240-Hour Transit Visa-Free Policy
Updated August 20, 2026: 57 countries, 65 designated ports, 24 provinces/municipalities
As of August 20, 2026, China's transit visa-free policy covers 57 eligible countries, allows stays of 240 hours (10 days), and includes permitted areas across 24 provinces/municipalities with 65 designated ports. Travelers may remain within permitted areas for exactly 240 hours, counted from 00:00 the day after arrival. Cross-provincial travel is allowed within designated areas.
Example
Sarah from the UK is traveling from London to Tokyo with a layover in Shanghai. She arrives on October 1st at 6:00 PM. Her 240-hour stay begins at 00:00 on October 2nd and ends at 24:00 on October 11th. She can travel within the 24 designated provinces during this period.
Valid Passport
Passport must be valid for at least 3 months from entry date
Onward Ticket
Confirmed ticket to a third country/region (not your country of origin)
240-Hour Time Limit
Maximum stay of 240 hours (10 days), counted from 00:00 the day after arrival
Cross-Provincial Travel
Allowed to travel across 24 designated provinces/municipalities within permitted areas
Europe (40 countries)
Americas (6 countries)
Asia (9 countries) — Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam added August 20, 2026
Oceania (2 countries)
Major Entry Ports (65 Total)
Beijing
PEK/PKXShanghai
PVG/SHAGuangzhou
CANShenzhen
SZXChengdu
CTU/TFUHangzhou
HGHNanjing
NKGXi'an
XIYOther ports include: Tianjin (TSN), Shijiazhuang (SJW), Shenyang (SHE), Dalian (DLC), Harbin (HRB), Nanjing (NKG), Wuxi (WUX), Yangzhou (YTY), Ningbo (NGB), Wenzhou (WNZ), Yiwu (YIW), Xiamen (XMN), Fuzhou (FOC), Quanzhou (JJN), Wuyishan (WUS), Jinan (TNA), Qingdao (TAO), Yantai (YNT), Weihai (WEH), Zhengzhou (CGO), Wuhan (WUH), Changsha (CSX), Zhangjiajie (DYG), Shantou (SWA), Haikou (HAK), Sanya (SYX), Nanning (NNG), Guilin (KWL), Beihai (BHY), Chongqing (CKG), Guiyang (KWE), Kunming (KMG), Lijiang (LJG), Taiyuan (TYN), Hefei (HFE), Huangshan (TXN), Nanchang (KHN), and Mohan Railway Port.
The following areas are NOT included in the 240-hour transit policy. You cannot travel to these regions without a regular visa:
Good News for Czech & Lithuanian Citizens
While Czech Republic and Lithuania are NOT eligible for the 30-day unilateral visa-free policy, citizens of both countries CAN use the 240-hour transit visa-free policy. This is the best visa-free option for travelers from these countries.
Third Country Requirement
Your onward destination must be a third country/region, not your country of origin. Example: UK → China → Japan ✓ | US → China → US ✗
Time Calculation
240 hours are counted from 00:00 the day after arrival. Example: Arrive Oct 1 at 8PM → Stay begins Oct 2 00:00 → Must depart by Oct 11 24:00.
Cross-Provincial Travel
You can travel freely across the 24 designated provinces/municipalities within your 240-hour stay. No need to stay in the same city!
Multiple Use
You can use this policy multiple times, but each transit requires a new third-country ticket and must follow the 240-hour limit.
1. NIA - Visa-Free Transit Policies: 24-Hour & 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policies
Official policy page - Updated August 20, 2026
2. NIA - Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam Added: 57 Countries for Transit and 61 Countries for Hainan
August 20, 2026 - Latest country-list expansion
3. NIA - Regional Visa-Free Policies: Regional Visa-Free Entry Policies (Hainan, Cruise, etc.)
Regional policy reference; see the latest 61-country announcement above
4. State Council of China: 65 Ports Now Available for 240-Hour Transit
November 2025 - Guangzhou, Hengqin, HKZM Bridge added
5. NIA - 2025 Immigration Statistics: 2025 Immigration Management Data
30.08 million visa-free entries in 2025
6. Chinese Embassy in the US: FAQ on Visa-Free Transit (Updated Feb 2026)
Official embassy guidance