China Expands 240-Hour Transit Visa-Free to 57 Countries: Kyrgyzstan & Vietnam Added (August 2026)

Effective August 20, 2026, two more nationalities can explore China visa-free for 10 days — and Hainan’s 30-day visa-free list grows to 61 countries.

What Exactly Changed on August 20, 2026?

China has been steadily expanding its visa-free programs through 2025 and 2026, and the August 20 announcement is the latest step. In a public notice issued the same day, the NIA confirmed that Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added to:

The practical effect: a citizen of Kyrgyzstan or Vietnam holding a normal passport and a confirmed onward ticket can now fly into any of 65 designated ports — including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu — and stay in permitted areas of mainland China for up to 240 hours (10 days) without applying for a visa in advance. The same citizens can also fly directly into Hainan province’s open ports and stay up to 30 days across the island province.

While transiting or staying under these programs, visitors may engage in tourism, business, visits, family reunions, and other short-term activities.

Who Is Now Eligible?

The two programs have different lists. Here is how the eligibility works:

240-Hour Transit Visa-Free — 57 Countries

The 240-hour transit program covers a broad set of nationalities. Highlights include:

• Europe: most EU countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, etc.), plus the UK, Switzerland, Norway, and Russia.
• Americas: United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and more.
• Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, and now Vietnam.
• Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and now Kyrgyzstan.

For a complete list of all 57 countries and the 65 ports, see our full 240-hour transit visa-free guide.

Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free — 61 Countries

Hainan’s separate island-entry program is one of the most generous in China: up to 30 days, no visa, for tourism, business, visits, and family reunions. It now includes 61 countries, with Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam being the newest additions. Unlike the transit program, there is no requirement to hold an onward ticket to a third country — you simply fly into Hainan from abroad and leave from Hainan when you’re done.

How the 240-Hour Transit Visa-Free Works

The 240-hour policy, sometimes called TWOV (Transit Without Visa), was unified in December 2024 and has been expanded several times since. As of August 20, 2026, these are the rules that matter:

1. Passport: ordinary passport of one of the 57 eligible countries.
2. Onward ticket: a confirmed connecting ticket with a fixed date and itinerary to a third country or region, leaving within 240 hours of entry.
3. Entry port: enter through any of the 65 designated open ports (air, sea, or land).
4. Stay limit: maximum 240 hours (10 days), calculated hour by hour from entry.
5. Area: travel is permitted within the designated regions covered by the policy (see below).
6. Activities: tourism, business, visits, family reunions, and short-term exchanges.

Entry is processed directly at the port — no pre-application, no visa, no fee. Border officers issue a temporary stay permit on the spot. Most travelers report the process takes 10–20 minutes at major airports.

Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free: A Second Door

For Kyrgyz and Vietnamese travelers, the Hainan expansion is arguably the more exciting news, because Hainan requires no transit routing at all:

• Enter via any of Hainan’s open ports (Haikou Meilan International Airport, Sanya Phoenix International Airport, and the island’s cruise/ferry ports).
• Stay up to 30 days anywhere in Hainan province.
• No onward ticket to a third country needed — fly home directly from Hainan.
• Apply for extension under limited circumstances through the local exit-entry administration if needed.

Hainan is China’s tropical island province — think white-sand beaches, rainforest, duty-free shopping, and year-round warmth. Sanya is the beach resort capital, Haikou the historic port city, and the island’s east coast offers quiet surf towns like Wanning and Qionghai. See our Hainan & Sanya travel guide and Qionghai guide for what to do.

Where Can You Travel Within China?

Under the unified 240-hour policy, eligible travelers can move freely within the 24 provincial-level regions covered by the program — a huge footprint that includes:

• North: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei (Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei cluster).
• East: Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Anhui (the Yangtze Delta mega-region).
• South: Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan.
• Central: Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Shaanxi (Xi’an), and more.
• Northeast: Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang.

That means a Vietnamese traveler can land in Guangzhou and spend 10 days hopping between Guangzhou, Guilin, and Zhangjiajie. A Kyrgyz traveler can fly into Beijing, take the high-speed rail to Xi’an and Chengdu, and still have days to spare. For train logistics, our high-speed rail guide covers booking with a foreign passport.

Sample Itineraries for Kyrgyz & Vietnamese Travelers

Step-by-Step Entry at the Airport

7 Mistakes That Get Travelers Rejected

1. Booking the return flight home as the “onward” ticket. The transit program requires a third destination, not your home country. Vietnam→China→Vietnam does not qualify; Vietnam→China→Japan does.
2. Assuming Hainan and transit rules are the same. They are separate programs with separate lists and requirements.
3. Entering outside the 65 designated ports. A random land crossing or non-designated airport may not offer TWOV processing.
4. Planning more than 10 days. If you need longer, apply for a proper visa (or use Hainan’s 30-day program if your trip is island-only).
5. No printed confirmation. Some airlines won’t even let you board without proof of an onward ticket; keep a PDF or printed copy.
6. Traveling outside the permitted regions. A few areas (e.g., Tibet) require separate permits and are not covered by the blanket transit program.
7. Overstaying “just a few hours.” Immigration is strict. Build in buffer time for flight delays.

The Bigger Picture: China’s Visa-Free Landscape in 2026

Today’s announcement is part of a sustained opening-up push. As of mid-August 2026, China’s visa-free architecture for ordinary travelers looks like this:

• 30-day unilateral visa-free entry: citizens of more than 50 countries (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe) can enter for up to 30 days visa-free for tourism and business through the end of 2026.
• 240-hour transit visa-free: 57 countries, 65 ports, 10 days — expanded today with Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam.
• Hainan 30-day visa-free: 61 countries, no transit requirement.
• Mutual visa exemptions: bilateral agreements with dozens of countries, plus new deals signed in 2026.

For a full breakdown of the 30-day program and who qualifies, read our China visa-free policy update (August 2026) and the visa-free entry guide. First-time visitors should also see our first-timer’s guide, and before you land, set up Alipay and WeChat Pay — China is now a nearly cashless travel destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam citizens need a visa for China now?

Not if they qualify for one of the visa-free programs. From August 20, 2026, they can use the 240-hour transit program (transiting to a third country) or the Hainan 30-day program (island destination). For other types of trips — long stays, work, study, or mainland travel beyond transit rules — a visa is still required.

Can I use the 240-hour transit visa-free if I enter and leave from different cities?

Yes, in most cases. Entry and exit can be through different designated ports (for example, enter Guangzhou, exit Shanghai), as long as both are within the 240-hour window and the covered regions. Confirm your exact routing with the airline and immigration if you have any doubt.

Is the Hainan 30-day visa-free usable multiple times?

Each visit is assessed on entry. Frequent back-to-back visits may draw extra scrutiny; it is designed for genuine short visits, not indefinite residency. Exit and re-entry rules follow standard immigration practice.

Does the 240-hour clock start at midnight?

No. It starts the moment you are admitted at the port of entry and runs hour by hour for 240 hours (10 days). If you enter at 4:00 PM on day 1, you must depart by 4:00 PM on day 10.

Do children need their own documents?

Every traveler, including infants, must hold their own valid passport. Children of eligible nationalities qualify under the same programs; carry birth certificates or custody documents if traveling with one parent.

Can I switch from transit to Hainan mid-trip?

No. You choose one program at entry. If you enter under transit rules, you are bound by transit rules (and vice versa for Hainan). Plan your routing before you fly.

Where can I get the official announcement?

The NIA publishes announcements through its official WeChat account and website (n ia.gov.cn). For travelers, the practical summary in this guide matches the official notice; always double-check with your airline or the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate before booking if your situation is unusual.

Related Guides

• China 240-Hour Transit Visa-Free: The Complete Guide
• China Visa-Free Policy Update — August 2026
• Hainan & Sanya Travel Guide
• Your First 72 Hours in China
• Alipay & WeChat Pay Setup Guide