Quick Answer
Travellers from 55 countries can now spend up to 10 days in China visa-free while in transit. Who qualifies, the 65 eligible ports, the onward-ticket rule, and the mistakes that get people turned away — explained for 2026.
Why it matters
China's 240-hour visa-free transit (an upgrade from the old 72- and 144-hour rules) lets eligible travellers stop over for up to ten days without applying for a visa — as long as China is a stop on the way to somewhere else . It is designed for stopovers, multi-country itineraries and "see Beijing on the way to Bangkok" style trips. Since the November 2025 expansion the policy covers 65 ports across 24 provincial-level regions, and crucially you can now enter at one city and leave from another.
TL;DR (Quick Answer)
- What it is: a visa-free transit stay of up to 240 hours (10 days) for travellers passing through China to a third country.
- Who: ordinary passport holders from 55 eligible countries, including the USA, Canada, the UK, most of the EU, Australia and New Zealand.
- The catch: you must enter and exit through one of 65 designated ports and hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region — not back to where you came from.
- Check your case in 10 seconds: use the China Visa-Free Checker — pick your nationality and arrival city and it shows every pathway open to you.
What the 240-hour transit policy actually is
China's 240-hour visa-free transit (an upgrade from the old 72- and 144-hour rules) lets eligible travellers stop over for up to ten days without applying for a visa — as long as China is a stop on the way to somewhere else. It is designed for stopovers, multi-country itineraries and "see Beijing on the way to Bangkok" style trips. Since the November 2025 expansion the policy covers 65 ports across 24 provincial-level regions, and crucially you can now enter at one city and leave from another.
If your nationality also qualifies for China's 30-day unilateral visa-free entry (50 countries, including the UK, EU, Australia, Japan and Canada), that is almost always the better route — no onward-ticket requirement, no port restrictions, and three times the stay. The visa checker will tell you which applies before you book anything.
Who qualifies in 2026
As of 2026, 55 nationalities are eligible, grouped roughly as:
- Americas: United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.
- Europe: the UK, Ireland and 38 other European countries including all of the Schengen area, plus Russia, Ukraine and the Western Balkans.
- Asia & the Gulf: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, the UAE and Qatar.
- Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.
The 65 ports of entry
All of China's major international gateways qualify — Beijing (Capital and Daxing), Shanghai (Pudong and Hongqiao), Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Kunming, Qingdao, Xiamen, Wuhan, Changsha, Nanjing and more. The 2025 expansion added Guangzhou and several Greater Bay Area crossings, including the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge. Smaller regional airports are not covered, so always confirm your specific arrival airport — the checker lists the qualifying ports directly.
The onward-ticket rule (where people slip up)
This is the single biggest reason travellers are refused at check-in:
- You need a confirmed ticket to a third country or region, departing within 240 hours of entry. A flight back to your home country does not count.
- Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as separate "regions" for this purpose — so Beijing → Hong Kong qualifies.
- The 240 hours start at 00:00 the day after you arrive, which gives you a little more time than it sounds.
- Your stay may be limited to the permitted provinces/regions for the port you entered — check the current scope for your route.
240-hour transit vs 30-day visa-free — which should you use?
If you only need a quick comparison: the 30-day policies are for genuine round trips and give you a month anywhere in mainland China; the 240-hour transit is for travellers already passing through to a third destination. Run your exact nationality and entry city through the China Visa-Free Checker and it returns every option you qualify for, best-first, with the conditions for each.
Plan the rest of your trip
Once your entry is sorted, time your visit to the weather with the Best Time to Visit tool, and estimate costs with the Budget Calculator.
FAQ
Can I use the 240-hour transit for a round trip from my home country?
No. The transit policy requires an onward ticket to a third country or region. If you are flying in and back out to the same country, you need either the 30-day visa-free entry (if your nationality qualifies) or a tourist visa.
Does Hong Kong count as a third region for the onward ticket?
Yes. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are treated as separate regions, so a mainland-China-to-Hong-Kong leg satisfies the onward-travel requirement.
How long is the 240-hour stay really?
240 hours is ten days. The clock starts at midnight on the day after you arrive, so in practice you get the rest of your arrival day plus ten full days.
Which airports qualify for 240-hour transit?
All major international airports — Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Chongqing and around 65 ports in total. Smaller regional airports do not. Check your specific arrival city in the visa checker.
Do I need to apply in advance for the transit?
No application is required, but you must declare your intention to use the transit policy at the border and show your onward ticket. Some airlines also verify it at check-in, so have the booking ready.
