China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: The Complete 2026 Guide

Everything You Need to Know About China's 10-Day Visa-Free Transit Policy

📅 Updated: May 2, 2026 · ⏱️ 8 min read · ✅ Verified policy information

Eligible Countries

Open Ports

Provinces Covered

        📢 Big News: In Q1 2026, China saw 8.32 million foreigners enter visa-free — a 30% jump year-over-year. With 240-hour transit now available at 65 ports across 24 provinces, there's never been a better time to explore China during a layover.
    

What Is the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy?

China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy allows eligible foreign nationals to stay in China for up to 10 days (240 hours) without a visa, as long as they are transiting to a third country or region. This policy was upgraded from the previous 72-hour and 144-hour schemes on December 17, 2024.

Unlike a tourist visa, there's no application process. You simply need to: be from an eligible country, enter through an approved port, have a confirmed ticket to a third country/region, and stay within the designated permit area.

Who Can Use This Policy?

Eligible Countries (55 Total)

Citizens of these 55 countries can use the 240-hour visa-free transit:

🇺🇸 United States 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇨🇦 Canada 🇦🇺 Australia 🇳🇿 New Zealand 🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany 🇮🇹 Italy 🇪🇸 Spain 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇦🇹 Austria 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇳🇴 Norway 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇮 Finland 🇵🇱 Poland 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇬🇷 Greece 🇷🇺 Russia 🇯🇵 Japan 🇰🇷 South Korea 🇸🇬 Singapore 🇲🇾 Malaysia 🇹🇭 Thailand 🇮🇩 Indonesia 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇦🇷 Argentina 🇨🇱 Chile 🇿🇦 South Africa 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇦🇪 UAE 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 🇮🇳 India

Entry Requirements

Onward ticket required: You must have a confirmed ticket departing China to a third country/region (not your country of origin)
Valid passport: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned exit date
Entry via approved port: You must enter through one of the 65 designated ports
Stay within permitted area: You cannot leave the designated province/region during your stay

⚠️ Important: This is a TRANSIT visa — you cannot use this to fly to China, stay 10 days, and fly back to your home country. Your final destination must be different from your origin and departure country.

Where Can You Enter? (65 Ports)

China has 65 open ports across 24 provinces and regions. Here are the major entry points:

Region	Major Ports	Permitted Stay Area
Beijing	Beijing Capital (PEK), Beijing Daxing (PKX)	Beijing + Tianjin + Hebei
Shanghai	Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), Port	Shanghai + Jiangsu + Zhejiang
Guangdong	Guangzhou (CAN), Shenzhen (SZX), Shenzhen Port	Guangdong Province
Chengdu	Chengdu Tianfu (TFU)	Sichuan Province
Xi'an	Xi'an Xianyang (XIY)	Shaanxi Province
Yunnan	Kunming (KMG), Lijiang (LJG), Mohan Railway	9 cities including Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, Xishuangbanna
Zhongyuan	Zhengzhou (CGO)	Henan Province
Zhangjiajie	Zhangjiajie (DYG)	Hunan Province

Full List of 24 Covered Provinces

Northern China: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Henan, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Shandong

Eastern China: Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi

Southern China: Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing, Guizhou

Western China: Sichuan, Shaanxi, Yunnan

💡 Travel Tip: Yunnan province offers amazing diversity — from Kunming's spring climate to Lijiang's ancient town and Xishuangbanna's tropical scenery. Under 240-hour transit, you can explore all 9 permitted cities!

What Can You Do During Your 240 Hours?

The 240-hour transit visa allows you to engage in: Tourism, Business meetings, Family visits, Transit sightseeing.

What you cannot do: Work (requires Z visa), study, or engage in paid employment.

How to Use the 240-Hour Transit Visa: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Check that your country is on the 55-nation list and you have an onward ticket to a third country.

Step 2: Book Your Flights

Structure your trip so China is a transit point, not your destination. Example routes: Tokyo → Beijing → London, Los Angeles → Shanghai → Bangkok, Paris → Chengdu → Kathmandu, Sydney → Guangzhou → Singapore

Step 3: Prepare Documents

At check-in and arrival, have ready: Valid passport (6+ months validity), Confirmed onward ticket, Hotel booking (recommended)

Step 4: Arrival Processing

At immigration: Tell airline staff you qualify for transit visa-free entry, Fill out the arrivals card (or use NIA 12367 app), Present passport + onward ticket, Receive entry stamp — your 240 hours starts from the next day

💡 Pro Tip: Download the "移民局12367" app (NIA 12367) before arrival to pre-fill your arrival card digitally. This speeds up immigration and avoids language barriers.

240-Hour vs Other Transit Options

Policy	Duration	Eligible Countries	Permitted Area
24-hour Transit	1 day	All nationalities	City of arrival only
240-hour Transit	10 days	55 countries	Province/region
30-day Visa-Free	30 days	50 countries	All China (except Tibet)

2026 Policy Updates You Should Know

December 2024: 72-hour and 144-hour schemes unified into 240-hour (10-day) policy
June 2025: Indonesia added to the 55-country list
November 2025: Guangdong added 5 more ports, bringing total to 65
2026: China targeting 80 million foreign arrivals annually by 2030

Common Questions

Q: Can I enter through one port and exit from a different port?

A: Yes! As long as both ports are within the same permitted region.

Q: What happens if I exceed 240 hours?

A: Overstaying can result in fines (approximately 500 yuan per day), deportation, and potential future entry bans.

Q: Can I use this visa for a multi-city China trip?

A: Within the same province/region, yes. For multi-province travel, you would need a tourist visa.

Q: Do I need to register with police if staying overnight?

A: For stays in hotels, the hotel will register you automatically. If staying with friends or family, you may need to register at the local police station within 24 hours.

Q: Can I use WeChat Pay or Alipay with a foreign phone number?

A: Yes! Foreign phones can use WeChat Pay and Alipay with international cards. Download the apps before arrival and follow the foreign verification process.

Best Cities for a 240-Hour Transit Stop

🇨🇳 Beijing (3-4 days recommended)

Must-sees: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, hutong walks

🇨🇳 Shanghai (2-3 days recommended)

Must-sees: The Bund, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road, French Concession

🇨🇳 Xi'an (2-3 days recommended)

Must-sees: Terracotta Warriors, City Wall, Muslim Quarter

🇨🇳 Chengdu (2-3 days recommended)

Must-sees: Panda Base, Jinli Street, Sichuan cuisine

🇨🇳 Yunnan Region (4-5 days recommended)

Must-sees: Kunming flower market, Lijiang old town, Dali, Xishuangbanna tropical scenery

Ready to Explore China?

The 240-hour visa-free transit policy makes China more accessible than ever. Whether you have a layover between flights or want to add a China leg to your Asia trip, you now have up to 10 days to discover this incredible country.

For more China travel guides, visa updates, and travel tips, keep following PandaMate — your trusted guide for visiting China in 2026.