China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy 2026: Ultimate Guide to 10-Day Visa-Free Stay

Planning a trip to China in 2026? The 240-hour visa-free transit policy (also known as the 10-day visa-free transit) lets eligible travelers explore China without a visa for up to 10 days. This popular policy makes layovers or multi-city adventures easy — think Beijing to Shanghai, or even adding Guilin and Zhangjiajie — as long as you’re transiting to a third country or region.

As of January 2026, the policy remains active and highly utilized, with recent expansions boosting inbound tourism significantly (visa-free arrivals jumped notably over New Year 2026). Here’s everything you need to know for a smooth, hassle-free experience.

What Is the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy?

This policy allows citizens of 55 eligible countries to enter China visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 full days) while transiting between a foreign country and a third destination (Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan count as separate “third regions”).

• Key benefit: Travel freely within designated provinces and cities across 24 regions — perfect for sightseeing, business meetings, family visits, or cultural exchanges (no employment or long-term study allowed).
• Stay calculation: The clock starts at midnight (00:00) the day after arrival. Example: Arrive in Shanghai at 3 PM on June 1 → your 240 hours begin June 2 at 00:00 → depart before midnight on June 11 (giving you nearly 11 calendar days including arrival/departure).

This makes it ideal for multi-stop itineraries like US → Beijing → Xi’an → Shanghai → Japan.

Who Is Eligible? 55 Countries for 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Citizens of these 55 countries qualify (passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond arrival; prior immigration violations may disqualify you):

• Americas (6): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
• Europe (40): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway
• Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand
• Asia (7): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia (added June 2025)

Key Requirements for 240-Hour Visa-Free Entry

To qualify:

1. Arrive from one country and depart to a third country/region (no round-trips like Japan → China → Japan).
2. Hold a confirmed onward ticket (flight, train, or ship) with assigned seat and fixed date within 240 hours.
3. Enter/exit via one of the 65 eligible ports (you can enter one port and exit another).
4. Stay only within the permitted areas for your entry region (no access to restricted provinces like Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, or Jilin).

65 Eligible Ports and Allowed Stay Areas (Updated 2026)

The policy covers 65 ports (airports, seaports, rail stations, and bridges) in 24 provincial-level regions. Major highlights include:

• Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei: Beijing Capital (PEK), Daxing (PKX), Tianjin, Hebei Province
• Yangtze River Delta: Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Hongqiao (SHA), cruise terminals; full Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces
• Guangdong (province-wide, most flexible): Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), Shenzhen (SZX), plus new additions like Hong Kong West Kowloon Rail, HZMB Bridge, Pazhou Ferry, Hengqin, Zhongshan
• Other popular areas: Sichuan (Chengdu airports + 11 cities), Yunnan (Kunming + select prefectures), Hainan (island-wide), Shandong, Fujian, Hunan, Chongqing, Guangxi (12 cities), Liaoning, Anhui, Shaanxi (Xi’an), and more.

You can cross provinces within connected regions (e.g., enter Beijing → travel to Shanghai or Guangdong).

How to Use the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Step-by-Step

1. Book flights/cruise with eligible entry/exit ports and confirm onward ticket to third destination.
2. At check-in, inform the airline you’re using 240-hour visa-free transit.
3. On arrival: Follow signs to immigration, fill out the arrival card.
4. Use the dedicated 240-hour visa-free channel.
5. Present passport, onward ticket, and answer questions honestly.
6. Get entry stamp → enjoy China!
7. Depart before your 240 hours expire.

Valid Transit Routes: Do’s and Don’ts

Allowed examples:

• USA → Beijing → Shanghai → UK
• Germany → Shanghai → Guilin → Hong Kong
• UK → Xi’an → Zhangjiajie → South Korea

Not allowed:

• Japan → Guangzhou → Japan
• New York → Beijing → San Francisco

Tips for Maximizing Your 10 Days in China

• Popular routes: Combine Beijing (Great Wall), Xi’an (Terracotta Warriors), Zhangjiajie (Avatar mountains), Guilin/Yangshuo, and Shanghai.
• Check official sources like China’s National Immigration Administration (nia.gov.cn) for any last-minute changes.
• If you qualify for the separate 30-day unilateral visa-free (for many European/Australian citizens until Dec 31, 2026), consider that for longer stays.

Perfect Tours Suitable for 240-hour Visa-free

• 9-Day Authentic Nature & Wonders Visa-Free China Tour: Beijing (hutongs + Great Wall) → Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain adventure → Shanghai (city vibes)

• 10-Day Authentic Natural Wonders Visa-Free China Tour: Beijing (hutongs + Great Wall) → Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain adventure → Guilin Li River → Shanghai (city vibes)

• 8-Day Visa-Free China Tour 2026: Beijing (hutongs + Great Wall) → Xi’an (Terracotta)  → Shanghai (city vibes)

The 240-hour visa-free transit has boosted China’s tourism recovery — don’t miss this chance to discover its wonders visa-free! If your nationality, itinerary, or ports are specific (e.g., Amsterdam departure), share details for personalized advice. Always verify with official channels before booking. Safe travels!