China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Rules, Eligibility & Border Walkthrough

If you hold a passport from one of 55 eligible countries, you can enter China without a visa for up to 240 hours (10 days) — as long as you are genuinely in transit to a third country or region, hold a confirmed onward ticket, and enter through one of the 65 designated ports. There is no fee and no advance application: you ask for a temporary entry permit at the immigration counter when you land.

This guide covers who qualifies, how the clock is counted, what happens at the border, and the routing mistakes that get people turned away.

Who Is Eligible

The policy applies to ordinary passport holders from 55 countries:

• Europe (40): 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, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
• Americas (6): Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, United States
• Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand
• Asia (7): Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirates

The Three Hard Requirements

All three must be true, and border officers will check each one:

1. Your passport is from an eligible country and valid for at least 3 more months. You must also meet the entry requirements of your onward destination.
2. You hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, with a fixed date and seat, departing within 240 hours of your arrival. "Third country or region" means your route must be A → China → B, where A and B are different. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count as separate regions for this rule.
3. You fill in the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners and cooperate with inspection at the border. Since November 20, 2025, you can fill the arrival card online in advance through the NIA website, the "NIA 12367" app, or WeChat/Alipay mini programs — or on arrival at the port.

You enter through any of the 65 designated ports across 24 provinces — including all major international airports (Beijing Capital and Daxing, Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and others) and, since November 5, 2025, five additional Guangdong ports: Guangzhou Pazhou Ferry Terminal, Hengqin Port, the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge port, Zhongshan Port, and West Kowloon Station on the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed rail.

How the 240 Hours Are Counted

The clock does not start when you land. Your visa-free stay is counted from 0:00 on the day after entry.

In practice this means: if you land at any time on a Monday, your 240 hours start at 00:00 on Tuesday, and you must depart before they run out — effectively giving you the arrival day plus 10 full days. Your onward ticket must show a departure within this window.

At the Border, Step by Step

1. 1. Before check-in at your departure airport

   Have your onward ticket confirmation ready to show the airline. Airlines verify transit eligibility before letting you board a flight to China without a visa — if you cannot show a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, the airline can deny boarding.

2. 2. Fill in the arrival card

   Complete the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners online before departure (NIA website, NIA 12367 app, or WeChat/Alipay mini program) or fill it in on arrival at the port.

3. 3. Go to the visa-free transit counter

   On arrival, follow signs for immigration and look for the 240-hour visa-free transit / temporary entry lane. Present your passport, onward ticket, and arrival card.

4. 4. Receive the temporary entry permit

   The officer issues a temporary entry permit — typically a sticker or stamp in your passport showing your permitted stay period. Check the dates before leaving the counter.

5. 5. Register your accommodation

   Hotels register foreign guests automatically. If you stay with friends or in a private home, you must register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival — this is standard for all foreign visitors, not specific to transit passengers.

Routings That Qualify — and Ones That Don't

Routing	Qualifies?	Why
New York → Shanghai → Tokyo	✅	US and Japan are different countries
London → Beijing → Hong Kong	✅	Hong Kong counts as a third region
Paris → Guangzhou → Paris	❌	Round trip to the same country is not "transit"
Sydney → Shanghai → Hong Kong → Sydney	❌	The journey's start and end are the same country
Toronto → Seoul → Beijing → Bangkok	✅	Multi-stop is fine if the leg after China goes to a third country

The rule officers apply is simple: the place you came from and the place you go to next must be different countries or regions.

Common Pitfalls and Edge Cases

Dual nationals of Chinese descent. China does not recognize dual nationality. If Chinese law may treat you as a Chinese national — for example you were born in China and later naturalized elsewhere — the transit permit can be refused, and you may be expected to enter on Chinese travel documents instead. If this could apply to you, confirm your status with a Chinese embassy or consulate before booking.

Passport from a non-eligible country (e.g., India). The 240-hour policy does not apply. However, all nationalities can use 24-hour direct transit: if your connection is under 24 hours and you hold a confirmed onward ticket, you can transit without a visa — you may need a temporary entry permit to leave the airport's restricted area. For longer stays, apply for a regular visa in advance.

One-way or open-jaw tickets without confirmed dates. A vague plan to "buy the onward ticket later" will not work — the onward booking must exist, with a confirmed date and seat, before you arrive.

Activities beyond tourism. The permit covers tourism, business visits, and family reunions. Work, study, and journalism require the appropriate visa obtained in advance.

Practical Tips

• Screenshot your onward ticket and hotel bookings before departure — you may be asked for them twice: by the airline at check-in and by the border officer.
• Check the permitted stay area for your entry port. The 65 ports each come with designated areas you are allowed to stay in, covering the 24 participating provinces. The official port-and-area list is published by the NIA — confirm your planned itinerary stays within it.
• Overstaying is serious. Leaving the permitted area or staying past your permit dates can mean fines and trouble on future visits. If plans change, visit the local exit-entry administration bureau before your permit expires.
• Questions? Call 12367, the official China immigration service hotline, which has English service.