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A Must-Read for Travelers to China: Vape Import Rules You Need to Know Before Entry

August 05,2025 | View: 3526
Starting June 2025, China has officially expanded its visa-free transit policy, allowing foreign travelers to stay up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa, according to the National Immigration Administration. This opens up new opportunities for global tourists to explore China more freely. Whether you’re planning an extended visit or just transiting through, being well-prepared before departure is essential—especially if you’re a regular vape user. Understanding China’s vape regulations will help you avoid unnecessary complications at customs.

Many international users have grown accustomed to fruity, minty, dessert-flavored, or brand-specific vape products. However, China’s vape market operates under very different rules, with strict legal restrictions on flavor and sales channels. Currently, only tobacco-flavored vape products are allowed to be sold in China. All other flavors—including fruit—are strictly banned. This means if you're dependent on flavored vapes or your favorite brand’s device, you won’t be able to find legal alternatives in China. So, be sure to pack accordingly and follow the customs regulations below.

Vape and Tobacco Import Limits: What China Customs Allows

To help you better understand what’s permitted, here’s a breakdown of the latest customs limits as published by the Chinese General Administration of Customs, based on the "Regulations on Taxation for Inbound Articles":
Item Type
 Regular Travelers
 Travelers from HK/Macau
 Frequent Cross-border Travelers
Cigarettes (incl. Heated)
 400 sticks
 200 sticks
 40 sticks
Cigars
 20 sticks
 10 sticks
 2 sticks
Loose Tobacco
 500g
 250g 40g
Vape Devices
 2 units
 1 unit
 1 unit
Vape Pods (Liquid Cartridges)
 6 pods
 3 pods
 1 pods
Total Vape Liquid Volume
 ≤12ml
 ≤6ml
 ≤2ml
Important Note: Disposable vapes fall under the category of “vape pods” and are not treated as general electronics. That means the limit of 6 vape pods includes disposables.

Customs Tips: What You Should Do Before Entry

 1. Stay within the permitted quantity: Exceeding the limit may lead to taxes, item confiscation, or even being denied entry with those products.

 2. Declare your items truthfully: Proactively declaring is safer than being flagged during inspection. This helps avoid fines, seizures, or record entries.

 3. Keep packaging and receipts: Especially for vape liquids, having proper labeling helps expedite customs checks.

 4. Avoid unlabeled or DIY e-liquids: These are prone to being flagged and may lead to confiscation.

 5. Strictly no illegal substances: Vapes containing banned ingredients in China (like CBD) will be seized and may result in legal penalties.

Can I Still Use My Favorite Vape in China?

Due to strict regulations, only tobacco-flavored vapes are legally sold in China. Fruity, mint, dessert, or other flavored options are banned from sale—even in convenience stores, online platforms, or duty-free shops.

This means if you rely on flavored disposables or brand-specific pods, you should bring what you need with you—within the customs limits.

Also, even if your products are for personal use, avoid using vapes in public spaces. Multiple Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Chongqing, prohibit vape use in public venues.

Reminder: Stay Informed and Vape Responsibly

This article aims to provide accurate and practical guidance for travelers entering China. We recommend learning about all relevant policies in advance, especially those related to tobacco and vape products, to ensure a smooth travel experience.

As a Chinese-founded vape brand, SP2S is fully aware of domestic regulations and the usage habits of our global users. We urge all international travelers to China to follow customs laws and vape responsibly.

If you have any questions about our products or China’s import and export rules, feel free to leave a comment below. We will continue monitoring global vape policy changes and providing timely updates for our users.


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