China 240-Hour Transit Visa-Free Guide 2026

10 days, 55 countries, 65 ports 鈥?explore China visa-free on your way to somewhere else

What Is the 240-Hour Transit Visa-Free Policy?

China's 240-hour visa-free transit (officially called "Transit Without Visa" or TWOV) allows eligible foreign travelers to enter and stay in mainland China for up to 10 days without applying for a visa, provided they are transiting to a third country or region.

The policy was dramatically expanded on December 17, 2024, when the National Immigration Administration (NIA) unified and upgraded the previous 72-hour and 144-hour transit programs into a single 240-hour (10-day) policy. Since then, it has been further expanded with new ports added in May 2025 and May 2026.

Key Numbers at a Glance

Which 55 Countries Are Eligible?

The following 55 countries qualify for China's 240-hour transit visa-free policy. If your passport was issued by one of these countries, you can use TWOV 鈥?no visa application needed.

馃嚭馃嚫 North America (3 countries)

馃嚙馃嚪 South America (3 countries)

馃審 Oceania (2 countries)

馃嚡馃嚨 Asia (7 countries)

馃嚜馃嚭 Europe (40 countries)

Where Can You Travel? (24 Provinces & Regions)

Under the 240-hour transit policy, you can travel within 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in mainland China. This covers the vast majority of popular tourist destinations.

鉁?Included Regions

鉂?NOT Included

• Tibet (Tibet Autonomous Region)
• Xinjiang (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region)
• Gansu Province
• Qinghai Province
• Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
• Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
• Jilin Province

65 Entry & Exit Ports

China has 65 ports where you can enter and exit under the 240-hour TWOV policy. This includes airports, seaports, land border crossings, and 鈥?importantly 鈥?rail stations.

Major Airport Hubs

Land & Rail Ports (New in 2025鈥?026)

• West Kowloon Station (Hong Kong) 鈥?High-speed rail entry directly from Hong Kong to mainland China (added 2025)
• Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge 鈥?Bus crossing between Hong Kong/Macau and Zhuhai
• Hengqin Port (Zhuhai) 鈥?Land crossing from Macau
• Mohan Railway Port 鈥?China-Laos railway crossing into Yunnan
• Multiple ports in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Heilongjiang provinces

5 Requirements You Must Meet

To qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit, you must satisfy all five of these conditions simultaneously:

Step-by-Step Entry Process at the Airport

Here's exactly what happens when you arrive in China under the TWOV policy:

How Are the 240 Hours Calculated?

The 240-hour (10-day) period begins at 00:00 (midnight) on the day after you enter China. It ends exactly 240 hours later.

Key points:

• The clock starts at midnight the day after entry 鈥?not from your arrival time
• Early arrivals get bonus time: landing at 6 AM means your day of arrival "doesn't count" toward the 10 days
• Late arrivals (e.g., 11 PM) effectively lose almost a full day
• You must depart by the expiration 鈥?overstaying even by a few hours can result in fines, detention, or a travel ban

Sample Transit Routes That Work 鉁?/h2>

Here are real-world routes that satisfy all TWOV requirements. Use these as templates for planning your own trip.

Route	Why It Works	What You Can See
USA 鈫?Beijing 鈫?Seoul 鈫?USA	Third-country transit via Seoul	Beijing (5 days) + high-speed rail to Xi'an (4 days)
UK 鈫?Shanghai 鈫?Tokyo 鈫?UK	Third-country transit via Tokyo	Shanghai + Hangzhou + Suzhou
Australia 鈫?Chengdu 鈫?Singapore 鈫?Australia	Third-country transit via Singapore	Chengdu pandas + Jiuzhaigou
Canada 鈫?Guangzhou 鈫?Hong Kong 鈫?Canada	Hong Kong counts as a third region	Guangzhou food tour + Shenzhen
Germany 鈫?Beijing 鈫?Shanghai 鈫?Japan	Multi-city China + exit to Japan	Beijing 鈫?Xi'an 鈫?Shanghai by rail
Hong Kong 鈫?Beijing 鈫?Macau	HK to China (entry) + Macau (exit, different region)	Beijing + Tianjin

馃挕 Hong Kong / Macau Loophole: Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan can each serve as the "third country/region" for TWOV purposes. So you can do Hong Kong 鈫?Shanghai 鈫?Macau or Taiwan 鈫?Xiamen 鈫?Hong Kong. However, you cannot enter and exit through the same region 鈥?Hong Kong 鈫?Beijing 鈫?Hong Kong is invalid.

Routes That Will Get You Rejected 鉂?/h2>

Don't make these mistakes. All of the following routes fail the TWOV requirements:

Route	Why It Fails
London 鈫?Beijing 鈫?London	Round-trip to China as destination, not a transit
Hong Kong 鈫?Beijing 鈫?Hong Kong	Same entry and exit region (HK 鈫?HK is not transit)
Paris 鈫?Beijing 鈫?Lhasa (Tibet) 鈫?Nepal	Tibet is excluded from the 24 permitted regions
NYC 鈫?Shanghai 鈫?Kashgar 鈫?Pakistan	Xinjiang is excluded from the 24 permitted regions
Tokyo 鈫?Beijing (no onward ticket)	No confirmed onward ticket to a third country

馃毃 Real Risk: If the airline denies boarding at your departure airport because you don't meet TWOV requirements, you'll be stuck. Always verify your route satisfies all five conditions before heading to the airport. Print your onward ticket confirmation to show at check-in.

240-Hour Transit vs. 30-Day Visa-Free Entry

China now offers two separate visa-free programs. Many travelers are confused about which one applies to them. Here's a clear comparison:

Pro Tips for Transit Travelers

1. Maximize 10 Days with High-Speed Rail

China's bullet train network connects most TWOV-eligible regions. You can do an incredible 10-day route like Beijing (3 days) 鈫?high-speed rail to Xi'an (2 days) 鈫?high-speed rail to Chengdu (3 days) 鈫?fly to Shanghai (2 days) 鈥?all within the permitted zones and without needing a single visa.

2. Book the Onward Ticket First

Always secure your onward ticket before you depart for China. Some airlines won't let you board without seeing it. A cheap one-way flight to nearby Japan, Korea, or Southeast Asia works perfectly. Budget airlines like AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, or Spring Airlines offer affordable options.

3. Set Up Alipay or WeChat Pay Before Arrival

China is nearly cashless. Set up Alipay (link your foreign Visa/Mastercard) or WeChat Pay before you arrive. Many hotels, restaurants, and even street vendors won't accept cash. See our complete payment guide for step-by-step setup.

4. Get a VPN Before Landing

Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and most Western services are blocked in China. Download a reliable VPN (ExpressVPN, Astrill, or LetsVPN) before you arrive. Our eSIM & connectivity guide covers all options.

5. Download Translation Apps

English is rare outside major hotels and tourist sites. Download Google Translate (with offline Chinese downloaded), Baidu Translate, or the Microsoft Translator app. The camera translation feature is invaluable for menus and signs.

6. Register Your Accommodation

By law, all foreigners must register their accommodation within 24 hours of arrival. Most hotels do this automatically. If staying in an Airbnb or with a friend, you must register at the local police station. Keep your registration slip.

7. Keep Your Temporary Entry Permit Safe

The TWOV entry permit slip stapled in your passport is your proof of legal stay. Do not remove it. You'll need it when departing China and if questioned by police. Losing it can cause serious complications.

8. Combine TWOV with the 30-Day Policy

Some travelers combine both policies on a single trip. For example: UK citizen arrives visa-free for 30 days 鈫?travels to South Korea for a week 鈫?returns to China under TWOV for another 10 days. Check with immigration authorities to confirm the latest rules on back-to-back entries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I extend my 240-hour stay?

No. The 240-hour TWOV permit cannot be extended or converted to a regular visa while in China. You must depart within the 10-day window. If you need more time, apply for a tourist visa at a Chinese embassy before your trip.

Can I use TWOV if I arrive by train?

Yes. Several rail ports are now designated for TWOV entry, including the West Kowloon Station from Hong Kong and the Mohan Railway Port from Laos. This is a major improvement from 2024 when only airports qualified.

Does TWOV apply to cruise passengers?

Yes. Several Chinese seaports are designated for TWOV, including Shanghai, Tianjin, and others. If your cruise enters a designated port and you have an onward ticket departing from another designated port within 10 days, you qualify.

What if my onward flight is delayed and I overstay?

Contact the Entry-Exit Administration Bureau immediately if your departure is delayed due to circumstances beyond your control (flight cancellation, weather, etc.). They can grant a short extension. Do not just hope nobody notices 鈥?overstaying without authorization carries penalties.

Can I work or do business under TWOV?

No. TWOV is for tourism and transit only. You cannot work, study, or engage in paid business activities. Casual tourism activities like sightseeing, dining, shopping, and attending cultural events are all fine.

Is TWOV different from the 24-hour direct transit?

Yes. The 24-hour direct transit exemption is available to all nationalities at any Chinese airport 鈥?you simply cannot leave the airport transit area. The 240-hour TWOV lets you leave the airport and explore the country for 10 days, but is limited to 55 specific nationalities.

What's the official phone number for immigration inquiries?

Call the National Immigration Administration hotline: +86-010-12367. This is a 24/7 service with English-speaking staff. You can also visit any local Entry-Exit Administration office in China for in-person assistance.

Do I need travel insurance for TWOV?

Travel insurance is not legally required for TWOV entry, but it is strongly recommended. Healthcare in China for foreigners can be expensive without insurance. Consider policies that cover China specifically, such as World Nomads, Allianz, or Safety Wing.