CIIE 2026 (China International Import Expo) Visa & Travel Guide for International Visitors
Last verified: October 13, 2026
Quick Answer
The 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE 2026) will be held in Shanghai from November 5–10, 2026, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai).
If you are traveling from outside China to attend CIIE, you need to plan two things separately: your CIIE visitor registration and your permission to enter Mainland China.
Depending on your passport and itinerary, you may need a Chinese visa, qualify for a separate visa-free entry policy, or potentially use China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy.
CIIE attendance itself does not create a special visa exemption. Your China entry eligibility still depends on the immigration rules that apply to your nationality, route, documents, ports and length of stay.
CIIE 2026 at a Glance
| Event | 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE 2026) |
|---|---|
| Dates | November 5–10, 2026 |
| Venue | National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) |
| Address | 333 Songze Avenue, Shanghai, China |
| Overseas professional visitor dates | November 6–10, 2026 |
| Professional visitor registration deadline | October 20, 2026 at 24:00 Beijing time |
| Professional visitor payment deadline | October 23, 2026 at 24:00 Beijing time |
| Social visitor dates | Choose one day: November 8, 9 or 10 |
Registration details can change, so confirm the latest information on the official CIIE website before booking non-refundable travel.
Do International Visitors Need a Visa for CIIE 2026?
It depends on your passport and your itinerary.
There is no single visa rule that applies to every international CIIE visitor. In general, your trip will fall into one of three broad categories:
- Chinese visa required: you do not qualify for an applicable visa-free policy, or your itinerary does not meet the conditions of the policy you hoped to use.
- Visa-free entry under another policy: your passport and trip qualify under a current Chinese visa-exemption arrangement that does not depend on transit.
- 240-hour visa-free transit: you are an eligible traveler genuinely transiting Mainland China on the way to a different country or region and you satisfy the other published requirements.
China currently applies the 240-hour visa-free transit policy to nationals of 57 countries. Eligible travelers may enter through designated ports, including ports in Shanghai, and may stay within the permitted areas for no more than 240 hours while traveling onward to a third country or region.
Check your CIIE itinerary with our 240-hour transit eligibility checker →
Can You Attend CIIE Using China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy?
Potentially, yes. The current policy allows eligible travelers to undertake short-term activities including business, so attending a trade exhibition can be compatible with the policy if the rest of your trip qualifies.
The most important routing rule is that you must be transiting Mainland China on the way to a different country or region.
Think of the route as:
Country or Region A → Mainland China → Country or Region B
A and B are the country or region immediately before and immediately after Mainland China, and must be different. Layovers can change which places count as A and B. You also need an ordinary passport, an onward ticket with a confirmed seat and departure date, and must meet the nationality, port, permitted-area and stay-length requirements.
On narrow screens, scroll the itinerary table sideways to read all columns.
| Example itinerary | Route test | Why |
|---|---|---|
| United States → Shanghai → Japan | May qualify | The country before China and the country after China are different. |
| United Kingdom → Shanghai → Hong Kong | May qualify | Hong Kong is treated separately from Mainland China for the transit-route test. |
| Canada → Shanghai → South Korea | May qualify | Canada and South Korea are different countries. |
| Germany → Shanghai → Singapore | May qualify | Germany and Singapore are different countries. |
| United States → Shanghai → United States | Generally does not qualify | The traveler returns to the same country rather than continuing to a different country or region. |
| Japan → Shanghai → Japan | Generally does not qualify | Japan is immediately before and after Mainland China. |
These examples evaluate only the transit-route requirement. A route that passes this test is not automatically eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit.
How Long Can You Stay in Shanghai Under the 240-Hour Policy?
Eligible travelers may remain in the permitted areas for no more than 240 hours, or 10 days, subject to the current policy rules.
Do not assume that a 240-hour admission allows unrestricted travel anywhere in China. The policy applies only within designated permitted areas associated with the eligible ports and regions.
If CIIE is the main purpose of your trip, staying in Shanghai keeps the itinerary simpler. If you plan to add side trips elsewhere in China, confirm that every destination is within the permitted area for your entry and exit arrangement before relying on visa-free transit.
How to Register for CIIE 2026 as an Overseas Professional Visitor
CIIE defines overseas professional visitors as industry participants from enterprises, government bodies, public institutions, social organizations and similar organizations outside the Chinese mainland whose work relates to the exhibition.
Overseas professional visitors register online through the official CIIE website. Registration includes organization and attendee information, followed by review and payment.
According to the official CIIE FAQ, overseas professional visitors may attend from November 6–10, 2026. Two certificate options are currently listed:
| Professional visitor certificate | Fee |
|---|---|
| Admission November 6–10 | RMB 200 per certificate |
| Admission November 8–10 | RMB 100 per certificate |
The current professional visitor registration deadline is October 20, 2026 at 24:00 Beijing time, with payment due by October 23 at 24:00 Beijing time.
The official FAQ also states that overseas professional visitors can pay using supported Chinese payment methods and major international cards and electronic wallets.
Read the official CIIE FAQ for overseas professional visitors.
Can International Travelers Register as Social Visitors?
Yes. CIIE's current 2026 rules allow foreign nationals to register as social visitors.
Social visitors can choose November 8, 9 or 10 and may attend on one selected day. The current certificate service fee is RMB 50 per person for the selected day.
The current social visitor registration deadline is October 20, 2026 at 24:00 Beijing time, with payment due by October 23 at 24:00 Beijing time. Places are limited and the official CIIE site says advance online registration is required.
If your main purpose is business meetings, sourcing or professional participation, the professional visitor route may be more appropriate than social visitor registration.
Social visitors must be at least 14 years old. After payment and approval, their badges are sent by courier only to a Mainland China address; arrange a suitable delivery address before registering. Professional visitors can instead choose on-site badge collection. Read the official social visitor FAQ (Chinese).
See the official CIIE social visitor registration notice (Chinese).
The official page is currently available in Chinese. In Chrome, you can right-click the page and choose Translate to English.
Do You Need a CIIE Invitation Letter for Your China Visa?
A CIIE invitation letter and permission to enter China are not the same thing.
The official CIIE FAQ states that foreign nationals who complete professional visitor registration can apply for an invitation letter through the professional visitor system after registration. Once the invitation-letter application passes review, the letter can be downloaded.
By contrast, foreign social visitors cannot apply for an invitation letter. CIIE directs foreign visitors who need an invitation letter to use the professional visitor institutional registration process.
Whether an invitation letter is required for your Chinese visa application depends on the visa category and the current requirements of the Chinese embassy, consulate or visa center handling your application.
Do not assume that an invitation letter itself gives permission to enter China. You still need to qualify for the visa or visa-free policy you plan to use.
Attending CIIE from the United States
U.S. citizens should not assume that attending CIIE automatically allows visa-free entry to China.
U.S. passport holders are currently among the nationalities eligible for China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy, so a CIIE trip may potentially be possible without a conventional Chinese visa if the itinerary satisfies the transit and other requirements.
For example, United States → Shanghai → Japan may potentially satisfy the transit-route requirement, while United States → Shanghai → United States generally does not.
If you are making an ordinary China trip rather than a qualifying transit, see our U.S.-specific guide:
Where Is CIIE 2026 Held?
CIIE 2026 will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), located at 333 Songze Avenue, Shanghai.
The venue is in Shanghai's Hongqiao area rather than in the traditional central-city tourist districts. The National Exhibition and Convention Center says it is about 1.5 kilometers in a straight line from the Hongqiao transportation hub.
That location matters when choosing flights and accommodation. Staying near Hongqiao can substantially reduce travel time to the expo compared with staying in some central Shanghai neighborhoods.
Which Shanghai Airport Is Better for CIIE?
Shanghai has two major airports: Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).
For proximity to the CIIE venue, Hongqiao is much more convenient. The National Exhibition and Convention Center states that the venue is about 1.5 kilometers from Hongqiao Airport and about 60 kilometers from Pudong Airport.
Your available international flights may arrive at Pudong, so check the actual airport and terminal before booking.
If comparable flight options are available, Hongqiao is the easier choice for reaching CIIE. If you land at Pudong, allow substantially more travel time to reach the Hongqiao exhibition area.
How to Get to CIIE by Metro
The National Exhibition and Convention Center is directly connected to Shanghai's metro system.
- Metro Line 2: National Exhibition and Convention Center station.
- Metro Line 17: National Exhibition and Convention Center station.
Line 2 is particularly useful for visitors because it connects the exhibition area with the Hongqiao transportation hub and extends across Shanghai toward Pudong.
CIIE may announce event-specific traffic controls, shuttle arrangements, taxi areas or temporary crowd-management measures closer to the expo. Check the current official transportation information shortly before your visit rather than relying on instructions from a previous year.
Where Should International Visitors Stay?
There are two basic approaches.
Stay near Hongqiao and the exhibition center
This is usually the most convenient choice if CIIE is the main purpose of your trip. You will spend less time commuting and can reach the venue more easily on busy expo days.
Stay in central Shanghai
Central Shanghai may be a better fit if you also want sightseeing, restaurants, nightlife or meetings in other parts of the city. The trade-off is a longer commute to CIIE.
For a short, business-focused visit, prioritize easy access to Hongqiao or Metro Line 2 rather than choosing a hotel only for proximity to tourist attractions.
CIIE 2026 Travel Checklist for International Visitors
Before leaving for Shanghai, check each of the following:
- Passport: confirm that it meets the requirements of the visa or visa-free policy you plan to use.
- China entry permission: determine whether you need a Chinese visa or qualify for an applicable visa-free policy.
- Transit itinerary: if using the 240-hour policy, confirm that your route involves onward travel to a different country or region.
- Onward ticket: carry confirmed onward travel within the permitted period if relying on visa-free transit.
- Entry and exit ports: verify that your planned ports are eligible under the policy you intend to use.
- Permitted travel area: ensure every Mainland China destination on your itinerary is allowed under the applicable transit rules.
- CIIE registration: complete the correct professional or social visitor registration process before the deadline.
- Invitation letter: if you need one for your visa arrangements, use the appropriate professional visitor registration route.
- Hotel: keep your accommodation details available for travel and arrival formalities.
- Transportation: plan how you will travel from the airport to your hotel and the CIIE venue.
- Mobile connectivity and payments: arrange roaming, SIM/eSIM access and the payment methods you plan to use in China.
China's entry policies and event procedures can change, so verify the official rules again shortly before departure.
Frequently Asked Questions About CIIE 2026
When is CIIE 2026?
The 9th China International Import Expo will be held from November 5–10, 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.
Do foreigners need a visa to attend CIIE?
Not every foreign visitor has the same visa requirement. It depends on nationality, itinerary and the visa-free policies that apply to the traveler. CIIE attendance itself does not create a universal visa exemption.
Can I attend CIIE using 240-hour visa-free transit?
Potentially. The 240-hour policy allows eligible travelers to engage in short-term business activities, but your nationality, route, ports, documents, onward ticket, permitted area and stay must all meet the current rules.
Can U.S. citizens attend CIIE without a Chinese visa?
Potentially, if another visa-free policy applies. U.S. citizens are currently eligible nationalities for 240-hour visa-free transit, but the itinerary and other requirements must also qualify.
How do overseas professional visitors register for CIIE?
Overseas professional visitors register online through the official CIIE website, submit organization and attendee details, complete the review process and pay the applicable certificate fee.
What are the professional visitor dates for CIIE 2026?
The official overseas professional visitor FAQ lists November 6–10, 2026 as the professional visitor dates.
Can foreign visitors register as social visitors?
Yes. Under the current 2026 rules, foreign nationals can register as social visitors and choose one of November 8, 9 or 10, subject to availability and advance registration.
Can social visitors request a CIIE invitation letter?
No. The official CIIE FAQ says foreign social visitors cannot request invitation letters. Foreign visitors who need one should use the professional visitor institutional registration route.
Which airport is closest to CIIE?
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is much closer to the National Exhibition and Convention Center than Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
Can I travel outside Shanghai during a 240-hour visa-free transit stay?
Only within the permitted travel areas of the policy. Do not assume that 240-hour visa-free transit allows unrestricted travel throughout China. Check the permitted area for your specific entry and exit arrangement.
Planning Your CIIE Trip?
If you are considering 240-hour visa-free transit, check your routing before booking an itinerary that depends on the policy.
Check your 240-hour visa-free transit eligibility →
Or read more: China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide and Do U.S. Citizens Need a Visa for China?
Before You Travel
CIIE schedules, visitor procedures and Chinese immigration policies can change. Verify current official information before relying on any registration deadline, entry exemption or transportation arrangement.
Meeting published visa-free transit requirements does not guarantee admission. Chinese immigration authorities make the final entry decision.
Last verified: October 13, 2026
Official Sources
- China International Import Expo — Professional Visitors Registration & Online Matchmaking Platform Launch for the 9th CIIE
- China International Import Expo — FAQ for Overseas Professional Visitor Registration
- China International Import Expo — 2026 Social Visitor Registration Notice (Chinese)
- China International Import Expo — Social Visitor Registration FAQ (Chinese)
- China National Immigration Administration — Visa-Free Transit Policies
- China National Immigration Administration — August 20, 2026 Policy Update
- China International Import Expo — Transportation Guide