China visa for American citizens
e-Visa (apply online)
🇺🇸 American passport → 🇨🇳 China: yes — an e-visa, applied for online before travel.
How it works
Apply online before you travel: passport scan, photo, fee. Approval typically takes a few days — apply at least a week ahead, print or save the approval, and carry it.
Before the airport: run the "Will I board?" checklist for this route →
Beyond China: the United States passport
The 🇺🇸 United States passport ranks #32 of 199 worldwide, entering 159 destinations without a visa arranged in advance (see the world ranking).
Also visa-free on the United States passport: 🇯🇵 Japan (90 days), 🇹🇭 Thailand (60 days), 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (30 days) — all 159 open destinations.
Going the other way? Chinese citizens visiting the United States need a visa arranged in advance.
Never get caught out
Visa rules change with little notice. Get one email when China changes its entry rules for American passports.
Capital Beijing · Currency Chinese yuan (¥) · Dialling +86
Before you travel
Sorting your China trip on the United States passport:
See the whole picture
Every destination for the United States passport, and everyone who can enter China.
American passport: all destinations Who can enter China Plan the trip