A false statement or false paperwork, whether in a Chinese visa application or at the border, can now keep a foreign national out of China for one to five years. The State Council’s Provisions on Exit and Entry Administration (Decree No. 841), in force since September 15, 2026, also let officers question travellers and ask for documents or electronic data proving the purpose of a trip.
Access has not changed. UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Irish passport holders enter visa-free for stays of up to 30 days until December 31, 2026. US, Indian and Nigerian nationals are not on that list and need a visa, and the false-statement rule covers those applications.
Hosts carry liability too: a person who issues a false invitation letter faces a fine of 5,000 to 10,000 yuan, a company up to 50,000 yuan.