The Short Answer
Ordinary-passport holders from 61 countries, including the United States, can enter Hainan Province without a visa for up to 30 days. You must enter mainland China through an open port in Hainan and remain inside Hainan during the visa-free stay.
The National Immigration Administration's 20 August 2026 update added Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam to the previous 59-country list. The policy can change dynamically, so recheck the official notice or call +86 12367 before travel.
Eligible Countries
Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, South Korea, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.
The rule applies to ordinary passports. Diplomatic, service, emergency or other passport types may follow different arrangements.
Conditions You Must Meet
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Entry port | Enter mainland China directly through an open Hainan port, such as Haikou or Sanya airport |
| Permitted area | Stay within the administrative region of Hainan Province |
| Maximum stay | 30 days, counted from 00:00 on the day after entry |
| Permitted purposes | Tourism, business, visits, family visits, medical treatment, conferences, exhibitions and sports competitions |
| Not permitted | Long-term work or study, or travel outside Hainan without separate authorization |
| Accommodation | Complete lawful registration; hotels normally do it, private stays require action within 24 hours |
The Most Important Route Rule
You cannot enter mainland China in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or another mainland port and then take a domestic flight to Hainan under this policy. The Hainan visa-free entry must be your mainland immigration entry.
If there is no direct flight from your home country, connect through a place outside mainland immigration control—for example Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Seoul or Bangkok—and then take an international or regional flight into Hainan.
Examples:
- Qualifies: Los Angeles → Hong Kong → Sanya, with immigration into mainland China at Sanya.
- Qualifies: London → Singapore → Haikou, with immigration at Haikou.
- Does not qualify: Los Angeles → Shanghai, clear mainland immigration, then fly Shanghai → Sanya.
- Does not qualify: enter Hainan visa-free, then take a train or flight to Guangzhou for leisure.
Use the Hong Kong and Macau crossings guide when the connection involves either region.
How the 30 Days Are Counted
The stay begins at 00:00 on the day after entry. If you enter Hainan on 1 November, day 1 is 2 November. Plan to leave before the permitted period ends and keep the onward booking available offline.
If a genuine emergency or other justifiable reason requires you to stay longer or travel to another part of mainland China, contact the local exit-entry administration before acting. The official policy says a permit is required; approval is not automatic.
Hainan Policy vs National 30-Day Visa-Free Entry
| Hainan 61-country policy | National 30-day policy | |
|---|---|---|
| United States included | Yes | No |
| Entry route | Must enter through an open Hainan port | Any eligible mainland entry port |
| Travel area | Hainan Province only | Mainland China, subject to separately restricted areas |
| Stay | Up to 30 days | Up to 30 days |
If your passport is also covered by the national 30-day visa-free policy, use the national policy when you want to combine Hainan with Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing or another mainland destination. It has no Hainan-only geographic limit.
Hainan Policy vs 240-Hour Transit
Hainan also participates in China's 240-hour visa-free transit system under its current eligible-area rules. Transit can suit a shorter third-country route, while the Hainan 61-country policy provides up to 30 days and does not require onward travel to a third country.
Do not combine the rules informally. Choose one entry basis, make the route satisfy it and keep the onward evidence for that route.
What to Carry
- The eligible ordinary passport used for the booking.
- A confirmed flight or cruise into an open Hainan port.
- Onward travel leaving mainland China within 30 days.
- The first hotel booking and Chinese address.
- A short itinerary showing that the stay remains in Hainan.
- Evidence for the permitted purpose if the trip is for business, a conference, medical treatment or an event.
Airline staff may need to confirm the regional policy before boarding. Arrive early and keep the official policy link available offline.
Where You Can Travel in Hainan
The visa-free area is the whole province, so you can combine Haikou, Sanya, Wanning and Lingshui. Intercity rail and road travel within Hainan are allowed.
For a winter beach trip, use the Sanya winter sun guide to choose between Yalong Bay, Dadonghai, Sanya Bay, Haitang Bay and Houhai without leaving the permitted area.
FAQ
Yes. The United States is one of the 61 eligible countries. You must use an ordinary US passport, enter mainland China directly through an open Hainan port, remain in Hainan and leave within 30 days.
Before You Book
- Confirm the flight enters mainland China at Haikou, Sanya or another open Hainan port.
- Keep the entire mainland portion of the trip inside Hainan.
- Recheck the official policy and airline interpretation.
- Save the first hotel, onward flight and policy page offline.
- Read the arrival and customs guide for the arrival card, baggage and power-bank rules.