Beijing 30 Days Visa Free & 240/24-Hour Transit Visa Exemption Guide 2025
Do I need a visa for traveling to Beijing?
Beijing, as the capital of China, offers several visa-free and visa-friendly options for travelers, making it an attractive destination for international tourists. Citizens of certain countries can enjoy visa-free entry up to 30 days, such as those from Singapore and some other 30-Day Visa Free eligible countries. Visitors from United States, Canada, etc. can also enjoy 240-Hour Visa Free travel in Beijing when passing through China on their way to a third country. These policies are beneficial for both short-term tourists and long-term travelers, enabling them to experience Beijing's rich history and vibrant culture with minimal bureaucratic hassle. Moreover, the city’s visa-friendly approach extends to a variety of Chinese visa types, making it easier for those who wish to extend their stay or pursue longer-term travel in the country.
If you are not qualified for these visa-free policies, you are suggested to apply for a regular Chinese visa.
Shanghai Visa Free Policies
What is China 240-Hour Visa Free Transit Policy? - Citizens of 54 countries who hold an ordinary passport with at least 3 months of validity and an onward flight, train, or cruise ticket to a third country (or region) within 240 hours can transit in designated areas of 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China’s Mainland for up to 240 hours without a visa.
Beijing Transit Visa Free Requirements
1. Transit Passengers must be Citizens of Specified 54 Countries
54 Countries Qualified for Beijing 240 Hour Visa Free Transit (Enlarge to See Full List)
2. Transit Passengers must Hold Valid International Travel Document
The passport or international travel document should be valid at least for 3 months. The document presents the nationality whether qualifies for the visa-free layover or not. A valid visa for a third country is needed if requires.
3. Transit Passengers must Hold Connecting Tickets to A Third Country (Region)
Only eligible transit routes can apply the 240-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy in Beijing. You need to guarantee Beijing and other destinations of China's Mainland are your intermediate transit, your departure and onward destination are different. ( Note: Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan are considered third regions from Mainland of China.)
Valid Routes:
1. US > Beijing > Shanghai > Hong Kong or Macau
2. Australia > Beijing > Xian > Chengdu > Hong Kong or Macau
3. US > Beijing > Guangzhou > Japan > US
4. New York > Beijing > Chengdu > Kunming > Kuala Lumpur
5. London > Beijing > Chongqing > Guilin > Hong Kong
4. Transit Passengers must Enter via Designated Ports
There are now 60 open ports of entry for the 240-hour visa-free policy across 24 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, including major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Xi’an. You can enter China via any of these ports without a visa, as long as you meet the requirements. At present, Beijing has opened 3 ports of entry under this policy, including Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport.
5. Plan Your Stay Within the 240-Hour Window
The 240-hour period starts at 00:00 (GMT+8) on the second day after your entry. For example, if you arrive in China at 13:00 on April 20, 2025, your 240-hour period will begin at 00:00 on April 21, 2025. Once you arrive, you can stay in China for up to 240 hours (10 days), during which you can engage in tourism, business, visiting family or friends, or other activities.
Beijing Transit Visa Free Application - 6 Steps to Go
①. Inform the air company that you will use the 240-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy when boarding.
②. Go to waiting area and fill in an Arrival Card (blue version).
③. Submit completed Arrival Card at the 240-Hour Visa-free Counter.
④. Obtain a Temporary Entry Permit stamped on your passport. (Don’t forget to tell the officer you don’t want to use the China Visa you already got.)
⑤. Claim your luggage and go through customs and immigration inspections.
⑥. Start your exploration in Beijing.
Since April 15th, 2015, China carried out the 24 Hour Visa Free Transit in Beijing for all foreigners, who hold connecting flight tickets to a third country/region. It allows passengers stay within the airport for less than 24 hours, without going through any immigration or customs. If you want to leave airport (transit within 24 hours), you shall apply for Temporary Entry Permit from the immigration office at Beijing Capital International Airport.
This is really a huge convenience if your waiting time for next flight in Beijing Airport is very short, just a few hours (within 24 hours). You don’t have to prepare documents, apply for a Chinese Visa prior to arrival for the transit, which saves lots of your time and money.
Tip : There is no limitation of applicants’ nationality, but has restriction of your movement and duration of stay.
Getting Transit Visa Exemption in Beijing not only brings real convenience for transiting passengers, but also afford a visa-free travel to Beijing even other parts of China, which ultimately enriches your long flight journey. Once successfully issued, you will have 1 to 10 days to arrange a Beijing tour, covering sightseeing, great wall hiking, food tasting and shopping.
From downtown to suburb area, Beijing posses different kinds of scenic spots, cultural or historic, or natural, for your exploration. Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Dadaling Great Wall are top recommended sites.
◆ 24 Hours in Beijing - Beijing One Day Tours
Top Recommended Attractions: Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square
Looking for most popular things to do in Beijing in one day (24 hours)? Great Walls and Forbidden City are the best ideas if it’s your first trip to Beijing. Both are world-known landmarks and must-visit sites you must heard before. Since your time is limited, visiting each attractions needs at least half a day, you’d better choose one only. A warm tip: you can visit Tian’anmen Square - world’s top largest city square and watch flag-raising ceremony in the early morning, and then visit Forbidden City next to the square.
If you prefer to travel in downtown area, it’s suitable to visit Forbidden City and the nearby Temple of Heaven together. You may contact us to know more choices and interesting sites, activities and experience in Beijing.
◆ 3~4 Days in Beijing - How to Plan
- 2 Days Beijing Layover Highlights Tour
- 3 Days Beijing Essential Short Stay Tour
- 2 Days Mutianyu & Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking
- 2 Days Jinshanling & Simatai Great Wall Wild Hiking
- 2 Days Chengde Tour from Beijing
- 2 Days Beijing Tianjin Round Trip by Train
Top Recommended Attractions: Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square, Summer Palace, Lama Temple (Yonghegong), Beijing Hutongs, Olympic Park.
3~4 days is enough for a classic tour of Beijing. It allows you to witness mixed look of Beijing in ancient and modern styles, when having a Great Wall Hiking Tour, viewing marvellous ancient royal palace - Forbidden City, and physically see the giant architecture in Olympic Park. When in Beijing, do as Beijingers do. Try the Beijing Roast Duck, walking in the local Hutongs are good way to experience local life.
Just 30 minutes’ high speed (intercity) train travel, Tianjin is easily accessed from Beijing. As a famous port city, Tianjin is the seat of Huangyaguan Great Wall and has preserved many Europe-style buildings. You can exit from China from Tianjin directly via Tianjin Binhai International Airport or Tianjin International Cruise Home Port, or return to Beijing for leaving.
Useful Links: Beijing to Tianjin Train Schedules, Tickets, Fares / Tianjin to Beijing Train Schedules, Tickets, Fares
Most Popualr Beijing Visa-free Tours:
◆ 5~6 Days in Beijing - What can you do on a long transit in Beijing?
- 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package
- 5 Days Beijing Essence Tour with Hutong Life
- 4 Days Beijing Food Hunting Tour
- 6 Days Beijing with In-depth Great Wall Experience
Top Recommended Attractions: Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square, Summer Palace, Lama Temple (Yonghegong), Beijing Hutongs, Olympic Park, Jiankou Great Wall, Simatai Great Wall, 798 Art Zone.
As long as you successfully get transit visa exempted for 240 hours, you can enjoy an in-depth Beijing tour to fully experience the glamour of Beijing. Making a Great Wall Hiking is always the most thrilling priority. During the long layover, it’s perfect to have an in-depth tour of Great Walls in China, such as a photography tour, a wild Great Wall Hiking, etc. Besides, you can visit royal-featured traditional architectures, like Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, experience local food, life style in Beijing Hutongs, parks, restaurants, spend exciting nightlight in bustling downtown, or have side trips to Tianjin and Hebei.
Most Popualr Beijing Visa-free Tours:
◆ 5~7 days traveling Beijing with Xian - most recommended
Since cross-province travel is permitted by the current 240-hour visa free policy, it is strongly recommended travel Beijing with Xian which is one of the most classic tours in China. As time-honored ancient capital cities of China for centuries, Beijing and Xian carry a deep culture with many world heritage sites and historical relics.
Q1: Can I leave the airport during a layover?
A1: If you satisfy all required conditions of Beijing 24 Hour/240 Hour Visa-free Transit Policy, you can apply for entry permit of Beijing, and leave Beijing Airport. Otherwise, you have to submit application for China Transit Visa (G Visa) prior to arrival, for walking out the airport.
Q2: Can I get a visa on arrival in Beijing?
A2: Beijing does NOT offer any Visa on Arrival policy for regular tourists, except group tour organized by authorized Chinese travel agencies. Beijing Visa on Arrival is only valid for special emergency entry and group tour to China.
Note that the issued 24 Hour/ 240 Hour Transit Visa Exemption is Temporary Entry Permit stamped on passport, not official Chinese Visa stuck on visa page.
Q3: Can I go to Shanghai from Beijing under the 240 Hour Visa Policy?
A3: Yes, you can. After visiting Beijing, you can travel to Xian, Shanghai, Chengdu, etc. as long as your total stay doesn't exceed 240 hours.
China Discovery is a professional and experienced travel companion who offers high-value and worry-free tours for you. Except Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Xiamen, Kunming, Wuhan, Nanjing, Qingdao are also 240-Hour Visa-free Transit cities. If you have a layover in Guilin, Harbin, Changsha, 240-Hour Visa-free Transit is available. Without visa, you can fulfill your dream tour to China, visiting the great cultural, historical, natural landscape. If you are interested in China visa-free tour, we could also customize a China Visa-free Tour in more destinations if you meet relevant visa requirements.
Most Popular China Visa-free Tours:
How to Get Around Beijing
- How to Get to Great Wall
- Get from Beijing to Great Wall
- How to Get to Summer Palace
- Airport to Forbidden City
- Airport to Beijing Downtown
- Beijing Capital Airport Express
- Beijing Capital Airport Shuttles
- Beijing Airport to Great Wall
- Beijing Subyway Map
Top Beijing Tours & Travel Guide
- Popular Beijing Tours
- Great Wall Hiking Tours
- Beijing Visa Free Tours
- Beijing Layover Tours
- Tpo 6 Beijing Vacations
- Beijing Family Tours
- Beijing Travel Guide
- Beijing Travel Articles
- Great Wall Trip Planning Guide
- How to Plan a Beijing Trip
- Things to do in Beijing
- Top Experiences - LP Recommended
- Featured Activities in Beijing
- Weather & Seasons in Beijing
- Beijing Maps
- Beijing 144/24 Hour Visa Free
- Recommended Hotels in Beijing
- Beijing Photo Gallery
- Top Beijing Food and Snacks
- Beijing Shopping
- Beijing Nightlife
- Beijing FAQs & Tips
Recommended Tours
Top 3 tours chosen by most customers to explore in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.
6 Days Beijing Tianjin Chengde Visa-Free Tour
Tianjin / Beijing / Chengde / Beijing
Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.
Customize a Trip
Questions & Discussions
Following are latest questions and answers from our webusers and customers. You can learn many useful information from the discussion and cases. You can also join in the discussions or ask your own question. Our experts will help you ASAP.
Beijing currently has two transit visa exemption policies: 24 hour and 144 hours. As a Philippine passport holder, you are not applicable for the 144 hour visa-free transit, but if you hold ticket to a third country or region with a short layover (within 24 hours) in Beijing, you may apply the 24 hour transit visa free.
If you want to get a regular China Visa, please refer to: https://www.chinadiscovery.com/chinese-visa/application.html.
Wish this helps and good day!
Best Regards,
Your nationality and travel route meet related requirements, so you can apply for the 144 Hour Transit Visa Exemption at Beijing Capital Airport. Make sure your passport is valid over 3 months and prepare the air ticket showing your leaving Beijing within 144 hours.
Good luck to you and enjoy your Beijing layover tour!
Best Regards,
Your travel route meets the related regulation of 144 hour transit visa free in Beijing. Also, you need to check your UK passport has a validity of at least 3 months, and you already booked flights leaving for Taipei within 144 hours.
Here is our hot Beijing tours which may inspire you: https://www.chinadiscovery.com/beijing-tours.html. Hope you can successfully get the free entry and have fun in Beijing.
Best Regards,
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