Since 1 March 2024, Thailand and China have applied a mutual visa exemption for ordinary passport holders. Thai citizens may enter mainland China without a visa for up to 30 days per entry, and no more than 90 days in total within any 180-day period, for tourism, family visits, business and transit. Work, study, journalism and longer stays still require the correct visa before travel, applied for through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Thailand.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-04 · General information only, not legal advice for your specific case
The Thailand–China visa exemption: who and what it covers
The agreement between the governments of Thailand and China on mutual visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports entered into force on 1 March 2024. It is a standing bilateral agreement rather than a temporary unilateral measure, so Thai passport holders can enter mainland China without applying for a visa in advance.
The core limits are a stay of up to 30 days per entry and a cumulative total of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period. Covered purposes are tourism, visiting relatives, short business activity and transit. Frequent travellers, such as buyers or factory supervisors, should keep their own running count of days, because border officers count from entry and exit records.
The exemption does not cover work, study, news reporting or any activity that requires prior approval from Chinese authorities. If an officer decides the stated purpose falls outside the exemption, entry can be refused. Installing machinery, training placements or longer courses therefore need a visa even when the stay is shorter than 30 days.
Hong Kong and Macao run immigration systems separate from the mainland. Permitted stays and entry rules for Thai citizens there are a different set of rules, so check each region's immigration department before planning a combined trip.
What to carry when entering China visa-free
Visa-free entry still involves border checks. Officers may ask about your purpose, accommodation and onward travel, so carry documents that answer these questions immediately.
- A passport with sufficient remaining validity and blank pages for stamps
- A return or onward ticket out of China
- Your hotel address or host's address; foreigners staying in private homes must register with the local police station within the required time
- An invitation letter or meeting schedule for business visits
- Travel insurance and access to funds, even where not strictly required
Chinese visa categories Thai citizens need beyond the exemption
China classifies visas by purpose using letters. Choosing the wrong category commonly delays an application or forces a new one. The categories Thai applicants meet most often are:
- L — tourism, for stays over 30 days per entry or beyond the 90-in-180 limit
- M — commercial and trade activity, such as longer negotiations or trade fairs
- F — non-commercial exchanges, visits and study tours
- Q1/Q2 — joining or visiting family who are Chinese citizens or permanent residents
- S1/S2 — joining or visiting foreign family members working or studying in China
- X1/X2 — long-term study over 180 days, or short-term study
- Z — employment, which requires a work permit notification obtained first by the employer in China
How to apply for a Chinese visa in Thailand
The Chinese Embassy in Thailand accepts applications through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center. Applicants complete the online form, upload a compliant photograph, book an appointment and bring original documents on the appointment date. Applicants in the north, north-east or south should check which office covers their residence, since the Chinese Consulates-General in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Songkhla have their own consular districts.
The centre may collect fingerprints from applicants within the specified age range, so the first visit is normally in person. Regular, express and rush processing carry different fees; consult the centre's current table. We do not quote figures here because they are revised periodically.
Form answers must match every supporting document, especially the English spelling of names, employment history and spouse details. Mismatches between the form and an employment letter are a frequent reason for requests for further documents.
Working or studying in China: Thai documents that need legalisation
Chinese work permits usually require degree certificates and a criminal record certificate from the home country, and long-term student visas may require a health examination on China's form. These documents must be authenticated for use in China.
China joined the Apostille Convention on 7 November 2023, but for Thailand the Convention enters into force on 28 February 2027. Until then, Thai documents for China must be legalised by the Legalization Division of the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then authenticated by the Chinese Embassy or a Chinese Consulate. After the Convention takes effect for Thailand, confirm the new procedure with the Department of Consular Affairs.
A Royal Thai Police criminal record certificate is accepted for the period the receiving authority specifies. Request it close to the filing date and allow time for translation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalisation and Chinese embassy authentication in sequence.
Chinese or English translations for Chinese authorities
Visa centres generally accept documents in English or Chinese. Thai documents such as house registrations, birth certificates, marriage certificates or name-change certificates should carry a complete translation of every page with text, including endorsements on the reverse and stamps.
Where documents go through Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalisation, translations must follow the format the Department of Consular Affairs accepts and be filed with the original or an issuer-certified copy. Some Chinese authorities additionally require a Simplified Chinese translation made in China by a licensed agency, so ask the employer or school before ordering translations.
Personal and company names should be spelled exactly as in the passport and English company certificate on every document. A single-letter difference can prompt Chinese officials to request a same-person declaration.
Children, families and Chinese spouses
Children holding Thai passports benefit from the exemption like adults. When travelling with one parent or a relative, carry the translated birth certificate and a travel consent letter from the other parent to answer questions from airlines or Thai immigration.
Thai spouses of Chinese citizens who will stay beyond the exemption commonly use a Q2 or Q1 visa and then apply for a residence permit at the local Chinese exit-entry office. A marriage registered in Thailand must be translated and legalised through the same sequence used for employment documents.
Common mistakes
Most problems come not from complex rules but from assuming the exemption covers every activity.
- Using visa-free entry for short work, such as system installation or private teaching
- Exceeding 90 days within 180 days through multiple undocumented entries
- Failing to register accommodation when staying with relatives or friends
- Sending Thai documents to China without MFA and Chinese embassy legalisation
- Translating only part of a house registration or marriage certificate, forcing re-translation and re-legalisation
Our role
We are not part of the Chinese Embassy or the Chinese Visa Application Service Center and have no authority over visa or entry decisions, which rest solely with Chinese authorities.
We translate Thai documents into English or Chinese, check that names and details are consistent across documents, certify copies through a Notarial Services Attorney, and coordinate Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese embassy legalisation so documents are ready for the receiving authority's requirements.
This page was last reviewed on the date shown. Entry rules can change; before booking, check current notices from the Chinese Embassy in Thailand and China's National Immigration Administration.
Frequently asked questions
Do Thai citizens need a visa for China?
Not for tourism, family visits, business or transit of up to 30 days per entry and 90 days within 180 days, under the agreement in force since 1 March 2024.
Can I use the exemption for two weeks of work in China?
No. Work is outside the exemption; you need the visa matching the activity, which your employer or host in China should confirm.
Does the China exemption cover Hong Kong and Macao?
No. Hong Kong and Macao have their own entry rules and must be checked separately.
Do Thai degrees need an apostille for a Chinese work permit?
Before 28 February 2027 apostilles are not available in Thailand; documents are legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate.
What does a child travelling to China with only the mother need?
Carry the translated birth certificate and a travel consent letter from the father to answer airline or immigration questions.
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