China Visa-free Travel Guide

China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy Explanation

China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy allows eligible travelers to enter China while genuinely transiting to a third country or region. It can provide up to 10 days for tourism, business, visits and family visits, but nationality, travel document, onward route, entry port and permitted travel area must all meet the policy requirements.

Updated 24 August 2026 · 57 eligible countries · 65 designated ports

What is China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy?

The 240-hour visa-free transit policy is designed for eligible foreign travelers who are passing through China on their way to a third country or region. It is transit permission, not a general visa-free entry policy for any 10-day holiday.

From 20 August 2026, nationals of 57 countries may be eligible. Travelers who meet the requirements may apply for temporary entry through one of 65 designated ports located across 24 provincial-level areas and remain within the areas permitted by the policy for no more than 240 hours.

The most important requirement is the route. Your trip must involve genuine onward transit to a third country or region rather than simply entering China and returning directly to the same country from which you arrived.

Maximum stay No more than 240 hours within the permitted area.
Eligible nationalities 57 countries as of 20 August 2026.
Entry network 65 designated ports across 24 provincial-level areas.
Simple explanation: Think of the policy as Country or Region A → China → Country or Region B. China must be the transit point between different countries or regions.

Use this five-point eligibility check before booking

Nationality alone does not determine whether you can use the policy. Your travel document, onward itinerary, entry port and intended travel area also need to qualify.

Check your nationality and travel document You must be a national of one of the eligible countries and hold a valid international travel document. The NIA conditions state that the document must have at least three months of remaining validity.
Check your onward route Your journey must continue from China to a third country or region. You should have confirmed onward travel arrangements with a departure date within the permitted 240-hour period.
Check your entry port The 240-hour policy applies through designated ports. Flying into a city located within a participating area does not automatically mean every port in that city can be used for entry under the policy.
Check your permitted travel area The policy does not provide unrestricted travel throughout China. Your itinerary must remain inside the areas currently permitted for 240-hour visa-free transit travelers.
Prepare for immigration inspection Eligible travelers must complete the required temporary-entry formalities and cooperate with immigration inspection. Keep your passport, onward travel information and practical trip details easily available.
Important: Meeting the nationality requirement does not by itself guarantee temporary entry. Your complete itinerary and documents must satisfy the policy conditions at the immigration inspection point.

The third-country-or-region transit rule

The route requirement is one of the most important parts of the 240-hour policy. You must be transiting through China to a third country or region.

Example route Likely route result Why
Canada → China → Japan Potentially qualifies China is the transit point between Canada and a different onward country. All other policy requirements must still be met.
United States → China → South Korea Potentially qualifies The traveler arrives from one country and continues to another country.
United Kingdom → China → Hong Kong Potentially qualifies The policy uses the wording “third country or region.” The exact itinerary, port and onward arrangements must still satisfy immigration requirements.
Canada → China → Canada Does not meet the basic transit pattern The traveler returns directly to the same country rather than continuing to a third country or region.
France → China with no confirmed onward destination Does not meet the basic documentation requirement The policy requires confirmed onward arrangements to a third country or region within the allowed period.
Planning tip: Check the international sequence of your itinerary before looking at hotels or domestic transportation. A route that fails the third-country-or-region condition cannot normally be fixed by choosing a different hotel or Chinese city.

Which countries are eligible?

The previous 55-country list was expanded on 20 August 2026 when Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added. The current total is 57 countries.

Europe — 40 countries

  • Albania
  • Austria
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Americas — 6 countries

  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Mexico
  • United States

Oceania — 2 countries

  • Australia
  • New Zealand

Asia — 9 countries

  • Brunei
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Qatar
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Vietnam
Important: Being on this list is only the first eligibility test. Your travel document, onward route, entry port and intended travel area must also meet the policy rules.

How is the 240-hour stay calculated?

The policy is commonly described as a 10-day visa-free transit policy, but travelers should understand how the official stay calculation works rather than simply counting 240 hours from the moment their flight lands.

Complete your entry formalities Immigration authorities at the eligible port handle the temporary-entry procedures after confirming that the policy requirements are satisfied.
The official count begins at 00:00 the following day The NIA states that the visa-free stay period is calculated from 00:00 on the day following the day of entry.
Depart within the permitted period Your onward departure must comply with the approved temporary-entry period and the confirmed travel arrangements presented for your transit.
Remain within the permitted travel area The time allowance does not remove the geographical restrictions of the policy. Your travel must remain within the applicable permitted areas.
Do not assume: “240 hours” does not simply mean adding exactly 240 hours to your aircraft landing time. Confirm the departure deadline shown or explained during your temporary-entry procedures.

Designated entry ports and permitted travel areas

The 240-hour visa-free transit policy currently applies through 65 designated ports in 24 provincial-level areas. These include major international gateways such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, Hangzhou and many others.

However, the entry-port list and the permitted-stay area are two separate things to check. Entering through an eligible airport does not mean the policy gives you permission to travel anywhere in China.

What to check Why it matters Before booking
Entry port Your arrival point must be one of the designated ports that accepts 240-hour visa-free transit applications. Confirm the exact airport, railway station, seaport or land port—not only the city name.
Permitted stay area Temporary entry is geographically restricted to the areas specified under the policy. Check every Chinese destination you intend to visit.
Departure arrangements Your onward route must take you to a third country or region within the allowed period. Confirm the departure city, port and international destination.
Domestic transportation A train or domestic flight may take you beyond the permitted travel area even though it remains inside China. Check the permitted area before purchasing domestic tickets.
Best practice: Use the current NIA port-and-permitted-area list for your exact itinerary before paying for non-refundable domestic flights, trains, hotels or tours.

Documents to prepare for 240-hour visa-free transit

Travelers should be ready to demonstrate that they meet the nationality, document, onward-transit and temporary-entry requirements.

Document or information Why it matters
Valid international travel document The NIA conditions require a valid international travel document with at least three months of remaining validity.
Proof you may enter your onward destination Travelers must meet the requirements for entering the third country or region to which they are traveling.
Confirmed onward ticket or other accepted proof Your arrangements should show a specified departure date and onward travel to a third country or region within 240 hours.
Arrival information Travelers must complete the applicable arrival or temporary-entry information required by immigration authorities.
Hotel booking or accommodation details Useful for explaining where you will stay and demonstrating that your itinerary remains within the permitted area.
China itinerary A clear itinerary helps show that your proposed travel is practical, temporary and geographically compliant with the policy.
PandaVoyage tip: Keep offline copies or screenshots of your passport details, onward ticket, hotel reservations and China itinerary. Do not rely entirely on mobile data or Wi-Fi being immediately available at immigration.

What can you do during 240-hour visa-free transit?

Eligible travelers may conduct several common short-term activities during their approved stay, provided they remain within the permitted area and comply with the temporary-entry conditions.

Activity Under the 240-hour policy
Tourism and sightseeing Generally permitted within the designated travel area.
Business activities Short-term business activities are included among permitted purposes.
Visiting friends Short visits are permitted within the policy conditions.
Family visits Short-term family visits are permitted.
Work Requires the appropriate visa or permission in advance when prior approval is required.
Study Requires the appropriate visa in advance when prior approval is required.
News reporting Requires the appropriate visa and relevant approval in advance.
Key point: Visa-free transit is an immigration entry arrangement. It does not replace visas, permits or approvals required for regulated activities such as employment, formal study or news reporting.

Common planning mistakes to avoid

Booking A → China → A A simple return journey to the country you arrived from does not satisfy the basic third-country-or-region transit pattern.
Assuming every Chinese airport qualifies Only designated ports can process entry under the 240-hour policy. Check your exact arrival port rather than only the destination city.
Assuming you can travel anywhere in China The policy has geographical limits. Domestic trains and flights can easily take you outside the permitted area if your itinerary is not checked carefully.
Counting exactly 240 hours from landing The NIA states that the visa-free stay period is calculated from 00:00 on the day following entry. Confirm your actual departure deadline at the port.
Arriving without clear onward proof Carry documentation showing your confirmed onward route, destination and departure arrangements within the allowed period.
Assuming temporary entry is automatic Eligible travelers still need to complete the required temporary-entry procedures and cooperate with immigration inspection.
Using the policy for activities requiring approval Work, study, news reporting and other activities requiring prior approval need the appropriate visa or permission.

When is the 240-hour policy not the right option?

The 240-hour transit policy is very useful for the right itinerary, but another China entry policy may be simpler when your trip does not involve genuine transit.

Your situation What to consider instead
You are traveling Country A → China → Country A Check whether your passport qualifies for another visa-free entry policy or obtain an appropriate Chinese visa.
You need more than 240 hours Check other visa-free arrangements applicable to your nationality or obtain the appropriate visa before travel.
You want to travel outside the permitted areas Consider a visa or another entry policy that allows your complete itinerary.
Your connection is less than 24 hours and you do not need a longer stay Review China’s 24-hour visa-free transit policy.
Your nationality already qualifies for a broader visa-free entry policy Compare the conditions before relying on the transit policy.

Not sure which policy applies? Start with our China visa-free policy decision guide . For shorter connections, read our China 24-hour visa-free transit policy explanation .

Practical rule: Choose the entry policy that matches your actual itinerary rather than designing an itinerary around an entry policy after flights have already been purchased.

Official sources

China’s immigration policies can change, including eligible nationalities, designated ports and permitted travel areas. Check current official information before finalizing your international and domestic transportation.

Official NIA source What it covers
August 20, 2026 NIA announcement Adds Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam and increases the number of eligible 240-hour visa-free transit countries to 57.
NIA 240-hour transit conditions and port framework Covers the 65 designated ports, qualifying conditions, document validity, onward travel requirements, temporary-entry procedures and stay calculation.
NIA visa-free transit policy overview Provides the official overview of China’s 24-hour and 240-hour visa-free transit policies.
Last checked: 24 August 2026. Entry rules, designated ports and immigration procedures can change. Confirm your exact passport, route, entry port and permitted travel area with the National Immigration Administration and your carrier before ticketing.

China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit FAQ

Is the 240-hour visa-free transit policy the same as visa-free tourism?

No. It is a transit policy. You must be traveling through China to a third country or region and meet the nationality, document, entry-port and permitted-area requirements.

How many countries can use the 240-hour visa-free transit policy?

As of 20 August 2026, nationals of 57 countries are eligible. Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added to the previous list of 55 countries.

Can Canadians and Americans use the 240-hour transit policy?

Canada and the United States are both included in the current eligible-country list. Travelers still need to meet the other requirements, including the third-country-or-region transit rule.

Can I fly from Canada to China and then return directly to Canada?

That itinerary does not meet the basic third-country-or-region transit pattern. A qualifying itinerary would generally involve arriving from one country or region and continuing from China to a different country or region.

When does the 240-hour period begin?

The NIA states that the visa-free stay period is calculated from 00:00 on the day following the day of entry.

Can I travel anywhere in China during the 240 hours?

No. Travelers must remain within the permitted areas specified for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy. Check the current official list before booking transportation between Chinese cities.

Does every airport in China accept 240-hour visa-free transit?

No. Entry under this policy is available only through designated ports. Check your exact arrival port rather than assuming that every airport in a participating city qualifies.

How much passport validity do I need?

The NIA conditions state that applicants must hold a valid international travel document with at least three months of remaining validity.

Do I need an onward ticket?

You need confirmed onward travel arrangements to a third country or region with a specified departure date within the allowed period, or other proof accepted under the applicable immigration requirements.

Can I work or study while using the policy?

Activities requiring prior approval, including work, study and news reporting, require the appropriate visa or permission before traveling to China.

Is temporary entry guaranteed if my nationality is eligible?

No. Eligibility by nationality is only one condition. Immigration authorities examine the travel document, onward arrangements and other applicable conditions before completing temporary-entry formalities.

Where should I check the latest rules before traveling?

Check the National Immigration Administration for the latest eligibility, designated-port, permitted-area and entry-procedure information, and confirm your itinerary with your carrier before departure.

Need help planning a 240-hour visa-free China trip?

PandaVoyage can help you build a China itinerary around your arrival city, permitted travel area, available time, hotel preferences, private guide needs and onward departure schedule once your entry route has been confirmed.

Plan your China trip
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