.
3. Apply where needed. Travellers who need a visa apply through the China Consular Service Network guidance for their country, and the group leaves time for processing, which varies by consulate.
4. Check the route in China. A route that includes Tibet or a border management area has extra permits with their own lead times. The routes used so far in the student programme (Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Beijing) do not.
5. Keep copies. Carry copies of the passport data pages and give the coordinator a full list before departure.

• PreeChina plans and coordinates the programme inside China. It does not decide entry eligibility, which belongs to the Chinese authorities.
• The itinerary, the hotel names and the dates are supplied early so that the school can fill in any application.
• A school that is unsure about a particular nationality asks the consulate or checks nia.gov.cn, and then tells PreeChina the result.

Does a school group need a visa for China?

It depends on each traveller's nationality, not on the group. Some nationalities can enter without a visa under one of the published routes, and others need an application. A group with mixed passports needs each passport checked separately.

Where are the official lists?

The National Immigration Administration publishes the visa-free lists at nia.gov.cn, and the China Consular Service Network publishes visa application guidance. They are revised several times a year.