China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: The 2026 Rules
Up to 10 days in China without a visa, if you are flying on to a third country. Who qualifies, which ports and areas count, and the mistakes that get people refused boarding.
- Maximum stay
- 240 hours (10 days)
- Eligible countries
- 57 (since 20 Aug 2026)
- Entry/exit ports
- 65 air, rail, land and sea ports
- Key condition
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region
Who qualifies
Ordinary passport holders from 57 countries can use the policy. The list includes the United States, Mexico, most of Europe (including the Czech Republic and Lithuania, which are not on the separate 30-day visa-free list), Indonesia (added June 2025), and Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam (added on 20 August 2026).
If your passport is already on China’s 30-day unilateral visa-free list — for example the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most EU countries — you normally do not need the transit policy at all. Use the 30-day route instead; it allows a round trip.
The third-country rule
You must be travelling between two different countries or regions, with China in the middle. A → China → B works; A → China → A does not. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as separate regions, so London → Shanghai → Hong Kong qualifies.
You need a confirmed onward ticket with a fixed date and seat, departing within 240 hours. Airlines check this at check-in, so carry a printout or PDF.
Where you can go
You must enter and leave through one of the 65 designated ports, and stay within the permitted areas of 24 provincial-level regions. Since December 2024 travellers can move between those permitted areas, which opens up multi-city trips such as Shanghai → Hangzhou → Guilin → Guangzhou.
Some provinces are covered in full and others only in certain cities (for example, Heilongjiang only covers Harbin). Tibet, Xinjiang and Gansu are not in the permitted area. Check the NIA’s current area list against your itinerary.
How the clock works
The 240 hours start from 00:00 on the day after you arrive. Arriving at 23:00 on 1 May gives you until 24:00 on 11 May. You apply for the transit permit on arrival at the immigration counter, after filling in the arrival card.
Before you go
- Passport valid for at least the length of your stay (airlines often want 6 months).
- Onward ticket to a third country or region, departing within 240 hours.
- Hotel booking for your first night.
- Online arrival card completed (free) before landing.
- Itinerary that stays inside the permitted areas.
FAQ
Can US citizens use the 240-hour transit?
Yes. The United States is on the list. A trip such as US → Beijing → Seoul → US qualifies because you leave China for a third country.
Can I travel between provinces on 240-hour transit?
Yes, within the permitted areas of the 24 covered provincial-level regions. Areas outside them, such as Tibet and Xinjiang, are excluded.
Can I work or study on the transit exemption?
No. It covers tourism, business, visits and exchanges. Work, study and journalism require the appropriate visa.
Related briefings
Sources
- National Immigration Administration — Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam added (20 Aug 2026)
- National Immigration Administration — Indonesia added (12 Jun 2025)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — visa waiver for Canada and the UK (15 Feb 2026)
Rules change often. If something here no longer matches the official source, the official source wins — and please tell us at [email protected].
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