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China's 240-hour visa-free transit, explained
Checked against the National Immigration Administration on 9 November 2026 · 57 countries · 65 ports
If your passport is on the list below, you can spend up to 10 days in China without a visa — as long as China is a stop between two other places. It's how many Americans visit China visa-free.
The four rules
- Eligible passport. An ordinary passport from one of the 57 countries below.
- Onward to a third place. You arrive from one country or region and leave to a different one. Hong Kong and Macao count as separate regions. New York → Shanghai → Tokyo works. New York → Shanghai → New York does not.
- Confirmed ticket. A booked onward flight, train or ship with a fixed date, leaving within 240 hours. The clock starts at 00:00 the day after you arrive.
- Approved port. You must enter through one of the 65 ports below, and you may travel within the permitted areas of the 24 provinces in the scheme.
At check-in, tell the airline you're using 240-hour visa-free transit and show your onward ticket. On arrival, use the transit lane or tell the officer. Fill in the arrival card if one is handed out.
Popular routes that qualify
- USA → Shanghai (5 days) → Beijing (4 days) → Seoul
- UK → Chengdu → Chongqing → Bangkok
- Australia → Guangzhou → train to Hong Kong → home
- Canada → Beijing → Xi'an → Tokyo
Eligible countries (57)
- Albania
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Vietnam
Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added on 20 August 2026 (NIA Announcement No. 4 of 2026).
The 65 approved ports and where you can go
| Province | Ports | Permitted stay area |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) | Beijing |
| Tianjin | Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) Tianjin Seaport (passenger / cruise) | Tianjin |
| Hebei | Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport (SJW) Qinhuangdao Seaport (passenger) | Hebei Province |
| Liaoning | Shenyang Taoxian International Airport (SHE) Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport (DLC) Dalian Seaport (passenger) | Liaoning Province |
| Shanghai | Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) Shanghai Seaport (passenger / cruise) | Shanghai |
| Jiangsu | Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) Sunan Shuofang International Airport, Wuxi (WUX) Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport (YTY) Lianyungang Seaport (passenger) | Jiangsu Province |
| Zhejiang | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) Ningbo Lishe International Airport (NGB) Wenzhou Longwan International Airport (WNZ) Yiwu Airport (YIW) Wenzhou Port (passenger) Zhoushan Port (passenger / cruise) | Zhejiang Province |
| Anhui | Hefei Xinqiao International Airport (HFE) Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (TXN) | Anhui Province |
| Fujian | Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC) Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport (JJN) Wuyishan Airport (WUS) Xiamen Seaport (passenger / cruise) | Fujian Province |
| Shandong | Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport (TNA) Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (TAO) Yantai Penglai International Airport (YNT) Weihai Dashuibo International Airport (WEH) Qingdao Seaport (passenger / cruise) | Shandong Province |
| Henan | Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO) | Henan Province |
| Hubei | Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (WUH) | Hubei Province |
| Hunan | Changsha Huanghua International Airport (CSX) Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (DYG) | Hunan Province |
| Guangdong | Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX) Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport (SWA) Nansha Port, Guangzhou (passenger) Shekou Port, Shenzhen (ferry from HK / Macao) Guangzhou Pazhou HK–Macao Ferry Terminal Zhongshan Port Ferry Terminal Hengqin Port, Zhuhai (land, from Macao) Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge, Zhuhai Port (land) West Kowloon Station (high-speed rail from Hong Kong) | Guangdong Province |
| Hainan | Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK) Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX) | Hainan Province |
| Chongqing | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) | Chongqing |
| Guizhou | Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport (KWE) | Guizhou Province |
| Shaanxi | Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) | Shaanxi Province |
| Shanxi | Taiyuan Wusu International Airport (TYN) | Taiyuan and Datong only |
| Heilongjiang | Harbin Taiping International Airport (HRB) | Harbin only |
| Jiangxi | Nanchang Changbei International Airport (KHN) | Nanchang and Jingdezhen only |
| Guangxi | Nanning Wuxu International Airport (NNG) Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) Beihai Fucheng Airport (BHY) Beihai Seaport (passenger) | 12 cities in Guangxi: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi, Laibin |
| Sichuan | Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) | 11 cities in Sichuan: Chengdu, Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Yibin, Ya'an, Meishan, Ziyang |
| Yunnan | Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG) Mohan Railway Port (China–Laos Railway) | 9 areas in Yunnan: Kunming, Yuxi, Chuxiong, Honghe, Wenshan, Pu'er, Xishuangbanna, Dali, Lijiang |
Guangdong: you may leave from any open port in the province. Transit travellers may move between the permitted areas of all 24 provinces in the scheme during their 240 hours.
What you can and can't do
Tourism, business meetings, visiting family and friends are fine. Work, study and journalism need a visa. If you need to stay longer than 240 hours for an emergency, go to the local exit-entry administration before your time runs out.
Official source: National Immigration Administration: 240-hour visa-free transit policy (updated 20 Aug 2026)