By The Escape desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
As of October 2026, Singapore citizens with ordinary passports can enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days, under a mutual visa exemption that took effect on 9 February 2024. It covers tourism, business visits, family visits and transit; if you plan to work, study or settle, you still need a visa. Since 20 November 2025, foreigners can complete China’s arrival card online through the National Immigration Administration’s website, the NIA 12367 app or WeChat and Alipay mini-programs, or fill in a paper card at the port. Once there, every foreign visitor must be registered with the local police within 24 hours; hotels usually do this at check-in.
China has never been easier for a spontaneous trip from Singapore. A little preparation, especially around the arrival card and payments, makes the first hour smooth.
Quick facts
- Visa-free stay: up to 30 days per visit, ordinary Singapore passports only.
- Purposes: tourism, business, visiting family and transit to a third country.
- Work, study, settling or news interviews may need the relevant visa.
- Arrival card: online before travel (preferred) or on arrival; paper cards remain available.
- Police registration within 24 hours of arrival; hotels normally handle it.
- Foreigners aged 16 and above must carry their passport at all times, says Singapore’s MFA.
What the visa-free stay covers
| Trip purpose | Visa-free for up to 30 days? |
|---|---|
| Holiday or sightseeing | Yes |
| Business meetings, trade fairs | Yes |
| Visiting family or friends | Yes |
| Transit to a third country | Yes |
| Working, including paid short assignments | No; a work visa is needed |
| Study | No; a student visa is needed |
| Stays longer than 30 days | No; apply for a visa before travelling |
How to do the arrival card
- Before you fly, open the National Immigration Administration’s online form at s.nia.gov.cn, the NIA 12367 app, or the arrival card mini-program in WeChat or Alipay.
- Enter your passport details, flight and the address where you will stay.
- Keep the confirmation on your phone in case the officer asks.
- If you could not do it in advance, scan the QR code at the port or fill in a paper card.
- Travelling in a visa-free tour group, transiting airside for under 24 hours, or arriving and leaving on the same cruise ship? You are among the groups exempted from the card.
Police registration: what it means for you
China’s Exit-Entry Administration Law requires foreign visitors to register their accommodation with the Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. At a hotel, the front desk does it when it scans your passport. If you stay with family or friends, or in some private rentals, you need to register at the nearest police station yourself, ideally with your host. Keep your passport on you: police may carry out random checks.
Before you fly: a short checklist
- Check your passport is valid well beyond your trip; confirm any validity rule with the Chinese Embassy in Singapore or your airline.
- Do the arrival card online the day before you fly.
- Set up a payment app you can use in China, and carry a card with low foreign-currency fees as back-up.
- Register your trip on MFA’s eRegister and buy travel insurance.
- Going on to Hong Kong or Macau? They have separate entry rules.
The WahLiao Verdict
For a holiday, business trip or family visit of up to 30 days, just go: no visa, no fee. Do the arrival card online the night before so you are not filling in forms in the queue, and if you are staying with relatives, make the police station visit on day one. Anything involving work or study, or a stay longer than 30 days, needs a proper visa, so sort that out before you book.
Questions people ask
Is the China arrival card compulsory?
Most foreigners must complete one, online or on paper. Filling it in before travel is preferred but not mandatory; you can do it on arrival.
Can I use the visa-free entry for a short work assignment?
No. Business visits such as meetings are covered, but work needs the appropriate visa.
I am staying with relatives. Do I need to register?
Yes. Register at the nearest police station within 24 hours of arrival, since no hotel will do it for you.
Does the 30-day rule apply to Hong Kong and Macau?
No. Hong Kong and Macau have their own visa-free arrangements for Singaporeans, separate from the mainland’s.
Sources: Singapore MFA, China travel and visa information; Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, guidelines for the online arrival card; China Briefing, China-Singapore 30-day mutual visa exemption. The Escape explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Visiting Hong Kong and Macau · Trouble Overseas: MFA’s eRegister and the 24-Hour Consular Line · Back to The Escape
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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