China visa for Austrian citizens

For Austrian passport holders, exploring China is now remarkably straightforward, with visa-free access granted for stays up to 30 days. This arrangement greatly simplifies short-term tourism, though for extended visits beyond this period, a single tourist visa category is available. While direct flights from Vienna to Beijing or Shanghai typically take around 10-11 hours, bridging the cultural and time zone gap between Central Europe and East Asia, travelers should note that China operates on a single time zone, Beijing Standard Time, despite its vast geographic breadth. It's advisable to consider currency considerations beforehand, as mobile payment systems are highly prevalent across China, often more so than traditional credit card usage.

Visa-free30d stay· verified 2026-05-27

Entry requirements

Passport validity
6+ months
Blank pages
2+
Onward ticket
Required
Health insurance
Not required
Yellow fever cert.
Required

Visa options

TouristL Visa (Tourist, ordinary)
30dvalid 3mo
TouristL Visa (Tourist, long-stay up to 90 days)
90dvalid 3mo
TouristL Visa (Tourist, 10‑year multiple-entry for U.S. citizens)
90d$140multiple-entryvalid 10y
BusinessM Visa (Business, ordinary)
30dvalid 3mo
BusinessM Visa (Business, extended stay up to 90 days)
90dvalid 3mo
BusinessM Visa (Business, 10‑year multiple-entry for U.S. citizens)
60d$140multiple-entryvalid 10y
OtherF Visa (Non‑commercial visit/exchange)
60dvalid 6mo
StudentX1 Visa (Student, long‑term)
180dvalid 3mo
StudentX2 Visa (Student, short‑term)
180dvalid 3mo
WorkZ Visa (Work)
30dvalid 3mo
WorkR Visa (High‑level talent)
OtherD Visa (Permanent Residence)
valid 3mo
FamilyQ1 Visa (Family Reunion, long-term with Chinese nationals)
180dvalid 3mo
FamilyQ2 Visa (Family Visit, short-term with Chinese nationals)
180dvalid 3mo
FamilyQ2 Visa (Family Visit, 10‑year multiple‑entry for U.S. citizens)
180d$140multiple-entryvalid 10y
FamilyS1 Visa (Private Affairs, long-term with foreign residents)
180dvalid 3mo
FamilyS2 Visa (Private Affairs, short-term with foreign residents)
180dvalid 3mo
TransitG Visa (Transit)
7dvalid 3mo
OtherJ1 Visa (Journalist, long-term resident correspondent)
180d$171valid 3mo
OtherJ2 Visa (Journalist, short-term)
180d$171valid 3mo
OtherC Visa (Crew)
TouristGroup Tourist Visa (Ordinary, organized tours)
30dvalid 3mo
OtherPort Visa (Visa on Arrival for special cases)
TouristShenzhen Special Economic Zone Visa (Port visa)
5dvalid 5d
TouristZhuhai Special Economic Zone Visa (Port visa)
3dvalid 3d
TouristXiamen Special Economic Zone Visa (Port visa)
3dvalid 3d
Transit24‑Hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV, airside)
1d$0valid 1d
Transit144‑Hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV, selected regions)
6d$0valid 6d
TouristHainan 30‑Day Visa‑Free Entry (Selected nationalities)
30d$0valid 1mo
BusinessAPEC Business Travel Card Entry (ABTC holders, Mainland China code CHN)
60d$0multiple-entry
TouristVisa‑Free Entry for Designated Countries (Short stays up to 15 or 30 days)
30d$0valid 1mo
OtherService (Official) Visa
$0

Visa-free from 14 March 2024 to 31 December 2026. Extended to 30 days (previously 15). Multiple entry options available for tourism, business, visits and transit.

Sources