Home / Visa check / Cyprus passport
Do Cypriot citizens need a visa for China?
Checked 17 September 2026 against official Chinese sources
Cyprus passport · ordinary
No visa needed for stays up to 30 days.
Under China's visa-free policy, Cyprus passport holders can come for tourism, business, visiting family or friends, exchange visits or transit, for up to 30 days each time. The policy currently runs until 31 December 2026.
How the 30 days are counted
The clock starts at 00:00 on the day after you arrive. Land in Shanghai at 23:00 on 1 March and your 30 days run from 2 March to the end of 31 March. Leave on or before that date.
What to have ready at the border
- An ordinary passport valid for your whole stay. Emergency and temporary travel documents do not qualify. Your airline may apply stricter validity checks, so ask them.
- Proof that matches your purpose. Officials recommend carrying a return or onward flight and your hotel bookings; for business, an invitation letter.
- The arrival card. Since November 2025 you can fill it in online before you land, instead of on paper in the hall.
- You do not need to register with an embassy beforehand, and you can use any open airport, land crossing or seaport.
What visa-free entry does not cover
- Work, study and journalism need the right visa before you travel.
- Staying longer than 30 days: get a visa before you fly, or, with good reason, apply for an extension at the local public security exit-entry office once you are here.
- Repeat trips are fine. There is currently no limit on how many times you use it or on total days per year, as long as each trip matches an allowed purpose.
Show this at the counter
Border officers at big airports speak English, but staff at smaller crossings and hotel desks may not. Tap a card to enlarge it.
Questions people ask
Can Cypriot citizens stay in China longer than 30 days without a visa?
Not on one entry. You can leave and come back, since there is currently no cap on entries, or apply for an extension at a local exit-entry office if you have good reason. For a planned long stay, get a visa before you fly.
Is visa-free entry for Cypriot citizens permanent?
No. It currently runs until 31 December 2026. China has extended its visa-free list several times since 2023, but check again closer to that date.
Can I work or study in China on visa-free entry?
No. Visa-free entry covers tourism, business, visiting family or friends, exchange visits and transit. Work, study and journalism need a visa.
Do children with Cyprus passports need a visa?
No. The same rules apply to children travelling on their own passport.
Other passports nearby
SourcesNational Immigration Administration: visa-free policy for 50 countries (17 Feb 2026): https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c183390/content.htmlChinese Embassy in Sweden: visa-free FAQ, end dates (updated 25 May 2026): https://se.china-embassy.gov.cn/lstz/202511/t20251110_11750027.htmChinese Consulate in Barcelona: online arrival card and 2026 measures: https://barcelona.china-consulate.gov.cn/gdxw/202603/t20260330_11883678.htmChecked 17 September 2026