Business Trip to China: Visa, Planning and Supplier Visits
By Hasan Olwan, in Yiwu since 2009 · Last updated: November 8, 2026
The short answer: before a business trip to China, check the entry route for your passport first. In 2026, ordinary passport holders from the UK, Canada and Australia can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for business, under a policy that currently runs to December 31, 2026. US citizens generally need an M (business) visa, unless they qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit on the way to a third country. Then plan the trip around decisions: which suppliers, which samples, which questions. A trip that only “looks around” usually comes home with photos and business cards, not with quotes you can compare.
I’ve worked in international trade for more than 19 years and lived in Yiwu since 2009, and I meet buyers who fly in every season. The ones who get the most out of the trip are not the ones with the longest itinerary. They are the ones who arrive with a clear product file and leave with a clear comparison.
This guide is general information, not immigration or legal advice. Entry rules change and depend on your passport, so confirm them with the Chinese embassy or visa center where you apply, and with your airline, before you book.
Do you actually need to travel?
Start with the goal, not with the flight. A trip is worth it when you need to:
- Compare products, materials or finishes with your own hands
- Discuss a custom product that is hard to explain by email
- See a specific production site before a large or repeat order
- Meet several suppliers in one organized program, or walk a trade fair
If you haven’t decided on the product, the quantity and the spec yet, do that first. Ordering samples and working remotely is often the better first step, and it tells you which suppliers and which questions are worth a visit.
| Where you are now | Practical next step |
|---|---|
| Still looking for a product idea | Check demand, specs and landed cost before you plan a trip |
| You have suppliers and first quotes | Compare the quotes and list what only a visit can answer |
| Your product needs customization or testing | Prepare a technical file and a goal for every meeting |
| You need follow-up but can’t travel | Decide what you can delegate and how it will be documented |
If your trip is built around a fair, read our Canton Fair guide to choose the right phase before you fix dates.
Visa or visa-free? Check your passport first
The decision depends on your nationality and passport type, the purpose of the trip and how long you stay. Where you live is not a substitute for your nationality.
UK, Canada and Australia: 30 days visa-free
China’s National Immigration Administration lists the countries under its unilateral visa exemption policy (list dated February 17, 2026). The UK, Canada and Australia are on it. Ordinary passport holders from those countries may enter visa-free for business, tourism, visits to relatives and friends, exchange visits or transit, for stays of up to 30 days. The stay is counted from 00:00 on the day after you enter.
Two points to watch. First, the policy is set to run until December 31, 2026, so if your trip is in 2027, check whether it has been extended before you book. Second, visa-free entry doesn’t cover work, study or news reporting. The Chinese Embassy in the US FAQ on visa-free entry (updated February 2026) recommends carrying documents that match your purpose, such as invitation letters, air tickets and hotel reservations.
United States: the M visa
The US is not on the unilateral visa-free list. The US Department of State’s China travel information says that, in general, you must apply for a visa before you travel. The International Trade Administration’s China business travel guide (published September 25, 2025) says people attending trade shows or meeting business partners need an M business visa.
For an M visa, the Chinese Embassy in the US (requirements updated September 2025) asks for documents on the commercial activity issued by a trade partner in China, usually an invitation letter.
240-hour visa-free transit
China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy (dated August 20, 2026) covers nationals of 57 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. You can stay up to 10 days in the permitted areas, and business activities are allowed. But you need an ordinary passport, entry through one of the designated ports, and a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. A round trip back to the country you flew in from doesn’t qualify, and you must stay inside the permitted areas.
What goes in the invitation letter
The Chinese Embassy in the US lists what an M visa invitation letter should contain:
| Section | What to check |
|---|---|
| About you | Name, gender, date of birth, passport number, matching your passport exactly |
| About the visit | Reason for the trip, arrival and departure dates, places you will visit, your relationship with the inviting company, who pays for the trip |
| About the inviting company | Name, address, phone number, official seal, legal representative, signature and date |
Ask the supplier to correct any mismatch before you apply. And keep two things separate: an invitation letter doesn’t guarantee a visa, and it isn’t proof that the supplier is a real factory. Check the company the same way you would without a trip, using our supplier verification guide.
Visa validity, stay and entries are three different things
On a Chinese visa, the validity is the period in which you can use it to enter. The number of entries is how many times you can enter in that period. The duration of stay is the maximum days allowed on each entry. A visa can stay valid for entry much longer than you are allowed to stay after arrival, so don’t read the “enter before” date as your last day in China.
Watch Hong Kong and Macau in particular. The ITA business travel guide notes that on a single-entry visa, a trip to Hong Kong or Macau counts as leaving mainland China, and you will be refused if you try to come back on the same visa.
Build the supplier program before you book flights
Tie every meeting to a decision. “Let’s see the products” is weaker than “compare two materials”, “check the sample against our spec” or “confirm production capacity for this item”.
Send a product file first
Before each meeting, send the supplier:
- Photos or drawings and a clear spec
- Material, sizes and colors
- Approximate quantity per item
- Packaging and labeling requirements
- The country where you will sell
- Questions on customization, samples and lead time
Ask what each quote includes and excludes, and write down whether the sample you are shown matches the spec you want produced. “Same as this one” is not a spec.
Confirm addresses and contacts
Ask for the address in Chinese, the name and phone number of the person you will meet, and what kind of place it is: sales office, showroom or production site. A company’s registered address is not always the factory you want to see. Most suppliers will want to talk on WeChat, so set it up before you go (our WeChat guide.
If you are coming to Yiwu, work in rounds: first scan the relevant categories, then shortlist, then go back to compare and review samples. Our Yiwu, China city guide covers getting here, and the Yiwu Market tour page explains how we organize visits. If you need an interpreter, choose one who fits the meetings and send them your terms and questions in advance. Leave time between visits to review your notes.
Leave with a comparison, not just photos
For every supplier, record the spec, price and terms, MOQ, sample status, packaging, proposed schedule and the points still open. That file is what you will negotiate from after you fly home.
Keep the trip budget separate from the cost of goods
There is no single budget for a sourcing trip. It depends on where you fly from, the season, the cities, how long you stay and the level of service you want. Use this list to collect quotes, not as a price list:
| Item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Flights | Baggage, change and refund terms, transit route |
| Hotel | Taxes, breakfast, cancellation, distance to your meetings |
| Local transport | Cities, addresses, number of trips, what is included |
| Interpreter or coordinator | Hours, tasks, extra expenses |
| Phone, data and insurance | Coverage, limits and exclusions |
| Samples | Price, packing and shipping home |
Write down the currency, date and scope of every quote. Then work out the cost of the order on its own, using our landed cost guide, so travel costs don’t hide inside your product margin. Check the calendar too: around Chinese New Year many factories close, and our guide on the best time to import from China covers the slow periods.
Payments, phone and registration on the ground
China’s government guide to working and living in China (2025 edition) covers the daily basics for visitors:
- Payments. You can register Alipay, WeChat or UnionPay apps and bind foreign cards such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express. The card issuer has to verify the binding, and limits and fees vary by product. The ITA guide adds that many shops only take Alipay or WeChat Pay, so test your setup before you fly and carry a backup.
- SIM card. You can get one with your passport at China Telecom, China Mobile or China Unicom service offices.
- Registration. Hotels register you when you check in. If you stay anywhere else, you must register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival.
- Trains. You can buy tickets with your passport on the 12306 English website or app after identity verification. Carry the same passport you booked with.
Keep supplier payments separate from daily spending. A deposit for production needs a written agreement and verified bank details, as explained in our guide on how to pay Chinese suppliers.
US travelers should also read the State Department’s current travel advisory for China, which asks visitors to exercise increased caution, and its notes on device security and exit bans before the trip.
Mistakes that can ruin the trip or the deal
- Using a visa-free rule based on where you live, not on your passport
- Mixing up visa validity, length of stay and number of entries
- Relying on 240-hour transit without checking the onward ticket, port and permitted areas
- Booking too many meetings before confirming addresses and travel times
- Comparing prices for products that differ in material, packaging or delivery terms
- Paying a deposit just because you are in the supplier’s office and your flight is soon
- Treating a factory visit as the end of quality control
The first three are about entry rules. The rest are about the buying decision: write down the spec, what was agreed, what is still open and who follows up after you leave. Put the deal in a written contract, and plan an inspection before shipment with our quality inspection checklist. A good impression in the showroom is not an acceptance standard for the bulk order.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for a business trip to China?
It depends on your passport. UK, Canadian and Australian ordinary passport holders can currently enter visa-free for up to 30 days for business, under a policy that runs to December 31, 2026. US citizens generally need an M visa, unless they qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit to a third country.
What visa do I need to visit suppliers in China?
If you need a visa, the M visa is for commercial and trade activities. The application asks for documents from your trade partner in China, usually an invitation letter.
Does an invitation letter guarantee the visa?
No. The consular office decides on the visa, and it can ask for more documents. The letter also doesn’t prove the supplier is legitimate, so verify the company separately.
Can I meet suppliers during 240-hour visa-free transit?
The official policy allows business activities for eligible travelers, but only inside the permitted areas and with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region.
Can I go to Hong Kong and come back to mainland China?
Only if your entry route allows it. On a single-entry visa, Hong Kong and Macau count as leaving the mainland, so you would need a new visa to return. Check your number of entries before you plan the route.
Do I need to travel to China to import?
Not always. Many buyers start with samples and remote follow-up, then travel once they have a shortlist and questions that need a visit. A local team can also visit suppliers and inspect orders for you.
Summary
- Check your passport’s entry route first: visa-free, M visa or 240-hour transit.
- Confirm the dates, especially if your trip is in 2027.
- Get a correct invitation letter if you need a visa, and verify the supplier separately.
- Send a product file before every meeting and confirm each address.
- Come home with a comparison, not just photos.
- Budget the trip separately from the landed cost of the goods.
- Put the deal in writing and inspect before the goods ship.
Planning a trip to Yiwu or to factories in China? Send us your product, the approximate quantity, your destination country and your travel dates, and we’ll help you plan supplier visits and follow up after you fly home.