China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit, Explained

The rule in one paragraph

According to China's National Immigration Administration (NIA), nationals of the 57 listed countries who hold an ordinary passport and an onward ticket with a confirmed date and seat to a third country or region can enter visa-free through any of 65 designated ports in 24 provinces. They can then stay in the permitted areas for no more than 10 days (NIA, English; NIA, Chinese). Tourism, business, visits and family visits are allowed. Work, study and journalism still need a proper visa.

Step 1: Check your nationality (57 countries)

From the NIA list, updated 20 August 2026 when Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added (NIA Notice 2026 No. 4):

The current NIA page says the policy is for ordinary passports. Holders of diplomatic, service or emergency travel documents should not rely on it (check with embassy).

Step 2: Build an "A → China → B" itinerary

Officials describe the key test like this: the country or region you arrive from must be different from the one you leave for. For example, if you fly in from Singapore, your onward destination must be somewhere other than Singapore (Yunnan Provincial Government Q&A).

Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. The NIA always writes "third country or region", and China's Exit-Entry Administration Law counts travel from the mainland to Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan as "exit" (Art. 89, unofficial English translation). We could not find an official NIA page that spells out a Hong Kong example, so confirm your exact route with the 12367 hotline before booking (check with embassy).

The onward ticket must already be booked. Officials say you must hold a confirmed, dated ticket to the third country before entry. Planning to "buy it after landing" does not qualify (Yunnan Q&A). The ticket can be for a flight, ship or train.

Step 3: Enter at one of the 65 designated ports

You must arrive through a listed port. Other ports do not offer 240-hour transit (NIA press conference, 17 Dec 2024). Here are the main air gateways from the NIA table:

The other provinces are Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Anhui, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Shanxi (Taiyuan and Datong only), Heilongjiang (Harbin only), Jiangxi (Nanchang and Jingdezhen only) and Guangxi (12 named cities). See the full NIA table.

Step 4: Stay inside the permitted areas, and you can cross provinces

Since December 2024 you can move between provinces, but only within the permitted areas of the 24 provinces (NIA, 17 Dec 2024). For example, you could land in Beijing, take a train to Shanghai, then fly on to Chengdu. You cannot go to a place outside the list, such as Tibet, Xinjiang, Gansu or Inner Mongolia, none of which appear in the table. Watch provinces where only some cities are covered.

Step 5: Leave on time, through an eligible port

• How the clock works: the stay period starts at 00:00 on the day after you enter. If you enter on 1 January, you must leave by 24:00 on 11 January (Yunnan Q&A).
• Where you can leave: any of the eligible ports, plus any open port in Guangdong (NIA table note).
• The date that counts is the one the border officer gives you on your entry permit, so check it.

How to request it at the border

1. Tell your airline at check-in that you will use China's 240-hour visa-free transit. Airlines decide whether to board you, so bring printed proof of your onward ticket.
2. After you land, follow signs for visa-free transit / temporary entry. NIA says ports set up dedicated areas for temporary entry permits and hand out policy leaflets (NIA press conference).
3. Fill in the arrival card for temporary entry (Yunnan Q&A).
4. Show your passport, onward ticket and, ideally, your hotel bookings. Answer the officer's questions.
5. Receive the temporary entry permit, then go through normal immigration.

Why people get refused

Officials name these reasons:

• Passport validity under 3 months (NIA press conference; Yunnan Q&A)
• Illegal entry, illegal stay or illegal work in the past 5 years (Yunnan Q&A)
• No confirmed onward ticket, or a route that fails the A ≠ B test
• Arriving at a port that is not on the list
• You don't meet the entry conditions of your next destination (for example, you need a visa for country B and don't have one)
• General grounds in Art. 25 of the Exit-Entry Administration Law, including activities that don't match your stated purpose. Border officers do not have to give a reason (law text).

240-hour transit vs 30-day visa-free entry

Sources: Chinese Embassy in Switzerland FAQ; MFA extension notice. Officials note that travellers covered by both can choose either policy (Yunnan Q&A). Hainan also runs its own separate 30-day entry scheme, now covering 61 countries (NIA Notice 2026 No. 4).

FAQ

Is the 240-hour transit the same as a 10-day tourist visa?

No. It only applies when you are travelling through China to a different country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket, and only within the permitted areas.

Can I fly from the US to China and back to the US?

No. NIA rules require the onward destination to be a third country or region. A round trip to the same country does not qualify.

When does the 240-hour clock start?

At 00:00 on the day after you enter. If you arrive on 1 January, you must leave by 24:00 on 11 January.

Can I travel to several cities?

Yes. Since December 2024 you can cross provinces, but only inside the permitted areas of the 24 listed provinces.

Do I need to apply in advance?

No. You apply at the border on arrival, but you should tell your airline at check-in and carry printed proof of your onward ticket.

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