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China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: The Complete Guide (2025)

China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy lets citizens of 55 countries stay up to 10 days without a visa. If you’re flying through China, this turns a boring layover into a free mini-vacation in cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, or Chengdu.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Who qualifies?

Citizens of these 55 countries are eligible:

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

Europe: All EU countries, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Ukraine, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Belarus, Russia

Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand

Middle East: UAE, Qatar

You can check your eligibility instantly with our free tool.

How does it work?

The policy is called “transit” for a reason. You must be passing through China, meaning:

  1. You arrive from Country A
  2. You stay in China up to 240 hours (10 days)
  3. You depart to Country B (which must be different from Country A)

For example: flying from the US to Japan with a stopover in Shanghai. The US is Country A, Japan is Country B. That works.

Flying from Japan to China and back to Japan does not work. Country A and Country B must be different.

The 240-hour clock

Your 240 hours start at midnight after your arrival. So if you arrive at 11pm on Monday, your clock starts at midnight Tuesday, and you have until midnight the following Thursday (10 full days).

This is generous. Most travelers have plenty of time to explore a city or two.

Where can you go?

This depends on your entry port. China is divided into transit visa zones:

  • Beijing zone (Jing-Jin-Ji): Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei
  • Shanghai zone (Yangtze Delta): Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang
  • Guangdong zone (Greater Bay Area): Guangzhou, Shenzhen, etc.
  • National access ports: Some ports (like Chengdu or Xi’an) allow travel across all of mainland China

Use our eligibility checker to see exactly which provinces you can visit based on your entry and exit ports.

Which airports work?

Major international airports that support the 240-hour transit policy include:

  • Beijing Capital (PEK) and Beijing Daxing (PKX)
  • Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA)
  • Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN)
  • Chengdu Tianfu (TFU)
  • Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX)
  • Xi’an Xianyang (XIY)
  • Hangzhou Xiaoshan (HGH)
  • Kunming Changshui (KMG)

Plus many more. Rail crossings and sea ports are also supported at select locations.

What do you need at immigration?

When you arrive, head to the regular immigration counters (not the Chinese citizen lanes). You’ll need:

  1. Your passport (valid for at least 6 months)
  2. Confirmed onward ticket departing China within 240 hours to a different country
  3. Arrival/departure card (handed out on the plane or available at immigration)

That’s it. No visa application, no fee, no appointment.

Practical tips for your stopover

Payments

China runs almost entirely on mobile payments (WeChat Pay, Alipay). Cash is still accepted but many small vendors are digital-only. Set up your payment options before you arrive.

Phone & Internet

You’ll need a way to get online. Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and most Western apps are blocked in China. Get an eSIM or local SIM before landing.

Essential apps

Download WeChat, Alipay, and a few other essential apps before your trip. WeChat is how China communicates, and you’ll need Alipay or WeChat Pay for most purchases.

Common mistakes to avoid

  1. Booking a round trip to the same country. You must exit to a different country than you arrived from.
  2. Not having a confirmed onward ticket. Airlines may not let you board, and immigration will ask for it.
  3. Arriving without any way to pay. China is nearly cashless. Set up mobile payments in advance.
  4. Assuming you can go anywhere. Some entry ports restrict you to specific provinces. Check before you plan a cross-country itinerary.
  5. Forgetting about the Great Firewall. Download a VPN before you arrive if you need access to Google, social media, or messaging apps.

Is it worth it?

Absolutely. A 3-5 day stopover in Shanghai or Beijing costs very little extra on most transpacific itineraries and gives you a taste of one of the world’s most fascinating countries. Hotels are affordable, food is incredible, and the high-speed rail system makes day trips easy.

The 240-hour transit policy removed the biggest barrier (the visa). Now you just need to plan the fun part.

Check if you’re eligible now and start planning your China stopover.