Visa Application
PCM 2026 will take place in Xi'an, international participants should be particularly aware of and careful about visas. Please plan your travel in advance and allow plenty of time to apply for a visa.
Usually most foreigners traveling to mainland China, whether for business or pleasure, require a visa. It's very difficult to obtain a Chinese port visa at the Chinese border entry points. However, some cities and regions of China are visa free in certain circumstances.
Who Can Enjoy Visa Exemption?
(1) Mutual Visa Exemption Between the People’s Republic of China and Foreign Countries
Ordinary Passport Holders from below countries can travel to China without a visa, staying for less than 30 days under the Mutual Visa Exemption Policy.
Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dominica, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Moldova, North Macedonia, Oman, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Suriname, Thailand, The Gambia, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.
(2) 30 Days Visa Free Policy (48 countries)
As of December 11, 2025, China has implemented a 30-day unilateral visa-free entry policy for holders of ordinary passports from 48 countries with Policy Expiry Date: Dec 31, 2026 (except Russia with Policy Expiry Date: Sep 14, 2026 and Brunei No Expiry Date). The duration of stay is calculated from the day after entry and applies to short-term purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, visits, and transit. Activities inconsistent with the purpose of entry are not allowed.
Key Policy Notes
1. Duration of Stay: Maximum 30 consecutive calendar days per entry, calculated from 00:00 the day after arrival.
2. Entry Requirements: Valid ordinary passport, round-trip/connecting flight tickets, hotel reservations, and other documents as required for routine inspection at ports.
3. Applicable Purposes: Short-term activities including business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, and transit. Engaging in work, study, or other activities inconsistent with the entry purpose is prohibited.
4. Reminder: Confirm the latest policy extension information with China's National Immigration Administration before the expiry date.
(3) 240-Hour Transit Visa Exemption Policy:
As of December 11, 2025, China’s 240 - hour (10 - day) visa - free transit policy applies to 55 countries, with Indonesia added on June 12, 2025. Below is the full list grouped by continent.
Full Country List (55 Countries)
2. Documents: Valid ordinary passport, confirmed onward/connecting tickets, and proof of travel to the third destination.
3. Stay & Access: Max 240 consecutive hours (10 days) within 24 designated provinces and 65 open ports; work/study/news reporting are prohibited.
4. Entry - Exit: Enter and exit via any of the open ports for this policy.
For more details about this policy, please click here.
For detailed information, please consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and nearest Chinese Embassies.
Some Chinese Embassies websites are listed below:
Notes:
1. Conference Organizing Committee cannot issue visas to attend the conference but can issue an Invitation letter to assist with your visa application. If you need the Invitation letter from the conference, please send the following information to pcm@cpcmconf.org:
2. Please be noted that an invitation letter will only be issued upon confirmation of registration and after full payment for registration fees has been received. Invitation letters are only issued via email in PDF format and will be sent within approximately one week after your information is received by the Organizing Committee.
General FAQs on Visa application
Do I need a Chinese visa?Usually most foreigners traveling to mainland China, whether for business or pleasure, require a visa. It's very difficult to obtain a Chinese port visa at the Chinese border entry points. However, some cities and regions of China are visa free in certain circumstances.
Who Can Enjoy Visa Exemption?
(1) Mutual Visa Exemption Between the People’s Republic of China and Foreign Countries
Ordinary Passport Holders from below countries can travel to China without a visa, staying for less than 30 days under the Mutual Visa Exemption Policy.
Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dominica, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Moldova, North Macedonia, Oman, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Suriname, Thailand, The Gambia, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.
(2) 30 Days Visa Free Policy (48 countries)
As of December 11, 2025, China has implemented a 30-day unilateral visa-free entry policy for holders of ordinary passports from 48 countries with Policy Expiry Date: Dec 31, 2026 (except Russia with Policy Expiry Date: Sep 14, 2026 and Brunei No Expiry Date). The duration of stay is calculated from the day after entry and applies to short-term purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, visits, and transit. Activities inconsistent with the purpose of entry are not allowed.
| Continent | Countries | Count |
| Europe (34) | France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Russia, Sweden | 34 |
| Asia (7) | Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain | 7 |
| South America (5) | Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay | 5 |
| Oceania (2) | Australia, New Zealand | 2 |
1. Duration of Stay: Maximum 30 consecutive calendar days per entry, calculated from 00:00 the day after arrival.
2. Entry Requirements: Valid ordinary passport, round-trip/connecting flight tickets, hotel reservations, and other documents as required for routine inspection at ports.
3. Applicable Purposes: Short-term activities including business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, and transit. Engaging in work, study, or other activities inconsistent with the entry purpose is prohibited.
4. Reminder: Confirm the latest policy extension information with China's National Immigration Administration before the expiry date.
(3) 240-Hour Transit Visa Exemption Policy:
As of December 11, 2025, China’s 240 - hour (10 - day) visa - free transit policy applies to 55 countries, with Indonesia added on June 12, 2025. Below is the full list grouped by continent.
Full Country List (55 Countries)
| Continent | Countries | Count |
| Europe (40) | Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway | 40 |
| Asia (7) | South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia | 7 |
| Americas (6) | United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile | 6 |
| Oceania (2) | Australia, New Zealand | 2 |
Core Eligibility & Rules
1. Purpose: Transit only (to a third country/region; not to/from mainland China only).2. Documents: Valid ordinary passport, confirmed onward/connecting tickets, and proof of travel to the third destination.
3. Stay & Access: Max 240 consecutive hours (10 days) within 24 designated provinces and 65 open ports; work/study/news reporting are prohibited.
4. Entry - Exit: Enter and exit via any of the open ports for this policy.
For more details about this policy, please click here.
For detailed information, please consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and nearest Chinese Embassies.
Some Chinese Embassies websites are listed below:
Notes:
1. Conference Organizing Committee cannot issue visas to attend the conference but can issue an Invitation letter to assist with your visa application. If you need the Invitation letter from the conference, please send the following information to pcm@cpcmconf.org:
- Your full name as it appears on your passport
- Gender (Male / Female)
- Nationality
- Date of Birth: (e.g. March 25, 1960)
- Passport No.:
- Your paper number if you are an author
2. Please be noted that an invitation letter will only be issued upon confirmation of registration and after full payment for registration fees has been received. Invitation letters are only issued via email in PDF format and will be sent within approximately one week after your information is received by the Organizing Committee.