📋 Entry & Visa
China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Explained
Can you visit China for up to 10 days without a visa?
🎯 Quick Answer
Yes — in many cases. China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy lets eligible travelers stay in permitted regions for up to 10 days while traveling onward to a third country or region. You need a passport from one of 57 eligible countries and a confirmed onward ticket.
Yes — in many cases.
China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy lets eligible travelers stay in permitted regions of China for up to 10 days while traveling onward to a third country or region. For many visitors, this is one of the easiest ways to see China without applying for a traditional visa.
✅ To Qualify, You Must Meet ALL These Requirements
Valid ordinary passport
From one of the 57 eligible countries; passport must be valid for at least 3 months from your arrival date
Qualifying itinerary
Country A → Mainland China → a different Country/Region (you can't fly back directly to your origin country)
Confirmed onward ticket
Fixed departure date and seat, departing within 240 hours
Approved entry/exit ports
Enter and exit through officially approved transit ports within the allowed time limit
Important: This is strictly a transit policy, not a general tourist visa-free entry.
🔄 Eligible vs. Ineligible Routes
✅ Eligible (Valid Transit)
- United Kingdom → Shanghai → Japan
- United States → Beijing → South Korea
- Australia → Guangzhou → Thailand
❌ Not Eligible (Round Trip)
- United Kingdom → Shanghai → United Kingdom
- United States → Beijing → United States
- Japan → Shanghai → Japan
🏛️ Does Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan Count as a Third Region?
Yes. Under official immigration rules, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are treated as separate third destinations for transit qualification.
Example: United Kingdom → Shanghai → Hong Kong = valid transit itinerary.
⏱️ How Long Can You Stay?
Maximum stay: 240 hours (10 days).
When does the clock start? The countdown begins at 00:00 midnight on the calendar day after your entry (China local time, GMT+8) — not when your plane actually lands.
Pro tip: If you arrive late in the evening, you'll get some extra practical buffer time beyond the full 10 calendar days.
🌍 Which Countries Are Eligible?
Total: 57 countries.
Europe (40)
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
North America (3)
Canada
Mexico
United States
South America (3)
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Oceania (2)
Australia
New Zealand
Asia (9)
Brunei
Indonesia
Japan
Kyrgyzstan
Qatar
Singapore
South Korea
United Arab Emirates
Vietnam
Note: The official country list is updated occasionally. Always verify the latest information via official government sources before booking flights.
✈️ Where Can You Enter and Exit China?
You can enter and exit through any of 65 designated ports across 24 provinces (including municipalities and autonomous regions). Cross-province travel is allowed — you can enter through Shanghai, take a high-speed train to Beijing, and fly home from Beijing. The entire itinerary must stay within the 24 designated provinces/regions.
| Province/City | Key Ports | Stay Area |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 首都国际机场(PEK), 大兴国际机场(PKX) | Beijing |
| Shanghai | 浦东(PVG), 虹桥(SHA), 海港口岸 | Shanghai |
| Guangdong | 广州(CAN), 深圳(SZX), 揭阳(SWA) + 海港 | Guangdong province |
| Jiangsu | 南京(NKG), 无锡(WUX), 扬州(YTY), 连云港海港 | Jiangsu |
| Zhejiang | 杭州(HGH), 宁波(NGB), 温州(WNZ) 等 | Zhejiang |
| Sichuan | 成都双流(CTU), 成都天府(TFU) | Chengdu + 10 other cities |
| Yunnan | 昆明(KMG) | Kunming + 8 cities/prefectures |
| Guangxi | 南宁(NNG), 桂林(KWL), 北海(BHY) | Nanning + 11 other cities |
| Fujian | 福州(FOC), 厦门(XMN), 泉州(JJN) | Fujian |
| Hainan | 海口(HAK), 三亚(SYX) | Hainan island |
| Shaanxi | 西安(XIY) | Shaanxi |
| Chongqing | 重庆(CKG) | Chongqing |
| Tianjin | 天津(TSN), 天津海港 | Tianjin |
| + 11 more provinces | Hebei, Liaoning, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, Guizhou, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Jiangxi — each with designated airports/seaports | |
Important: You can travel freely within the 24 designated provinces/regions during your 240-hour stay. For example, fly into Shanghai, take the high-speed train to Beijing, and fly home from Beijing — that's all allowed as long as you leave within 10 days. The key rule is that you must exit China within 240 hours; where you enter and exit can be different ports.
📄 What Documents Do You Need?
Prepare these documents for airline check-in and border immigration inspection:
Original valid passport
At least 3 months remaining validity
Confirmed onward ticket
Fixed departure date & seat required before boarding; open-dated tickets are not accepted
Detailed travel itinerary
Showing your planned activities in China
Hotel/accommodation booking proof
Strongly recommended by border authorities