China Extends 240-hour Visa-Free Transit Policy Coverage to 57 Countries now!

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20th Aug 2026, The National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced today that, starting Aug 20, 2026, nationals of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam may enter China under the 240-hour visa-free transit policy. This brings the total number of eligible countries to 57.

Citizens of 57 countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, and the United States may transit through China using 240-hour vise-free transit policy if they hold valid international travel documents and interline tickets with confirmed dates and seats to a third country or region. They may enter China through any of the 65 open ports across 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government), such as Beijing and Shanghai, and stay in designated areas for up to 10 days. During this period, visa-free transit travelers may engage in tourism, business, exchange visits, or family visits. Activities such as work, study, or news reporting still require prior approval and appropriate visas. Details below: 

*VisaInChina suggests that you first check if your country is benefit from the <30-day China visa-free policy> or not? If not, then you can check the following 240-hour transit visa-free option.

Conditions for Foreign Nationals Applying for the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Eligibility

1 - The applicant must be a citizen of one of the following 57 countries that are eligible for the visa-free transit policy:

Europe (40 countries): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, and Norway.

Americas (6 countries): the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.

Oceania (2 countries): Australia and New Zealand.

Asia (9 countries): Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam.

2 - The applicant must hold a valid international travel document (with a validity of at least three months) and meet the requirements for entering a third country (region).3 - The applicant must hold interline passenger tickets or other documents with a specified date and seat to a third country (region) within 240 hours, complete the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners, and cooperate with checks and inquiries by exit-entry border inspection authorities.

Foreigners who meet the above conditions may submit applications to the border inspection authorities at 65 ports of entry in various places, such as Beijing and Shanghai. The border inspection authorities will process their temporary entry procedures, and the stay period specified in the policy begins at 0:00 on the day after the day of entry. Subject to the relevant provisions if applicable to a mutual visa exemption agreements signed with China or China’s unilateral visa exemption.

List of Ports and Allowed Areas for Visa-Free Transit Travelers under the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy

Visa-free transit travelers can make cross-province visits in the allowed areas for them in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) for 240 hours

S/N	Provinces (Autonomous Regions and Municipalities)	Eligible Port	Permitted Stay Areas
1	Beijing	Beijing Capital International Airport	Beijing Municipality
2	Beijing	Beijing Daxing International Airport	Beijing Municipality
3	Tianjin	Tianjin Binhai International Airport	Tianjin Municipality
4	Tianjin	Tianjin Port (Passenger)	Tianjin Municipality
5	Hebei	Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport	Hebei Province
6	Hebei	Qinhuangdao Port (Passenger)	Hebei Province
7	Liaoning	Shenyang Taoxian International Airport	Liaoning Province
8	Liaoning	Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport	Liaoning Province
9	Liaoning	Dalian Port (Passenger)	Liaoning Province
10	Shanghai	Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport	Shanghai Municipality
11	Shanghai	Shanghai Pudong International Airport	Shanghai Municipality
12	Shanghai	Shanghai Port (Passenger)	Shanghai Municipality
13	Jiangsu	Nanjing Lukou International Airport	Jiangsu Province
14	Jiangsu	Su'nan Shuofang International Airport	Jiangsu Province
15	Jiangsu	Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport	Jiangsu Province
16	Jiangsu	Lianyungang Port (Passenger)	Jiangsu Province
17	Zhejiang	Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport	Zhejiang Province
18	Zhejiang	Ningbo Lishe International Airport	Zhejiang Province
19	Zhejiang	Wenzhou Longwan International Airport	Zhejiang Province
20	Zhejiang	Yiwu Airport	Zhejiang Province
21	Zhejiang	Wenzhou Port (Passenger)	Zhejiang Province
22	Zhejiang	Zhoushan Port (Passenger)	Zhejiang Province
23	Anhui	Hefei Xinqiao International Airport	Anhui Province
24	Anhui	Huangshan Tunxi International Airport	Anhui Province
25	Fujian	Fuzhou Changle International Airport	Fujian Province
26	Fujian	Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport	Fujian Province
27	Fujian	Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport	Fujian Province
28	Fujian	Wuyishan Airport	Fujian Province
29	Fujian	Xiamen Port (Passenger)	Fujian Province
30	Shandong	Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport	Shandong Province
31	Shandong	Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport	Shandong Province
32	Shandong	Yantai Penglai International Airport	Shandong Province
33	Shandong	Weihai Port (Passenger)	Shandong Province
34	Shandong	Qingdao Port (Passenger)	Shandong Province
35	Henan	Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport	Henan Province
36	Hubei	Wuhan Tianhe International Airport	Hubei Province
37	Hunan	Changsha Huanghua International Airport	Hunan Province
38	Hunan	Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport	Hunan Province
39	Guangdong	Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport	Guangdong Province (Exits available at all open ports across the province)
40	Guangdong	Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport	Guangdong Province (Exits available at all open ports across the province)
41	Guangdong	Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport	Guangdong Province (Exits available at all open ports across the province)
42	Guangdong	Nansha Port (Passenger)	Guangdong Province (Exits available at all open ports across the province)
43	Guangdong	Shekou Port (Passenger)	Guangdong Province (Exits available at all open ports across the province)
44	Guangdong	Pazhou Passenger Port	Guangdong Province (Exits available at all open ports across the province)
45	Guangdong	Hengqin Port	Guangdong Province (Exits available at all open ports across the province)
46	Guangdong	Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port	Guangdong Province (Exits available at all open ports across the province)
47	Guangdong	Zhongshan Port	Guangdong Province (Exits available at all open ports across the province)
48	Guangdong	West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-speed Railway	Guangdong Province (Exits available at all open ports across the province)
49	Hainan	Haikou Meilan International Airport	Hainan Province
50	Hainan	Sanya Phoenix International Airport	Hainan Province
51	Chongqing	Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport	Chongqing Municipality
52	Guizhou	Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport	Guizhou Province
53	Shaanxi	Xi'an Xianyang International Airport	Shaanxi Province
54	Shanxi	Taiyuan Wusu International Airport	Taiyuan City and Datong City
55	Heilongjiang	Harbin Taiping International Airport	Harbin City
56	Jiangxi	Nanchang Changbei International Airport	Nanchang City and Jingdezhen City
57	Guangxi	Nanning Wuxu International Airport	A total of 12 cities: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Yulin, Hezhou, Guigang, Hechi, Baise, and Laibin
58	Guangxi	Guilin Liangjiang International Airport	A total of 12 cities: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Yulin, Hezhou, Guigang, Hechi, Baise, and Laibin
59	Guangxi	Beihai Fucheng Airport	A total of 12 cities: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Yulin, Hezhou, Guigang, Hechi, Baise, and Laibin
60	Guangxi	Beihai Port (Passenger)	A total of 12 cities: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Yulin, Hezhou, Guigang, Hechi, Baise, and Laibin
61	Sichuan	Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport	A total of 11 cities: Chengdu, Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Yibin, Ya'an, Meishan, and Ziyang
62	Sichuan	Chengdu Tianfu International Airport	A total of 11 cities: Chengdu, Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Yibin, Ya'an, Meishan, and Ziyang
63	Yunnan	Kunming Changshui International Airport	A total of 9 cities and autonomous prefectures: Kunming, Yuxi, Chuxiong, Wenshan, Puer, Xishuangbanna, Dali, and Lijiang
64	Yunnan	Lijiang Sanyi International Airport	A total of 9 cities and autonomous prefectures: Kunming, Yuxi, Chuxiong, Wenshan, Puer, Xishuangbanna, Dali, and Lijiang
65	Yunnan	Mohan Railway Port	A total of 9 cities and autonomous prefectures: Kunming, Yuxi, Chuxiong, Wenshan, Puer, Xishuangbanna, Dali, and Lijiang

Question 1: Which country passport holder can apply 240 hours transit visa?
Answer: Travelers from following 55 countries can apply for the 240-hour transit visa exemption, which are:

• 26 Schengen countries in Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherland, Croatia, Poland, Portugal, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, Norway.
• 14 other European countries: Russia, Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco and Belarus.
• 6 American countries: The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.
• 2 Oceania countries: Australia and New Zealand.
• 9 Asian countries: Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam.

Question 2: How to apply the 240 hours China Transit visa?
Answer: Take Shanghai for example, after getting off the plane you will head for immigration. Look for a counter that says "240-hour Transit area", you need to provide following documents:

• Your valid passport
• Air ticket with confirmed date of flight and seat for a third country (region) traveling within 240 hours.
• Arrival Card form (completely filled).

The immigration officer may ask you questions to confirm your travel plan, if everything is correct, he/she will paste the transit visa on your passport immediately.

Question 3: How to calculate that 240 hours to avoid any overstay?
Answer: After you enter China, start from the next day 0am for 10 days. For example, you enter Shanghai on anytime at 1st Jun 2025, then you can stay maximum till 12pm at 11th Jun 2025.

If visitors are unable to depart on time due to unavoidable reasons, such as flight cancellation or treatment of sudden disease, they need to apply for a visa from Municipal Entry&Exit Bureau (EEB).

Question 4: Any Restrictions of the 240-hour Visa-free Transit?
Answer: Transit visa regulation does not apply to passengers who travel on a single return flight (e.g., Hong Kong – Shanghai - Hong Kong), which means A-China-A is NOT applicable, A-China-B is applicable. For example:

USA - China - Japan - USA is applicable.
USA - China - USA is NOT applicable.
UK - Korea - China - UK is applicable.
UK - China - HK is applicable.

Question 5: With 240-hour Visa-free Transit, which city can I visit?
Answer: With the 240 hrs transit visa, You can make cross-province visits in any of "Permitted Stay Areas" listed above.

Question 6: Can I enter China from shanghai Pudong airport (apply the transit visa), take a train to Beijing and finally leave China from Beijing?
Answer: Yes, based on the new policy, Both Shanghai & Beijing is in the list of "Permitted Stay Areas". So this travel plan is available.

Question 7: Can I enter China from shanghai (apply the transit visa) and go to XinJiang?
Answer: No, XinJiang is not in the list of "Permitted Stay Areas".

For above Visa Free or 240 hrs transit visa policy, you MUST double check with your destination city's China customs before you plan your trip!

How to check?
A:  You can call the city's area code + China immigration hotline 12367. (Take Shanghai as an example, you can dial 021-12367 to get in touch with the customs officer)

Above information is translated from the China National Immigration Administration (NIA) website, Because VisaInChina don't have any service related to the transit visa.

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