China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide (2026)

What is the 240-hour visa-free transit?

China's transit visa exemption allows eligible passport holders to enter China without a visa for up to 240 hours (10 days) while transiting to a third country. The policy replaced and unified the previous 72-hour and 144-hour transit exemptions in late 2024.

As of July 2026, the program covers 55 countries, 65 ports of entry, and 24 provincial-level regions. You can travel freely within the approved province(s) of your entry port during your stay.

Last updated July 2026. This policy changes frequently. The country list below is sourced from the National Immigration Administration of China (en.nia.gov.cn); always reconfirm with the NIA or your airline before you fly, as eligible countries and ports are adjusted from time to time.

This is not a visa. You do not apply for it. You simply arrive at an eligible port with the right documents and the immigration officer stamps you in.

Who qualifies? (55 countries)

Citizens of the following 55 countries are eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Ireland
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Belgium
• Austria
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Monaco
• Russia
• Belarus
• Ukraine
• Serbia
• Bosnia
• Montenegro
• Japan
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Philippines
• Vietnam
• Brunei
• UAE
• Qatar
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico

Not on the list? You need a regular tourist visa (L visa). Check with your nearest Chinese embassy.

Eligible ports and provinces

You must enter through one of the 65 approved ports. Your travel is restricted to the province(s) associated with your entry port. Here are the major ones:

Additional ports include Nanjing, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Guilin, Beihai, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The full list is maintained by the National Immigration Administration.

The 4 rules you must follow

1. Onward ticket to a third country. You must have a confirmed flight/train/ship ticket to a third country or region departing within 240 hours. The destination cannot be the same country you arrived from. Example: fly New York → Shanghai, then Shanghai → Tokyo. Valid. Fly New York → Shanghai, then Shanghai → New York. Denied.
2. Enter through an approved port. Not every airport or border crossing accepts transit visa exemption. Check the list above. If you arrive at a non-approved port, you will be denied entry without a visa.
3. Stay within the approved region. Your 240 hours are spent in the province(s) linked to your entry port. Cross-province travel is only allowed within the designated zone (e.g., Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, or Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang).
4. Depart on time. The 240-hour clock starts the moment immigration stamps your passport. Overstaying, even by a few hours, is taken seriously. You may face fines, detention, and a ban on future visa-free entry.

Step-by-step: how to use it

1. Check your passport. Confirm your nationality is on the 55-country list above.
2. Book a qualifying itinerary. Arrive from Country A, depart to Country B (different from A) within 240 hours. Both arrival and departure ports must be approved.
3. Print your onward ticket. Have a printed copy of your confirmed onward flight/train ticket. Immigration will ask for it. Digital screenshots on your phone are sometimes accepted, but print is safer.
4. Fill out the entry card. Since November 2025, you can pre-fill your entry card online via the National Immigration Administration website or the "Immigration 12367" app. Or fill it out on arrival.
5. Approach immigration. Tell the officer you are using the 240-hour transit exemption. Present: passport, onward ticket, completed entry card.
6. Get stamped. The officer stamps your passport with the transit exemption. The 240-hour countdown begins.
7. Enjoy China. Travel within your approved region. Set up Alipay/WeChat Pay, get a VPN or eSIM, explore.
8. Depart on time. Show up at your departure port with time to spare. The transit exemption ends the moment you exit.

30-day visa-free entry (even better)

If you're from one of the following countries, you don't even need the transit exemption. China offers unilateral 30-day visa-free entry for tourism, business, or family visits:

• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Ireland
• Hungary
• Austria
• Belgium
• Luxembourg
• Portugal
• Greece
• Cyprus
• Slovenia
• Slovakia
• Norway
• Finland
• Denmark
• Iceland
• Andorra
• Monaco
• Liechtenstein
• Australia
• New Zealand
• South Korea
• Japan
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Thailand
• Kazakhstan
• UAE
• Qatar
• Brunei
• Indonesia
• Poland

This policy is extended through December 31, 2026. No onward ticket to a third country required. No geographic restrictions. Just show up with your passport and stay up to 30 days.

Hainan 30-day visa-free entry

Citizens of 59 countries can enter Hainan Island visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, medical, exhibition, or sports purposes. Entry must be through any open port in Hainan (Haikou Meilan Airport, Sanya Phoenix Airport, or seaports).

This is separate from the 240-hour transit policy. No onward ticket required. But you must stay within Hainan Province. Perfect for a beach vacation in Sanya.

7 mistakes that get you denied

1. Round-trip ticket. Flying NYC → Shanghai → NYC disqualifies you. The transit exemption requires onward travel to a third country.
2. Wrong entry port. Arriving at a non-approved airport means no transit exemption. Always verify your arrival airport is on the list.
3. No printed onward ticket. "I have it on my phone" is not always enough. Print your confirmed booking.
4. Crossing provincial boundaries. Entering through Shanghai and taking a train to Beijing violates the geographic restriction. Stick to your approved region.
5. Overstaying. 240 hours is 10 days exactly. Miss your flight and you're in violation. Build in a buffer. Depart on day 9, not day 10.
6. Not having hotel bookings. Some immigration officers ask where you're staying. Have your hotel reservations printed or accessible.
7. Assuming eSIM counts as transit. Just because you booked a connecting flight doesn't mean the transit exemption applies. Your layover must be a genuine transit with a confirmed onward booking, not a same-day connection you might miss.

Transit exemption vs. L visa: which to choose

FAQ

Can I extend the 240 hours?

No. The transit exemption cannot be extended under any circumstances. If you need more time, apply for an L visa before your trip.

Can I enter through one port and exit through another?

Yes, as long as both ports are within your approved provincial region. For example, enter through Shanghai Pudong and exit through Hangzhou. Both are in the Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang zone.

Does the 240 hours include my layover time?

Yes. The clock starts when immigration stamps you in, not when your departing flight leaves. If you arrive Monday 2pm, you must depart by Thursday 2pm at the latest for a 72-hour exemption, or the following Thursday for 240 hours.

Can I use the transit exemption for a cruise?

Yes, if the cruise ship departs from an approved port to a third country. The same rules apply: onward ticket to a third country, within 240 hours.

What if my flight is delayed and I overstay?

Go to the local Entry-Exit Administration immediately with proof of the delay (airline letter, weather notice). They may issue a short extension or "exit within 24 hours" notice. Do not ignore the overstay.

I have two passports. Which one should I use?

Use the one from an eligible country. But you must enter and exit China on the same passport. Make sure your onward flight is booked under the same passport name.