China 240-hour visa-free transit: the 57 countries and the rules (2026–2027)
Ordinary passports of 57 countries can stay in China for up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa when flying on to a third country or region, entering at one of 65 designated ports in 24 provinces.
240-hour transit to a third country 57
240-hour visa-free transit, step by step
- Hold an ordinary passport from one of these countries, valid for at least 3 more months.
- Book a confirmed onward ticket, with date and seat, to a third country or region leaving within 240 hours. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count.
- Arrive at one of the 65 designated ports, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing and Xiamen airports.
- Tell the airline at check-in and the border officer on arrival that you are using 240-hour transit, and fill in the arrival card.
- Stay within the permitted areas of the 24 provinces covered. You may leave from a different designated port.
The clock starts at 00:00 on the day after you arrive. A flight back to where you came from does not count as transit. Arrival card →
Frequently asked questions
Which countries can use China's 240-hour visa-free transit?
57 countries: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.
Can I work in China without a visa?
No. Visa-free entry only covers tourism, business meetings, family visits, exchanges and transit. Paid work needs a Z visa, study an X visa and journalism a J visa.
Official sources: news.cn