China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit (2026): Rules, Eligible Countries and Ports

The rules, one by one

1. Ordinary passport. Diplomatic, temporary and emergency documents don’t qualify. The NIA’s earlier guidance asked for at least 3 months’ validity; make sure yours covers that.
2. Onward ticket to a third country or region. It must have a confirmed date and seat. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as separate regions, so Los Angeles → Shanghai → Hong Kong works. London → Beijing → London doesn’t.
3. Enter through one of the 65 designated ports. These include the main airports of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Haikou and Sanya, plus several seaports, Hong Kong’s West Kowloon high-speed rail station and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge.
4. Stay in the permitted areas. Usually that’s the whole province or a group of provinces, and you can travel between the 24 provinces covered. There are exceptions: some provinces limit you to named cities, and regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang aren’t covered at all.
5. Fill in the arrival card and tell the airline at check-in that you’re using visa-free transit.
6. Allowed activities: tourism, business, visits and family visits. Work, study and journalism still need a visa.

How the 240 hours are counted

The clock starts at 00:00 on the day after you arrive, so a late arrival gives you a small bonus.

Example: you land on 10 March at 23:30. Under the 240-hour transit you can stay until 24:00 on 20 March. Under the 24-hour transit you’d have to leave by 23:30 on 11 March and stay airside.

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

Many travellers don’t need the transit rule at all. Citizens of 50 countries can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges or transit. That list includes the UK and Canada (from 17 February 2026), Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most of the EU, but not the United States. For 48 of these countries, the policy currently runs to 31 December 2026, and no extension had been announced when I checked on 4 November 2026.

When the 240-hour transit makes sense:

• You’re a US citizen (or from another country not on the 30-day list) and your route continues to a third country.
• Your country is on the 30-day list, but your trip falls after the current end date and no extension has been announced.
• You travel with someone whose passport is only on the 240-hour list.

Hainan has its own rule: nationals of 61 countries, including the US, can enter Hainan visa-free for up to 30 days, but only via Hainan’s own ports and only within Hainan Province.

The 24-hour transit: staying in the airport

If you have a connecting international ticket with a confirmed seat and leave within 24 hours, you don’t need a visa, whatever your nationality, as long as you stay in the airport’s restricted area. To go into the city under this rule, you need a temporary entry permit from border officers first.

What to show at the border

The border officer checks that your trip matches the rule you’re using. China’s embassies recommend carrying documents that prove your purpose. I’d prepare:

• Your passport.
• Your onward ticket to a third country or region, with date and seat.
• Hotel bookings for the first nights.
• The arrival card. Since 20 November 2025 you can fill it in online on the NIA website (s.nia.gov.cn), in the NIA 12367 app or in the WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. It’s free, and sites that charge for it are scams. You can also fill it in at a kiosk or on paper on arrival.
• Accommodation registration if you’re not staying in a hotel. Hotels register you themselves. If you rent an apartment or stay with friends, register within 24 hours of arrival. Since 21 September 2026 this can be done online across China via the NIA website, the NIA 12367 app or WeChat and Alipay mini-programs.

Find an onward flight from China on Trip.com →

When you still need a visa

• For work, study or journalism.
• For longer stays than your visa-free option allows.
• If your route doesn’t fit: for example a round trip on the 240-hour rule, or entering through a port that isn’t on the list.
• For Tibet, foreigners also need a separate Tibet entry permit arranged through a licensed travel agency.

FAQ

Can US citizens use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit?

Yes. The US is on the list of 57 eligible countries. You need an onward ticket to a third country or region and must enter through one of the 65 designated ports.

Does a round trip qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit?

No. Your onward ticket must take you to a third country or region. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as separate regions, so flying on to Hong Kong works.

How are the 240 hours calculated?

From 00:00 on the day after you enter China. If you land at 23:30 on 10 March, you can stay until 24:00 on 20 March.

Which cities can I visit on 240-hour transit?

Only the permitted areas linked to the port you entered through. That usually means the whole province or several provinces, and you can move between the 24 covered provinces. Some provinces limit you to named cities, and Tibet and Xinjiang aren’t covered.

Is 240-hour transit the same as 30-day visa-free entry?

No. The 30-day visa-free entry is a separate policy for 50 countries. It works through any open port, covers most of the country and doesn’t require an onward ticket to a third country. The US isn’t on that list.

Do I need to fill in an arrival card?

Yes. It’s free online on the NIA website, the NIA 12367 app or the WeChat and Alipay mini-programs, or on paper on arrival.