240-Hour Visa-Exemption Transit Policy

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.

According to the latest policy from the China National Immigration Administration on December 17, 2024, foreign travelers from 54 countries that meet the conditions can enter and exit China from designated ports, stay in allowed cities, and enjoy a ten-day visa-free stay in China.

• Europe Schengen area (25 countries): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
• Europe (15 other countries): Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, and Belarus.
• Americas (6 countries): the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
• Oceania (2 countries): Australia and New Zealand.
• Asia (6 countries): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

❗❗❗ Important Note:

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

In order to be eligible for visa-free transit, you must travel to a third country after leaving China. Entering China under the visa-free transit policy without continuing to a third country will be considered illegal entry. The border control authorities will not issue temporary entry permits to a foreigner if:

• His/her passport or any other international travel document is expiring in less than three months, or any of his/her travel documents has a rejection stamp by a visa-issuing agency in China;
• He/she has a record of illegal entry or exit, illegal residence, or illegal employment within the last five years. Foreigners 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) and a confirmed departure date and seat number;
• The landing card for foreigners in transit that is filled out upon arrival in China.
• You must not have a record of illegally entered or exited China, illegally resided in China, or illegally worked in China in 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 duration of stay for each foreign national starts from 0:00 on the day following the day 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 it is necessary to stay for more than 240 hours due to unexpected events, it is necessary to apply for the corresponding stay permit from the local public security bureau's exit and entry administration department.

FAQ

More information about the 240-hour visa-free transit policy can be found on the:

• China National Immigration Administration

• China National Immigration Administration

• China Briefing

• latest policy

• China Immigration Hotline