China 240-Hour Visa Free Transit Policy 2025

Currently citizens with valid passports of below countries can apply for China 240-Hour Visa Free Transit:

① European Schengen Visa Agreement Countries:

Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

② Other European Countries:

Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco and Belarus.

③ American Countries:

United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and the Republic of Chile.

④ Oceania Countries:

Australia and New Zealand.

⑤ Asian Countries:

South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

Nationals from 54 eligible countries can enter and exit China from any port of below 60 airports, cruise ports and railway stations, and visit majority of destinations and attractions in below 24 provices and cities withou a tourist visa.

>> Required Documents

● A Valid Passport (or international travel document): it must be issued by one of the 54 countries listed above, valid for at least 3 months and with valid visa to the third country/regions if requires.

● A Connecting Air (or vessel, train) Ticket : it must be valid, going to the onward country/region with detailed date & seat within 240 hours.

● A completed Arrival Card : you can get the card in the airport after landing, and then submit at the immigration counter.

>> Application Procedures

Step 1: When boarding on (a airplane, ship, train), you should notify the carrier that you would apply for the 240-Hour Visa-free Transit. They will declare your request to the immigration office prior to your visit.

Step 2: Upon arrival, follow the signs, go to customs area, fill in the Arrival Card, and submit application of transit visa exemption at the specialized counter/channel. It’s easy to locate the related immigration department in the airport.

Step 3: If approved, your valid passport will be pasted a short-term stay permit (a paster) by the officer. There has clear regulation of the issuing date and allowed duration of stay.

Step 4: If you have a valid Chinese Visa, and don’t want to use it this time, you should tell the immigration officer you will enter and transit by applying the 240-Hour Visa-free Transit this entry.

Step 5: After leaving airport, you must  register yourself within 24 hours upon arrival at the local police station or Public Security Bureau (PSB). If you will stay in hotel, the hotel staff will do the registration for you. (Your application will be refused if you had violation of accommodation registration and caused serious cases in China within 2 year.)

Step 6: You’re required to apply for a Chinese Visa from the local PSB, if you intend to travel other cities or stay longer than 240 hours. Otherwise, your illegal stay will face fines and other serious consequences. How to Apply for A Chinese Visa >>

1. 240-Hour Visa-free Transit vs 24-hour Direct Transit

240-Hour Visa Free Transit is only available for citizens of 54 countries while 24-Hour Visa Free Transit is available for citizens of most global countries. During your 24-Hour Visa Free Transit, you cannot leave the airport unless you apply for a Temporary Entry Permit.

*If you are not eligible for China’s Transit Visa Free Policy, a Chinese Transit Visa ( G Visa) is required if you want to go out the airport.

2. Transit routes & interline air ticket booking advice

Due to this policy is only valid for foreign passenger from 54 countries with connecting flights to a third country/region, one of the most important material you should prepare is the connecting flight ticket. It simply explains your travel itinerary and this entry is indeed a short-dated layover.

1.) This measure does  NOT apply to a passenger traveling back and forth different areas of same country. (Note: Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei are counted as the third regions from China's mainland.)

Airline Route Examples:

a.“San Francisco - Xian - Chengdu - Canada” is  OK.

b. “San Francisco - Guangzhou - Canada” is  OK.

c. “New York, USA - Guangzhou - Los Angeles, USA” is  NOT OK.

2.) You should enter and exit from specific port as the limited. Therefore, check carefully whether the airline you chose have layover in a right airport in China. Except Beijing, Shanhai, Tianjin and Xiamen has more than 1 entry port, other 240-Hour Transit Visa Free cities only open one air port.

3. 240-Hour Transit Visa Cost

Applying the visa-free transit is usually charge-free.

4. Area of Movement

Foreigners must transit and stay in the designated areas of 24 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. Don't worry, the major parts China tourist destinations and popular attractions are all covered.

5. Calculation of Entry Date

The 240-Hour Visa Free transit officially counts from 00:00 on the next day after entry, not from the time when the flight land at the airport, or the time you get the stay permit. So you actually stay more than 240 hours.

With 10 days of visa-free stay, convenient flights, high-speed trains, and an extensive highway network, you can explore many travel destinations in China and experience its rich history and culture. If it's your first time visiting China, it's recommended to start with the classic route of Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai. You can also freely combine your itinerary to visit the hometown of giant pandas, Chengdu, the Avatar-like landscapes of Zhangjiajie, the stunning karst scenery in Guilin, or the breathtaking beauty of Huangshan. Additionally, you can indulge in a luxurious and comfortable Yangtze River cruise.

Most Recommended China Tours for 240-Hour Visa Free:

8 Days Best of China Tour (Flight/Bullet Train Covered)

Itinerary: Beijing / Xian / Shanghai
Highlights: Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Terracotta Warriors & Horses, Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter, The Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum, Tianzifang, Jade Buddha Temple

6 Days Classic Beijing Xian High-speed Train Tour (Most Valuable)

Itinerary: Beijing / Xian
Highlights: Landmark Attractions, Leisure Pace, Bullet Train Beijing to Xian

9 Days Pandas Terracotta Warriors Great Wall Encounter by High Speed Trains

Itinerary: Chengdu / Leshan / Emeishan / Xian / Beijing
Highlights: Panda, Leshan Giant Buddha, Mount Emei, Bullet Train, Terracotta Warriors, Forbidden City, Great Wall

If you prefer, you can also choose our customized travel services. As a leading China travel agency, we have managed to help more than ten thousands of guests travel in China successfully with our tailor-made China tours since our establishment in 2011.