Practical guide
China’s 240-hour visa-free transit: confirm the country, onward journey, port and permitted area
The official policy has specific eligibility and route conditions—treat it as a pre-trip check, not a general arrival visa.
The National Immigration Administration’s English policy notice says eligible nationals from 54 countries traveling from China to a third country or region can use a 240-hour visa-free transit stay through named open ports and within allowed areas. It says the policy covers 60 ports in 24 provincial-level areas and permits cross-province travel only within those allowed areas. Eligibility, nationality lists, port participation, onward-travel requirements and immigration interpretation are high-stakes live conditions; verify the current National Immigration Administration guidance and your carrier’s requirements before booking.
A clear next step
- Confirm your passport nationality is on the current eligibility list and that your itinerary continues from China to a third country or region.
- Check that your exact arrival and departure ports are currently included in the transit-policy scheme.
- Confirm your intended destinations remain within the currently allowed areas before travel and recheck with official immigration guidance.
Sources & verification
Last verified
- China’s visa-free transit policy fully relaxed and optimized | National Immigration Administration via State Council 240-hour maximum stay for the stated visa-free-transit policy · 54-country eligibility and third-country-or-region onward-travel condition · 60 ports across 24 provincial-level areas · allowed-area and cross-province-travel limitations
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