Home › Entry Requirements
Xiamen Entry Requirements

Xiamen Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Important Notice Entry requirements can change at any time. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before traveling.
Xiamen, a coastal city in Fujian Province, is China's most visitor-friendly international gateway. The city is served by Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) and welcomes travelers from Asia, Europe, the Americas, and beyond. Entry follows China's national immigration framework, liberalized since 2023, with more nationalities now eligible for visa-free or simplified entry. All foreign nationals must hold a valid passport with at least six months of remaining validity beyond their intended stay, and must comply with Chinese immigration requirements upon arrival. Xiamen participates in China's 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy. Eligible nationals can spend up to six days in Fujian Province without a Chinese visa, provided they hold confirmed onward travel documentation. Beyond transit, China has unilaterally extended short-stay visa-free access to citizens of an increasing number of countries. This covers much of Europe, Australasia, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and, more recently, the United States and United Kingdom. Travelers should confirm their specific eligibility before departure. The approved country list continues to expand and bilateral reciprocity arrangements affect access. Upon arrival at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, travelers pass through health screening (when required), immigration control, baggage claim, and customs inspection. The process is generally efficient. The airport's international terminal is well-equipped with signage in Chinese and English. Having all documentation prepared in advance, including accommodation details, proof of onward travel, and sufficient funds, ensures a smooth entry experience. Visitors planning to explore beyond Xiamen, including Gulangyu Island or inland Fujian, need not obtain additional permits. Tibet and certain restricted zones elsewhere in China require separate authorization.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Visa-Free Entry
15 days max for US and UK passports. Double that, 30 days, for most European, Australasian, and Latin American eligible countries. Your nationality decides.

China just flipped the switch. Citizens of more countries can now land in Xiamen without a visa, no paperwork, no embassy queue. Short stays only: tourism, quick business, transit, or dropping by family. You'll need a passport with six months left, proof you're leaving, and enough cash to cover your time.

Includes
United States United Kingdom France Germany Italy Spain Netherlands Switzerland Austria Belgium Portugal Denmark Sweden Norway Finland Ireland Poland Czech Republic Hungary Greece Australia New Zealand Japan South Korea Singapore Malaysia Thailand Brunei Brazil Argentina Chile Mexico Serbia UAE Saudi Arabia Oman Bahrain Georgia

The visa-free program is unilateral, and it can vanish overnight. Dual nationals carrying a Chinese passport must enter on their Chinese travel document, no exceptions. The visa-free privilege does not grant the right to work or enroll in formal study, period. Extensions are generally not available under visa-free entry. Canada is NOT currently included in the unilateral visa-free program as of March 2025, Canadians require a visa. Always cross-check the current approved list with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or your nearest Chinese embassy.

144-Hour Visa-Free Transit
Up to 144 hours (6 days) from time of entry

Skip the visa line. Xiamen plugs straight into China's 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy, six full days in Fujian Province if you're flying on to a third country. Smart move for anyone stitching a Xiamen layover into a longer run through Southeast Asia, Japan, Taiwan, or Korea. The catch? You can't leave Fujian's designated zone. Still, 144 hours buys you plenty of time.

Includes
53 countries get visa-free entry, right now. Citizens of 53 designated countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and most EU member states, confirm the full list with the Chinese National Immigration Administration
How to Apply: No advance application required. Just show up. You need your passport, a valid visa for wherever you're headed next (if required), and proof you'll leave China within 144 hours. That's six days, plenty. Declare your transit stay at the port of entry. Simple. You must enter and exit through Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport or another designated Fujian port. No exceptions.
Cost: Free, no fee for the 144-hour transit visa-free facility

You can't leave Fujian Province for the full 144 hours. Simple. But here's the twist, if your next stop doesn't demand a visa from Chinese citizens (Japan, South Korea, most Schengen countries), you're still in the game. The deal-breaker? One confirmed onward ticket. Nothing else. The 144-hour countdown begins the instant you cross the border. This rule stands apart from, and stacks on top of, the unilateral short-stay visa-free program.

Visa Required
30, 90 days. That's your window, single, double, or multiple entry. The consulate decides, and your passport seals the deal.

No visa-free ride. Citizens from countries outside China's waiver list, Canada, India, Pakistan, most African and Middle Eastern nations not named, plus others, must secure a visa before touching down in Xiamen. The ticket you need is the L Visa.

How to Apply: Skip the queue, pre-register online through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) before you even reach the counter. You'll still need to apply at the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country of residence. But the web step saves time. Gather the stack: completed application form, valid passport, recent passport-sized photographs, proof of accommodation in China (hotel booking), confirmed return or onward travel itinerary, travel insurance documentation, and proof of financial means. Standard processing: 4, 7 business days. Need it faster? Express processing (2, 3 business days) costs extra. At most CVASC locations they'll take your fingerprints, biometric data is now routine.

Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport won't hand you a visa on arrival, most nationalities can't get one. Apply weeks ahead. They do issue a port visa (口岸签证) at some entry points. But only for real emergencies. Don't bank on it. Working, studying, or staying long-term? You'll need the right visa, Z, X, or a residence permit. A L tourist visa won't let you take a job or enroll in Chinese schools.

Arrival Process

Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) delivers one of China's smoothest landings, if you arrive prepared. The international terminal is modern, bilingual signs flash Chinese and English, and staff herd passengers through immigration fast. Budget 45, 90 minutes from touchdown to curb: immigration, baggage, customs. National holidays? Add another 30.

1
1. Health Screening
Deplaning means one thing first: the heat gun to your forehead. Body temperature checks are non-negotiable. Arrive from a country with an active outbreak, or just cough too much, and they'll pull you aside for a second, longer look. Fill out the health card the crew hands you at 30,000 ft; don't wait until the wheels hit the runway.
2
2. Immigration and Passport Control
Skip the wrong queue. Head straight for Foreign Passports (外国护照) if you're not Chinese, HK, Macau, or Taiwan. Hand over your passport, the Arrival Card they gave you on the plane, and your visa paperwork. First-timer? They'll scan all ten fingerprints, no exceptions. The officer stamps your passport. Check the permitted duration on the spot.
3
3. Baggage Claim
Baggage hall first. Grab your suitcase from the carousel flashing your flight number, screens overhead tell you which. Spot damage? Don't leave. March straight to the airline desk and report it.
4
4. Customs Declaration and Inspection
Pick the Green Channel if you've nothing to declare, walk straight out. Got goods, €10,000-plus in cash, a sack of oranges, or a crate of Cuban cigars? You must use the Red Channel. Officers still X-ray bags at random in the Green line. They'll ask what is in your case. Answer plainly.
5
5. Arrival Hall
The doors slide open and you're in the public arrivals hall, greeters shouting, taxi coordinators waving, hotel reps shoving flyers. Licensed metered taxis queue first, then rideshare (DiDi), then airport shuttle buses. All three run to Xiamen city center, Gulangyu Island ferry terminal, and every surrounding area.

Documents to Have Ready

Valid Passport
Your passport must stay valid six months past your China exit date. One blank page? Non-negotiable, for the entry stamp.
Chinese Visa (if applicable)
You'll need a visa if your passport isn't on the visa-free list. It must be valid the day you arrive. Count the entries, single, double, multiple, and make sure they line up with every border you plan to cross.
Arrival Card
They'll hand you a flimsy blue card somewhere over the Pacific, if the crew didn't run out. No card? Grab one in Beijing immigration hall before the queue snakes back to the gate. Write every detail: full name, passport digits, flight number, exact address in China, 90-day stay. E-cards are coming, slowly.
Confirmed Accommodation Details
Immigration officers will demand your hotel name, address, and booking confirmation. No hotel? Keep your host's exact address and phone number ready, they won't let you through without it.
Onward or Return Travel Documentation
You'll need proof you're leaving China, period. A return flight works. So does an onward ticket to your next destination. This matters most for visa-free and transit entries.
Travel Insurance Documentation
Travel health insurance isn't always checked at the immigration counter. You'll want it anyway. Certain visa types require proof.
Health Declaration Form
Fill out the health forms handed to you on the plane or stacked near the baggage carousel. Tick every box: cough, fever, countries you've passed through in the last 21 days. No one skips this.

Tips for Smooth Entry

Fill out your Arrival Card mid-flight, snag the crew's pen and you'll skip the immigration scrum on landing.
Download WeChat and Alipay before wheels-down, mobile payment owns Xiamen. Vendors, restaurants, transport: most won't touch cash.
China's Great Firewall blocks Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, every Western app you've come to rely on. Install a reputable VPN on your devices before arrival. Once you're inside, downloading and configuring a VPN becomes unreliable.
You must register with the local police bureau (派出所) within 24 hours, no exceptions. Private stays, Airbnb, crashing with a friend, you're on the hook. Hotels? They file the paperwork for you.
Snap the entry stamp right after immigration, 30 seconds now saves hours later. That photo is your lifeline. It proves how long you can stay and shuts down any border officer who claims otherwise.
Xiamen taxis are metered and generally honest, but you'll still want your destination in Chinese characters. Use DiDi, China's Uber equivalent, for app-based ride-hailing.

Customs & Duty-Free

China Customs (海关总署) runs the show in Xiamen. Personal items glide through duty-free, up to the limits. Bring commercial quantities and you'll pay import duties. Lie on your form? They'll seize your goods, hit you with fines, maybe file criminal charges.

Alcohol
1.5 liters total of alcoholic beverages
You can't bring alcohol into the country unless you're 18 or over. Period. The allowance lumps wine, spirits, and beer together, 1.5L total. Exceed that and you'll pay duty. Walk straight to the Red Channel and declare it.
Tobacco
400 cigarettes, OR 100 cigars, OR 500 grams of tobacco products
Must be aged 18 or over to import. Personal use only, no exceptions. Commercial quantities? They'll hit you with import duties and licensing requirements.
Currency
Declare cash. Foreign currency: USD 5,000 or more, no exceptions. RMB? Over CNY 20,000 and you're filling forms.
Bring in as much cash as you like, just don't skip the Red Channel if you're over the declaration thresholds. They'll confiscate every extra dollar if you don't declare. Keep every currency exchange receipt. You'll need them.
Gifts and Personal Goods
Goods worth up to CNY 5,000, roughly USD 700, for personal use slip through customs duty-free.
Pack for yourself only, customs won't buy your "gifts for friends" line. Personal use is the rule. High-value electronics, luxury goods, and multiple identical items? They'll flag you, assess duty, and you'll wait. Keep every receipt for expensive items.
Duty-Free Shop Purchases
CNY 8,000, roughly USD 1,100, gets you one shot at China Customs-supervised duty-free shops.
This is a separate allowance from the general goods allowance. It applies only to purchases at designated duty-free shops at Xiamen Airport and other authorized outlets.

Prohibited Items

  • Firearms, ammunition, explosives, and imitation weapons, including realistic-looking toy guns
  • Illicit drugs and narcotics of any quantity, penalties are severe, including the death penalty for trafficking
  • Printed, digital, or audiovisual materials deemed subversive, pornographic, or harmful to Chinese national interests or political order
  • Counterfeit currency and forged financial instruments
  • Poisonous substances and hazardous chemicals won't slip through just because you've got a commercial import license.
  • Protected wildlife, endangered species, and products made from them, ivory, rhino horn, etc., are banned under CITES.
  • Fresh fruits, vegetables, and plant material from countries subject to Chinese phytosanitary restrictions
  • Beef and beef products from countries affected by BSE (Mad Cow Disease) without approved clearance
  • Unsolicited bulk commercial goods intended for resale without proper import licensing

Restricted Items

  • Bring a doctor's letter in English and Chinese, if you can, stating why you need prescription or controlled medications. Pack only enough for your stay.
  • Flying drones near Gulangyu Island will get you arrested. Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), subject to civil aviation authority registration and flight restriction rules. Flying drones near Gulangyu Island, government buildings, and military areas is prohibited.
  • Radio transmitters and certain wireless devices, must comply with Chinese telecommunications standards
  • Satellite phones need prior authorization from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
  • Bring a suitcase of Bibles and you'll get questions. Personal copies, fine. Bulk boxes? Customs will want a word.
  • Dried meats, seeds, soil, quarantine inspection is mandatory. You'll need phytosanitary certificates from the country of origin. No exceptions.

Health Requirements

China won't demand proof of vaccination at the border, except for yellow fever if you're flying in from an endemic zone. Standard shots, however, are still smart. Rules flip fast when outbreaks flare. Check your government's travel health site the final weeks before you leave.

Required Vaccinations

  • Yellow Fever vaccination certificate required, no exceptions. Travelers arriving from countries classified as yellow fever endemic or at risk must show proof. This includes parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America. The certificate must be the internationally recognized International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), commonly known as the Yellow Card.

Recommended Vaccinations

  • Hepatitis A, get the shot. Every traveler needs it. The virus travels through contaminated food and water.
  • Hepatitis B, get it. Longer stays or any medical treatment abroad, you'll need this shot.
  • Typhoid, get it. Street food, back-alley stalls, dodgy ice: you'll thank yourself later.
  • Before you book anything, lock in these shots. MMR, measles, mumps, rubella, must be current. Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis too. And varicella? Don't skip it.
  • Influenza, recommended year-round, during the cooler months (November, March)
  • Japanese Encephalitis, you'll need this shot if you're sticking around rural Fujian Province for weeks, not days. The risk climbs fast from May through September when the heat kicks in and mosquitoes get hungry.
  • Rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis, get it. Travelers with serious outdoor exposure need this shot, if you're heading into rural areas or anywhere you'll meet animals.

Health Insurance

China won't foot your medical bills. Foreign nationals get zero free healthcare. Xiamen offers decent hospitals and clinics, international standard, reasonable care. But costs bite. Hospitalization? Emergency treatment? Significant. Very. Buy complete travel health insurance. Must include medical evacuation coverage. Check it covers pre-existing conditions. Confirm it is valid in China. Keep your policy number handy. Emergency contact number too, accessible at all times.

Current Health Requirements: March 2025: China just dropped every COVID-19 rule. No tests. No vaccine cards. Nothing. The health situation is stable, zero pandemic hoops to jump through. This could flip overnight. Check three sources before you book: Chinese National Health Commission (NHC), your government's travel advisory (travel.state.gov for Americans, gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for British citizens, smartraveller.gov.au for Australians), and the WHO. Watch for any update to health entry requirements.

Protect Your Trip with Travel Insurance

Comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Many countries recommend or require travel insurance.

Get a Quote from World Nomads
Read our complete Xiamen Travel Insurance Guide →

Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Embassy or Consulate of China
Call the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country. Apply for a visa. Verify entry requirements. Get the most current information on required documentation for your nationality.
Track down your nearest Chinese diplomatic mission fast, www.fmprc.gov.cn (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China).
Chinese National Immigration Administration (NIA)
China's visa policy, entry rules, and residence permits for foreigners, one office controls it all.
niis.mps.gov.cn hands you the rules. Visa categories. Port policies. Immigration regulations, straight from Beijing.
China Customs (海关总署)
Official customs authority, your first stop, for complete information on duty-free allowances, prohibited and restricted items, and declaration requirements.
Customs helpline: 12360. Official website: www.customs.gov.cn
Emergency Services, Police
110, Police emergency line
Operators might not speak much English, pack a bilingual friend or a translation app for real emergencies.
Emergency Services, Ambulance
120, Medical emergency and ambulance
Medical emergency? Don't panic. Xiamen has two international-standard hospitals ready. The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and Zhongshan Hospital, both equipped, both reliable.
Emergency Services, Fire
119, Fire and rescue services
For fire, structural collapse, or rescue emergencies
Your Government's Travel Advisory Service
Register your trip. One click on your government's travel-advisory portal and consular rescue becomes a phone call away, no drama, no delay.
US Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov; UK FCDO at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china; Australian Smartraveller at smartraveller.gov.au

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Children with both parents? Just a passport. That is it. One parent, grandparents, or any non-guardian adult needs paperwork. Bring a notarized consent letter from the absent parent or legal guardian. Translate it into Chinese if you can. Single parents and guardians, pack proof of custody. Court order, birth certificate, whatever shows you are in charge. Immigration officers love paper. Every kid, even the 3-month-old on your lap, must carry their own passport. No exceptions.

Traveling with Pets

China won't let your dog or cat in without a fight. First, implant an ISO 11784/11785 microchip, no chip, no entry. Rabies shots must sit in the 30-day to 12-month sweet spot. Miss it and you'll start over. A licensed vet back home has 10 days before departure to hand you the official health certificate, and Chinese customs or the General Administration of Customs of China must stamp the import permit before you even board. Expect a 7, 30-day quarantine lock-up on arrival, city-dependent, in a government kennel you pay for. Rules swing wildly by country, call the Chinese embassy in your country and China Customs early, then call again. They tweak laws without warning, and some cities ban entire breeds.

Extended Stays Beyond Visa-Free or Tourist Visa Period

Stay longer than your visa-free window or tourist (L) visa allows and you'll need an extension or a new status. The local Public Security Bureau Exit-Entry Administration (出入境管理局) in Xiamen can extend tourist visas, if they feel like it. They won't extend visa-free entries. Planning months of work, study, or business? Secure the right visa (Z for work, X for study, etc.) at a Chinese embassy before you land. Switching from tourist to work or study permit inside China is impossible under standard rules. Overstay even one day and you'll face fines, detention, deportation, and a future entry ban.

Dual Nationals Including Chinese Citizenship

China doesn't officially recognize dual nationality. Foreign nationals who also hold Chinese citizenship must enter China on their Chinese passport, no exceptions. Chinese-born travelers who've naturalized elsewhere and no longer hold a Chinese passport should check with the Chinese embassy in their country about the right travel document. Some may qualify for a Chinese Visa or a Returning Card (回乡证). The situation is complex. Get consular advice well before you travel, border complications aren't worth the risk.

Traveling on a Stopover or Layover

Skip the visa line. If your layover at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport stretches past 24 hours, the 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy opens the entire Fujian coast, Xiamen city, Gulangyu Island, the lot. You need one of 53 eligible passports, a confirmed onward ticket within 144 hours, and you're free to roam anywhere in Fujian Province. Shorter layovers? Stay in the international transit area, no visa, but the facilities are sparse compared to the full airport.

Ready to plan your trip to Xiamen?

Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.

Top Things to Do

Curated attractions, tours, and experiences in Xiamen.

Browse activities →

Continue Planning Your Trip

Health & Safety

Stay safe while traveling for Xiamen

Stay Connected

Internet and phone options for Xiamen

Packing List

What to bring on your trip for Xiamen

Budget Guide

Trip costs and money tips for Xiamen