The short version (as of October 27, 2026)
- Canadian and UK passport holders can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for business, tourism, visits, exchanges or transit, under a policy in force from February 17 to December 31, 2026. Check before you book a trip after December 31, 2026.
- US, Mexican and other travellers from 57 countries can use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit if they fly on to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket. Business visits are allowed; work, study and news reporting need a visa.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly and bind your Visa or Mastercard. Payments of 200 yuan or less have no extra fee; above 200 yuan there is a 3% fee.
- Time the trip around a trade fair: the CIIE in Shanghai runs November 5 to 10, 2026, and the 141st Canton Fair is expected from April 15 to May 5, 2027.
Do you need a visa for a business trip to China?
It depends on your passport and your route. These are the three main options for a short buying or factory visit, per the rules as of October 27, 2026. Border inspection makes the final decision on arrival, so confirm with the official source before you book.
| Route | Who | How long | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-day visa-free entry | Ordinary passports of Canada, the UK and other listed countries | Up to 30 days | For business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchanges or transit. In force February 17 to December 31, 2026. Official notice |
| 240-hour visa-free transit | 57 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK and Mexico | Up to 10 days | Onward ticket with a confirmed seat and date to a third country or region (not back where you came from). Enter and leave through one of 65 ports and stay inside the permitted areas of 24 provincial-level regions. Passport valid 3+ months. Official policy |
| Business visa (M visa) | Everyone else, or longer or repeat trips | Set by the visa | Apply at a Chinese Visa Application Service Center before you travel. Check the National Immigration Administration for your nationality. |
As of October 27, 2026. Sources: Chinese Visa Application Service Center notice; National Immigration Administration policy as published by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government (Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam added August 20, 2026). Rules can change: check before you book.
The 240-hour transit needs a ticket to a third place. Toronto to Shanghai to Toronto does not qualify; Toronto to Shanghai to Seoul to Toronto can. Your airline checks this at check-in, so keep the onward booking ready to show.
How do you pay in China as a foreign visitor?
Most shops, taxis and restaurants in China are paid by phone. Visitors can bind a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay and pay the same way locals do. Set it up at home, where your bank can confirm the binding by text or app.
- Install Alipay and/or WeChat Pay and register with your passport name.
- Bind a Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club or Discover card. Your issuing bank must allow it, so call or message the bank before you fly.
- Know the fee: no extra fee on payments of 200 yuan or less; 3% on payments above 200 yuan. A 500 yuan dinner costs about 15 yuan more.
- Know the limits: up to US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year, as published by China Services Info. Limits can change.
- Carry some cash in yuan as a backup for small shops and in case a card is declined.
Ask the factory for their address in Chinese characters before the visit and save it as a photo. Show it to the taxi driver or paste it into the ride app.
Paying the factory itself is different: production orders go by bank transfer or a platform like Alibaba Trade Assurance, not by phone. See how to pay Chinese suppliers.
When should you go? The trade fair calendar
A fair lets you meet dozens of suppliers in a few days, then visit the best two or three factories afterwards.
| Fair | Where | Dates | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIIE 2026 (9th) | Shanghai | November 5 to 10, 2026 | China International Import Expo: meeting buyers and importers, consumer goods, food, services |
| Canton Fair 2027 (141st) | Guangzhou | Expected April 15 to May 5, 2027 (Phase 1 April 15 to 19, Phase 2 April 23 to 27, Phase 3 May 1 to 5) | Sourcing from manufacturers in almost every category |
CIIE dates from ciie.org. Canton Fair 2027 dates are expected, as of October 27, 2026: confirm at cantonfair.org.cn before you book.
How do you prepare for a factory visit?
Contact factories at least 2 to 3 weeks ahead, send your product details and target quantity, and ask for a sample or a quote before you go, so the visit is about checking, not starting from zero. A short RFQ helps. On the day, look at the production line, the raw materials, finished goods in the warehouse and how they are packed. Take photos only after asking.
Packing and documents list
- Passport valid for at least 3 more months (check your airline's rule too), with blank pages.
- Return or onward ticket printed and saved on your phone. For the 240-hour transit route it must go to a third country or region.
- Hotel bookings for every night, with the address in Chinese.
- Factory list: company name, address in Chinese, contact name and phone for each visit.
- Business cards, ideally with Chinese on the back. Hand them over with both hands.
- Alipay and/or WeChat Pay installed and a card bound before you fly, plus some cash in yuan.
- Samples, spec sheets or a tech pack of what you want made, printed and on your phone.
- A small notebook and a tape measure for checking samples on the factory floor.
Can't visit every factory yourself? An inspection firm can audit the factory or check the goods before shipment, with a report the same day.
See QIMA inspectionsFactory visit phrases in Chinese
Your contact will usually speak some English, but a few lines in Mandarin build goodwill fast. Here are 5 to start with:
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Hello, I am a buyer from Canada. | 您好，我是加拿大的采购商。 | Nín hǎo, wǒ shì Jiānádà de cǎigòushāng. |
| What is your minimum order quantity? | 你们的最小起订量是多少？ | Nǐmen de zuìxiǎo qǐdìngliàng shì duōshao? |
| Can you send us a sample first? | 可以先寄样品给我们吗？ | Kěyǐ xiān jì yàngpǐn gěi wǒmen ma? |
| What is the lead time for production? | 生产交期是多久？ | Shēngchǎn jiāoqī shì duōjiǔ? |
| Please send the quotation by email. | 请把报价单发到我的邮箱。 | Qǐng bǎ bàojiàdān fā dào wǒ de yóuxiāng. |
For messages before and after the trip, see how to message a Chinese supplier in Mandarin and our free supplier message templates.
Contact factories before you fly
Line up your factory visits before you book. Our Supplier Message Builder writes first-contact and follow-up messages in English and Chinese, so suppliers reply before you land. Pay once, no account, and your details stay on your device.
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Frequently asked questions
Do Canadians need a visa for a business trip to China?
Not for trips of up to 30 days between February 17 and December 31, 2026, as of October 27, 2026. Canadian ordinary passport holders can enter visa-free for business, tourism, visits, exchanges or transit. For trips after December 31, 2026, check the official notice before you book.
Do Americans need a visa to visit factories in China?
Americans can use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit if they fly on to a third country or region with a confirmed onward ticket and stay within the permitted areas. Business visits are allowed under it. For longer stays or a round trip to the US, apply for a business (M) visa.
What is the 240-hour visa-free transit?
A policy that lets citizens of 57 countries stay in China for up to 10 days without a visa when travelling on to a third country or region. You enter and leave through one of 65 designated ports and stay inside the permitted areas of 24 provincial-level regions. Work, study and news reporting are not allowed under it.
Can I use my Visa or Mastercard in China?
Yes, through Alipay or WeChat Pay. Bind the card in the app before you fly; your bank must allow the binding. Payments of 200 yuan or less have no extra fee and there is a 3% fee above 200 yuan, as of October 27, 2026. Carry some cash too.
When is the Canton Fair 2027?
The 141st Canton Fair is expected from April 15 to May 5, 2027, in three phases, as of October 27, 2026. Confirm the dates at cantonfair.org.cn before you book.
How do you say minimum order quantity in Chinese?
最小起订量 (zuìxiǎo qǐdìngliàng). Often shortened to 起订量 (qǐdìngliàng). In English it is usually written MOQ.
Entry, payment and fair information is as of October 27, 2026, from the official sources listed, and can change. Border inspection decides entry on arrival. This guide is general travel and business information, not legal or immigration advice. SuanSupply is not affiliated with any government agency, payment app, fair or inspection firm named here.