Transit in China Without Visa - Updated China Visa Free Transit Policies

Notice on Latest Visa and Entry Policies for Foreigners Entering China - Updated on December 18, 2024:

1. China has launched a 30 Days Visa-free Policy for 38 eligible countries, including several European nations — Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. In Oceania, Australia and New Zealand are listed, while in Asia, Malaysia, South Korea, Brunei, and Japan are included. This policy is valid till December 31, 2025. Read more »

2. 240-Hour Visa Free Transit (10 days) has been lanched. 54 eligible countries include the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, etc. Eligible travelers can now travel across provinces, for example traveling from Beijing to Xian, then to Shanghai. Mohan Railway Port at China-Laos border can be used to enter/leave Yunnan. Hong Kong High-speed Rail West Kowloon Station has been added to Guangdong Province 144-hour transit visa-free. Read more »

3. Countries with a mutual visa exemption agreement with China include several European nations, including Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Malta, San Marino, Serbia, and Seychelles. From North America, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, and Barbados are listed. Several Caribbean nations are also included, such as Dominica, Grenada, and Solomon Islands. Oceania is represented by Fiji, Suriname, and Tonga. In South America, countries like Ecuador, Mauritius.

4. Booking of flights and hotels, China itineraries and invitation letters are not required for application of Chinese Tourist Visa for U.S.nationals.

5. Appointment is not required for visa application in many embassies and consulates.

China Discovery will keep focusing on the updates of the latest Chinese visa and entry policy! You can also call +86 010 12367 (Official telephone number of China National Immigration Administration) to check further information. Welcome to join in our Facebook Groups to catch up with the latest news!

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Two Major China TWOV Rules

Currently, China has 2 kinds of transit visa waiver programs carried out for international travelers, that is, 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit and 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit. The two types of policies have different requirements, restrictions, duration of stay for each entry and are implemented in different cities (areas) in China.

Notes:

1. Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months.

2. Your onward travel destination must be a third country or region different from the departure place.

3. The 24-Hour TWOV does NOT apply to all airports. Please contact the airport service hotline to check before arrival.

Starting from December 17, 2025, the duration of stay for foreign nationals under the transit visa-free policy has been extended from the original 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). Additionally, 21 new entry and exit points have been added for transit visa-free individuals, and the areas where they can stay and travel have been further expanded. Nationals from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the UK, the US, and Canada, who are transiting through China to a third country or region, can now enter China visa-free through any of the 60 open ports of entry in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and stay within the permitted areas for up to 240 hours.

The number of open ports of entry has increased from the original 39 to 60. The 21 newly added entry and exit points include:

Shanxi Taiyuan Wusu International Airport
Jiangsu Sunan Shuofang International Airport, Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport
Zhejiang Wenzhou Longwan International Airport, Yiwu International Airport
Anhui Hefei Xinqiao International Airport, Huangshan Tunxi International Airport
Fujian Fuzhou Changle International Airport, Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport, Wuyishan International Airport
Jiangxi Nanchang Changbei International Airport
Shandong Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport, Yantai Penglai International Airport, Weihai Dashuipo International Airport
Hunan Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport
Guangxi Nanning Wuxu International Airport, Beihai Fucheng International Airport
Hainan Haikou Meilan International Airport, Sanya Phoenix International Airport
Sichuan Chengdu Tianfu International Airport
Guizhou Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport.

The newly optimized 240-hour transit visa-free policy has further expanded the areas where travelers can stay. The number of applicable provinces has increased from the original 19 (Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, Shaanxi) to 24, now including Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan, and Guizhou. In the newly added provinces, the areas where transit visa-free travelers can stay are as follows:

In Anhui, Hainan, and Guizhou, the area is the entire province.
In Shanxi, the area is limited to Taiyuan and Datong.
In Jiangxi, the area is limited to Nanchang and Jingdezhen.

The areas for transit visa-free individuals in Fujian, Hubei, and Shaanxi have been expanded to include the entire province. In Guangxi, the area has been expanded to include 12 cities: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi, and Laibin.

Most importantly, foreign nationals entering China under the transit visa-free policy can now travel across provinces within the permitted areas in the above-mentioned 24 provinces.

How to Apply for China Transit Visa Exemption?

Complete Arrival Card

Queue up and Submit Transit Visa Exemption Application

Step 1: Notify the carrier (air company) that takes you to transit through China, submit your application of the TWOV program when boarding. They will report your need to the immigration office at the intermediate port.

Step 2: Follow signs at customs area, and get to the special counter immigration department set for Visa-free Transit visitors, and fill in an Arrival Card, submit to the officer.

Step 3: If get approved, your passport will be stamped a Temporary Entry Permit, which shows the issuing date, the permitted duration of stay at entry port.

Step 4: If you don’t want to use the Chinese Visa you already obtained this time, you should tell the immigration officer you will enter and transit by applying the Visa-free Transit.

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.

Travel China Worry Free with China Discovery

Transiting in China without visa saves much your time, money and energy while having a stopover. It’s a good idea to use the TWOV to have a layover tour to enjoy unique city charm full of Chinese style culture, history and modern ambience. Thus, you may hike on the Great Wall in Beijing, view the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, witness stunning skyscrapers in Shanghai, immerse in poetic landscape in Guilin, memorable Giant Panda tour in Chengdu...

China Discovery is a professional and experienced travel companion who offers high-value and worry-free China tours for you. We not only design ideal itinerary covering sightseeing, dining, transfer and hotel, but also can provide any visa support & help you need for China travel. With our help, you may take advantage of the free visa to visit China, or obtain a Chinese Visa to experience different kinds of landscape, culture and history of China freely.

Please feel free to  contact us to join in our top recommended China tours, or let us customize a once-in-a-lifetime trip to China for you.

China Discovery Custom-made US Customers Beijing Tour to Forbidden City

• ● 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour with Great Wall Hiking
• ● 3 Days Shanghai Past and Present Contrast Tour
• ● 2 Days Xian City Break
• ● 2 Days Guilin Ideal Li River Cruise with Yangshuo Essence
• ● 3 Days Chengdu City Break including Panda Volunteering
• ● 3 Days Guangzhou History & Culture Experience Tour

Beijing

Shanghai

Guilin

Chengdu

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.

Brady

Connecting flight from Vietnam to America

Do I need a visa if I'm just changing planes in China?

2024-12-10 12:32

Hi Brady,

If your transit is within 24 hours and not leaving the airport, you do not need a visa.

China Discovery 2024-12-10 14:21

John Godfrey

visa

Is this visa all we need to visit china for 6 days, We are touring beijing, then on to Xi'an. we are over 70 years of age.

2019-11-06 21:33

Hi John,

Thanks for your question. Traveling from Beijing to Xian doesn't apply to the 144 Hour Transit Visa free. You can only transit without visa only in Beijing or only in Xian. To visit Beijing and Xian together, you need to apply for a Tourist Visa (L).

China Discovery 2019-11-07 14:25