China runs a single unified 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy for international travelers passing through on their way to a third country. Since December 17, 2024 it replaced the old 72-hour and 144-hour city-limited schemes, and since August 20, 2026 it covers 57 nationalities entering and exiting through 65 designated ports. You need a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region — and nothing else in advance: no application, no fee.
Key facts at a glance
- 24-hour direct transit: available at virtually all international ports; no application needed, and you must remain in the port area unless granted temporary entry
- 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit: the main option — leave the airport and travel within the permitted provinces for up to 240 hours
- Eligible passport holders: citizens of 57 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most of Europe, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile
- Ports: 65 designated entry and exit ports across the country, including Beijing Capital and Daxing, Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao, Guangzhou Baiyun, Chengdu Tianfu, Xi'an Xianyang, and cruise ports such as Shanghai Wusongkou
- Core requirement: a confirmed onward ticket with a booked seat to a third country or region (different from the one you arrived from), departing within 240 hours
- Cost: free — no application form, no fee, stamp issued at the border
The old 72-hour and 144-hour transit options no longer exist as separate schemes: anyone who qualified for those automatically qualifies for the longer 240-hour version, with far more freedom to move between provinces.
240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: the essentials
This is the main visa-free route for US passports, which are not on China's unilateral 30-day list. It lets you stay up to 240 hours — about 10 days — while in transit between two countries, and it is ideal for a first visit covering Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai.
The rules that decide whether you qualify:
- You must be arriving from one country and departing to a different third country or region. London to Beijing to London does not qualify; London to Beijing to Hong Kong does, because Hong Kong counts as a separate region.
- Your onward ticket must be confirmed, with a booked seat, departing within 240 hours of your scheduled arrival. Open-dated tickets do not count.
- You must enter through a designated 240-hour port and can exit through any designated port — they do not have to be in the same city.
- You may travel freely within the permitted provinces between entry and exit, and must register your address at every overnight stop (hotels do this automatically).
- Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond arrival; six months of validity is the safe standard for any China entry.
In practice the 240-hour clock starts at midnight on the day after you land, so an evening arrival buys you nearly 11 full days on the ground. Confirm the exact calculation with the border officer when you enter.
Eligible nationalities (57 countries)
As of November 2026 the 240-hour policy covers 57 nationalities, including:
- Europe (40): Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Bulgaria
- Americas (6): United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile
- Asia-Pacific (11): Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan
Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan were added on August 20, 2026. The list has grown several times a year since 2024, so double-check your nationality on the National Immigration Administration website before booking.
How to use visa-free transit, step by step
- Before booking: confirm your nationality is eligible and your planned route enters and exits through designated ports with a genuine third-country onward flight.
- At check-in: tell the airline you are using 240-hour visa-free transit. Staff verify your onward ticket and will deny boarding if it does not qualify — carry a printed or offline copy.
- On arrival: follow the "visa-free transit" lane at the border, present your passport and onward ticket, and state your planned itinerary. The officer stamps your entry with the transit marker and the deadline.
- During your stay: travel within the permitted provinces, register at every hotel, and keep a copy of your onward booking handy.
- On departure: exit through any designated port before your deadline. Overstaying even one day creates a record that complicates future visits.
Rules that catch travellers out
- The ticket must go to a third country. A return ticket to your origin country does not qualify, no matter the timing.
- Both segments must be real booked flights. Rail or ferry exit is only possible at designated land and sea ports.
- A "10-day" allowance is really 240 hours, and the clock starts at 00:00 on the day after you arrive — so a late-evening landing does not eat into your usable time.
- Stays must be inside the permitted provinces. Crossing into a non-permitted region voids the policy.
- Transit covers tourism, business, family visits and similar short activities — not work, study or journalism.
240-hour transit vs 30-day visa-free entry
Separate from transit, China waives visas outright for 50 nationalities — including the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most of Europe — for tourist and business stays of up to 30 days, currently authorised through December 31, 2026, with no onward-ticket requirement. If your passport is on that list, it is almost always the easier route; the transit rule is the main visa-free option for US passports and for longer, multi-stop itineraries. See our complete guide to China visa-free entry by country for the full lists.
FAQ
Do US citizens need a visa for China in 2026?
Not for short visits structured as transit: US passport holders can stay up to 10 days under the 240-hour visa-free transit rule with an onward ticket to a third country. For longer stays, or travel without an onward ticket, they need an L tourist visa, currently US$140.
Can I leave the airport on a 24-hour transit?
Not on the 24-hour rule alone — it keeps you in the port area. To leave the airport you need either the 240-hour transit policy (if your nationality qualifies) or temporary entry granted at the border officer's discretion.
Can I travel between cities on the 240-hour transit?
Yes — you can move freely within the permitted provinces and exit through a different designated port, as long as you register your address at every stop and leave before your deadline.
What if my onward flight is delayed past 240 hours?
See the border officer on arrival: with a genuine schedule change most ports handle it on the spot, but never simply overstay. Contact the local exit-entry administration the moment you know.
Does visa-free transit include Hong Kong or Macau?
No — they run separate immigration. But both count as valid "third regions" for your onward ticket, which is why routes ending in Hong Kong are popular.
Related private tours
China's unified 240-hour visa-free transit policy covers 57 nationalities and 65 ports as of November 2026. Here is how to qualify, what documents to carry, and the mistakes that get travellers turned away.
