China 240-hour transit visa-free: the complete guide

What is the 240-hour transit visa-free policy?

The 240-hour transit visa-free policy — sometimes called the 144-hour policy at ports that apply the shorter variant — allows foreign nationals of eligible passport nationalities to enter a designated Chinese port city and travel within a defined geographic zone for up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa. The core condition is that the traveller must be genuinely in transit: they must hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country (not the country they came from) and must leave China within the permitted window.

The policy was originally introduced for a smaller number of ports and a 72-hour window. It has been progressively expanded — first to 144 hours, then to 240 hours — and the list of qualifying ports has grown significantly. As of May 2026, over 60 ports across the country participate. [VERIFY: NIA source needed — May 2026 — confirm current exact count of qualifying 240-hour ports]

Who qualifies?

Nationals of more than 53 passport-issuing countries are eligible for the 240-hour transit policy. [VERIFY: NIA source needed — May 2026 — confirm current list of eligible nationalities for 240-hour TWOV] The eligible list includes, but is not limited to:

• All EU/EEA member state passport-holders.
• United States, Canada, and other OECD-member nationalities not currently on the 30-day visa-free list.
• Most nationalities that are on the 30-day visa-free list (they can choose to use the 240-hour pathway instead if their stay is under 10 days and they are transiting to a third country).
• Several additional nationalities outside the 30-day visa-free programme.

Travellers who hold a passport from a country not on the eligible list, or who are subject to entry restrictions, are not covered. Check with the Chinese Embassy or the port's immigration authority if you are unsure about your nationality's eligibility.

The third-country requirement

This is the most commonly misunderstood part of the policy. To use the 240-hour transit visa-free, you must hold a confirmed, bookable onward ticket departing from a Chinese port to a third country — meaning a country different from the one you departed from when you entered China.

For example: if you fly London → Beijing → Tokyo, you entered from the United Kingdom (first country) and are transiting to Japan (third country). The policy applies. But if you fly London → Beijing → London, you are returning to your origin country — this does not qualify as transit to a third country under the policy and you would require a visa.

The onward ticket must be booked and confirmed before you arrive. Chinese immigration officers may ask to see it at the port of entry. Airlines may also check when you check in at your departure airport.

Zone groupings

The 240-hour transit policy is zone-based: you may move freely within the designated zone covering your port of entry, but you may not travel outside that zone to a different zone without the full visa-free or visa entitlement. This is a firm rule, not a guideline.

The main zone groupings are:

Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei zone

Qualifying ports: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), Tianjin Binhai International Airport, Tianjin Port (sea), and Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport. Travellers entering this zone may visit Beijing and Tianjin and travel within Hebei Province.

Shanghai–Jiangsu–Zhejiang zone

Qualifying ports: Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), Shanghai Port (Wusong, Baoshan, Yangshan cruise terminals), Nanjing Lukou International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Ningbo Lishe International Airport, and Nantong Xingdong Airport. Travellers entering this zone may explore Shanghai, Jiangsu Province (including Nanjing, Suzhou, Nantong), and Zhejiang Province (including Hangzhou, Ningbo).

Guangdong zone

Qualifying ports: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX), Guangzhou Port, Shenzhen Port (multiple crossing points to Hong Kong and Macau), and Zhuhai Gongbei Port. Travellers entering this zone may travel within Guangdong Province, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Zhuhai.

Sichuan–Chongqing zone

Qualifying ports: Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU), and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG). Travellers may explore Chengdu, Chongqing, and surrounding areas of Sichuan and Chongqing Municipality.

Single-city / standalone ports

Several additional cities operate the 240-hour policy as standalone ports, where travellers are restricted to the administrative area of that city or port:

• Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) — Shaanxi Province
• Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) — Yunnan Province
• Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (TAO) — Shandong Province
• Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport (DLC) — Liaoning Province
• Shenyang Taoxian International Airport (SHE) — Liaoning Province
• Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (WUH) — Hubei Province
• Changsha Huanghua International Airport (CSX) — Hunan Province
• Nanning Wuxu International Airport (NNG) — Guangxi
• Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport (KWE) — Guizhou Province
• Harbin Taiping International Airport (HRB) — Heilongjiang Province

[VERIFY: NIA source needed — May 2026 — confirm the full and current list of standalone qualifying ports and their zone restrictions]

How to use the 240-hour policy

The process is straightforward if you plan correctly:

• Book your onward ticket first. You need a confirmed ticket to a third country departing from a Chinese port within 240 hours of your entry. This is checked at immigration.
• Arrive at a qualifying port. Not all Chinese airports and ports participate. Arriving at a non-participating port will mean you require a visa.
• At immigration, state you are using the transit policy. Present your passport, the onward ticket, and (if requested) accommodation details. A transit stamp or entry permit will be issued noting the maximum permitted stay and the valid area.
• Do not travel outside the designated zone. This is enforced; train tickets, hotel check-ins, and transport bookings outside the zone may trigger questions at the exit point.
• Depart before the 240-hour window expires. Overstaying is treated as an illegal stay, which carries fines, potential detention, and possible future entry bans. The 240-hour clock starts from the moment of entry stamp, not from when you arrive at your hotel.

Police registration

The standard 24-hour police registration requirement applies during a 240-hour transit stay. Hotels register guests automatically. If staying in private accommodation, register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival at that address. Many transit travellers use hotels throughout a 240-hour stay, which simplifies this requirement.

Can I use the 240-hour policy if I am already eligible for 30-day visa-free?

Yes. Travellers with passports on the 30-day visa-free list can choose to use the 240-hour transit pathway instead if they prefer — for example, if they are genuinely transiting and want to avoid counting the days against their 30-day allowance. In most cases, however, the 30-day visa-free entry provides more flexibility since it does not require an onward ticket or zone restriction. The transit pathway is most useful for nationalities not on the 30-day visa-free list, notably US and Canadian passport-holders.

Connecting flights and the 240-hour policy

If you are simply connecting at a Chinese airport on a single itinerary — passing through the international transit area without clearing immigration — the 240-hour policy does not apply and you do not need any visa. The policy only activates when you clear immigration and enter China. Travellers making a tight connection who do not wish to clear Chinese immigration do not need to worry about this policy at all.

Where the 240-hour policy becomes relevant is when a traveller deliberately plans a multi-day stopover in China — for example, spending a week in Shanghai while flying New York–Shanghai–Bangkok. In this scenario, they clear Chinese immigration, spend their planned days in Shanghai, and then depart to Bangkok.

Common mistakes

• Booking a return ticket rather than an onward ticket. A round-trip ticket going London → Beijing → London does not satisfy the third-country requirement. The onward leg must go to a genuinely different country.
• Arriving at a non-participating port. Not all Chinese airports participate; smaller regional airports often do not. If your port is not on the approved list, you need a visa.
• Leaving the zone. Taking a high-speed train from Shanghai to Beijing during a Guangdong-zone 240-hour transit would put you in a different zone and potentially create an immigration issue. Plan your itinerary within the zone you enter.
• Miscounting the 240 hours. 240 hours is 10 days, but the clock starts from entry stamp, not from the morning after arrival. Do not leave calculation to guesswork — set a calendar reminder.
• Not carrying proof of onward travel. Keep your onward ticket booking confirmation accessible (printed or clearly stored on your phone) throughout your stay, as you will need it at both entry and possibly at your onward departure check-in.

Practical suggestions for a 240-hour stay

Ten days is a meaningful amount of time. The zone groupings are deliberately drawn around major travel destinations:

• The Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei zone covers the Great Wall, the Palace Museum (Forbidden City), the Summer Palace, Tianjin's historic waterfront district, and the surrounding countryside.
• The Shanghai–Jiangsu–Zhejiang zone covers Shanghai's Bund and French Concession, the ancient water towns of Zhouzhuang and Xitang, Hangzhou's West Lake, and Suzhou's classical gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage site).
• The Guangdong zone covers Guangzhou's temple districts and dim sum culture, Shenzhen's contemporary arts and technology scene, and day trips towards Zhuhai or the Pearl River Delta.
• The Chengdu–Chongqing zone covers the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu, Sichuan cuisine, Chongqing's hillside architecture and hotpot, and side trips to Leshan and the broader Sichuan basin.

Future developments

China has consistently expanded the 240-hour transit policy over the past several years, adding new qualifying ports and extending the duration. Further expansion is likely but not guaranteed. Monitor announcements from the National Immigration Administration (NIA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for updates.