Which countries are eligible for China's 240-hour visa-free transit?

57 countries as of 20 August 2026: 40 in Europe (including Russia, the UK, Ukraine, Serbia and Belarus), 6 in the Americas (US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile), 2 in Oceania (Australia, New Zealand) and 9 in Asia (South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam).

Can I enter on the 240-hour transit and exit through a different city?

Yes. You must enter and exit through ports that offer the policy (65 of them nationwide), and stay within the permitted areas — but your exit port does not have to be your entry port, and cross-province travel within permitted areas is allowed.

Does the onward ticket have to be bought before boarding?

Yes. The ticket to a third country or region must be confirmed with a fixed departure date within 240 hours before you check in for the flight to China. Airlines verify this at check-in.

Is Hong Kong or Macao a qualifying 'third country'?

Yes. China's mainland treats Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as separate destinations for transit purposes — flying Shanghai → Beijing → Hong Kong qualifies as onward travel to a third region.

How is the 240 hours counted?

From midnight (00:00) of the day after your entry. In practice this gives you up to 10 full days and nights depending on your arrival time.

Can I apply for 240-hour transit at any Chinese airport?

No. Only the 65 listed ports offer the policy. Most major international airports are included, but smaller airports such as Lanzhou or Hohhot are not.

China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: 57 Countries and All 65 Ports

Short answer

Citizens of 57 countries can transit China visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) when continuing to a third country or region. You can enter at any of 65 open ports — from Beijing Capital to Xi'an Xianyang, Chengdu Tianfu and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge — and travel across provinces within the permitted areas of 24 provincial-level regions.

The 57 eligible countries (verified October 2026)

Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added on 20 August 2026, bringing the total to 57. You must hold an ordinary passport of one of these countries:

Europe (40 countries)

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta
Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Belarus, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Americas (6 countries)

United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile

Oceania (2 countries)

Australia, New Zealand

Asia (9 countries)

South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam

All 65 open ports of entry

You may apply for 240-hour visa-free transit at any of these ports, regardless of which country you are from on the list. Airports are the practical route for almost all travellers; the sea, rail and road ports matter for regional itineraries such as the Hong Kong–Shenzhen high-speed rail or the Mohan land crossing from Laos.

Port of entry	Province / region
Beijing Capital International Airport	Beijing
Beijing Daxing International Airport	Beijing
Tianjin Binhai International Airport	Tianjin
Tianjin Port (passenger)	Tianjin
Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport	Hebei
Qinhuangdao Port (passenger)	Hebei
Shenyang Taoxian International Airport	Liaoning
Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport	Liaoning
Dalian Port (passenger)	Liaoning
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport	Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport	Shanghai
Shanghai Port (passenger)	Shanghai
Nanjing Lukou International Airport	Jiangsu
Sunan Shuofang International Airport	Jiangsu
Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport	Jiangsu
Lianyungang Port (passenger)	Jiangsu
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport	Zhejiang
Ningbo Lishe International Airport	Zhejiang
Wenzhou Longwan International Airport	Zhejiang
Yiwu Airport	Zhejiang
Wenzhou Port (passenger)	Zhejiang
Zhoushan Port (passenger)	Zhejiang
Hefei Xinqiao International Airport	Anhui
Huangshan Tunxi International Airport	Anhui
Fuzhou Changle International Airport	Fujian
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport	Fujian
Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport	Fujian
Wuyishan Airport	Fujian
Xiamen Port (passenger)	Fujian
Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport	Shandong
Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport	Shandong
Yantai Penglai International Airport	Shandong
Weihai Dashuipo International Airport	Shandong
Qingdao Port (passenger)	Shandong
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport	Henan
Wuhan Tianhe International Airport	Hubei
Changsha Huanghua International Airport	Hunan
Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport	Hunan
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport	Guangdong
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport	Guangdong
Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport	Guangdong
Nansha Port (passenger)	Guangdong
Shekou Port (passenger)	Guangdong
Guangzhou Pazhou Ferry Terminal	Guangdong
Zhongshan Port (passenger)	Guangdong
Hengqin Port	Guangdong
Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge Port	Guangdong
West Kowloon Station Port (Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong express rail)	Guangdong
Haikou Meilan International Airport	Hainan
Sanya Phoenix International Airport	Hainan
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport	Chongqing
Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport	Guizhou
Xi'an Xianyang International Airport	Shaanxi
Taiyuan Wusu International Airport	Shanxi
Harbin Taiping International Airport	Heilongjiang
Nanchang Changbei International Airport	Jiangxi
Nanning Wuxu International Airport	Guangxi
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport	Guangxi
Beihai Fucheng Airport	Guangxi
Beihai Port (passenger)	Guangxi
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport	Sichuan
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport	Sichuan
Kunming Changshui International Airport	Yunnan
Lijiang Sanyi International Airport	Yunnan
Mohan Railway Port	Yunnan

Where you can go during the 240 hours

Transit travellers may move across provinces within the permitted stay areas of 24 provincial-level regions — the December 2024 rules relaxed the old single-city stay. Each port's permitted area covers the whole province or municipality in most cases; Shanxi covers Taiyuan and Datong cities, Jiangxi covers Nanchang and Jingdezhen, Guangxi covers 11 cities, Yunnan covers 9 cities and prefectures.

Conditions you must meet at the border

Hold a valid international travel document with at least 3 months' validity.
Hold confirmed interline tickets to a THIRD country or region, departing within 240 hours. A direct return to your origin country does not qualify.
Fill in the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners and cooperate with immigration inspections.
Your stay is counted from midnight of the day after entry — 240 hours is effectively up to 10 full days and nights.

What the 240 hours does NOT allow

No employment, study or journalism — those need a proper visa.
No return to your origin country as the onward leg (Shanghai → Beijing → Shanghai fails; Shanghai → Beijing → Tokyo passes).
No leaving the permitted stay area of your port of entry's region.

Related guides

Where these matter

Official sources

Policies and booking channels change — check the official channel before you rely on it.