What is the 240-Hour (10-Day) Visa-Exemption Transit Policy?

The 240-Hour Visa-Exemption Transit Policy is one of the visa-free policies that China provides to eligible foreigners.

Under the current National Immigration Administration policy, eligible travelers from 55 countries may use 65 designated ports across 24 provincial-level regions and stay within the permitted area for up to 240 hours.

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

❗❗❗ Important Note:

Notably, under this policy, visa-free travelers can cross provincial boundaries within the 24 eligible regions, offering greater flexibility for regional travel.

Your itinerary must transit from one country or region through mainland China to a different country or region. A simple return to the place from which you entered does not qualify. The border control authorities will not issue temporary entry permits to a foreign national if:

• Their passport or any other international travel document has less than three months of validity remaining, or any of their travel documents has a rejection stamp from a Chinese visa-issuing authority;
• They have a record of illegal entry or exit, illegal residence, or illegal employment in China within the last five years. Foreign nationals under these circumstances are not entitled to the 240-hour visa-free transit.

What do you need to prepare?

According to the requirements of the China National Immigration Administration (NIA), applicants for a 240-hour visa-free transit must meet the following conditions:

• A valid passport or other international travel document with an effective period of more than three months from the date of arrival in China;
• A confirmed onward ticket for travel to a third country or region within 240 hours (10 days), with a confirmed departure date and seat number;
• A completed Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners. Since November 20, 2025, travelers can use the free official online arrival-card service before travel; paper cards remain available at ports.
• No record of illegal entry or exit, illegal residence, or illegal employment in China within the last five years;

240-hour China Visa-free Transit Cities Map

Notably, the policy now includes:

• Newly added regions: Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan, and Guizhou
• In Anhui, Hainan, and Guizhou, travelers can explore the entire province
• In Shanxi, the permitted areas are limited to Taiyuan and Datong
• In Jiangxi, travelers can visit Nanchang and Jingdezhen
• Expanded access in regions like Fujian, Hubei, and Shaanxi to cover entire provinces
• Guangxi has extended access to 12 cities, including Nanning, Guilin, Beihai, and Liuzhou

Things to note

• The permitted duration of stay begins at 00:00 on the day following the date of entry.
• During your stay, you can travel across provincial boundaries within the 24 eligible regions.
• During your stay, you must comply with all Chinese laws and regulations, and not exceed the permitted travel range or transit time.
• If you need to stay beyond 240 hours due to force majeure or unforeseen events, you must apply for a corresponding stay permit from the exit-entry administration department of the local public security bureau.
• Airline staff may need to verify an eligible multi-country itinerary before boarding. Arrive early and carry a printed or offline copy of your onward booking, accommodation, and the current NIA policy.

FAQ

For more information about the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, refer to:

• Current National Immigration Administration notice
• Official online arrival card
• China Immigration Hotline