China’s 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: 55 Countries, 65 Ports and 10-Day Rules

China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy currently allows eligible travelers from 55 countries to enter through 65 designated ports and remain in permitted areas for up to 10 days without applying for a Chinese visa in advance.

The most important condition is easy to miss: this is a transit policy, not unconditional visa-free entry.

You must travel from one country or region, pass through the Chinese mainland, and continue to a different country or region. You also need a confirmed onward ticket or other accepted proof of departure within the permitted period.

China’s National Immigration Administration, or NIA, confirmed the current 55-country and 65-port arrangement in measures that took effect on November 5, 2025. A January 2026 government update continued to report that the policy covers 55 eligible countries.

China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Key Facts

Immigration authorities process the temporary-entry application at the port. Meeting the general conditions does not guarantee admission, as the final decision is made during border inspection.

What Changed Under the 240-Hour Policy?

On December 17, 2024, China extended its previous 72-hour and 144-hour visa-free transit arrangements to a maximum of 240 hours.

The update also expanded the number of participating ports and allowed broader travel between permitted areas. At that time, the policy covered 54 countries, 60 ports and 24 provincial-level regions.

Indonesia was added on June 12, 2025, bringing the number of eligible countries to 55.

Five additional ports in Guangdong were added on November 5, 2025, increasing the total number of participating ports from 60 to 65.

The current policy is therefore the result of several separate updates:

• December 17, 2024: The permitted stay was extended from 72 or 144 hours to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries.
• June 12, 2025: Indonesia became the 55th eligible country.
• November 5, 2025: Five additional ports were added, bringing the total to 65.

The Third-Country or Region Requirement

To use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, your itinerary must show that you are passing through the Chinese mainland on the way to another destination.

The required journey generally follows this structure:

Country or region A → Chinese mainland → Country or region B

Your onward destination must be different from the country or region from which you entered the Chinese mainland.

Examples of potentially eligible itineraries include:

• Tokyo → Shanghai → Paris
• New York → Beijing → Seoul
• Sydney → Guangzhou → London

The following itineraries would not normally meet the third-destination requirement:

• London → Shanghai → London
• Singapore → Guangzhou → Singapore
• Tokyo → Beijing → Tokyo

A return journey to the same country is generally not considered transit to a third destination.

If you book separate tickets instead of one connecting itinerary, make sure you can present confirmed proof of your onward travel. Carry printed or offline copies of your reservations in case they are requested by the airline or immigration authorities.

Who Can Use the Policy?

Travelers generally need to meet all of the following conditions:

• Be a citizen of one of the 55 eligible countries.
• Hold a valid international travel document with at least three months of validity.
• Meet the entry requirements for the next country or region.
• Hold a confirmed onward ticket or other accepted proof of departure.
• Leave the Chinese mainland within the permitted 240-hour period.
• Enter through one of the 65 designated ports.
• Remain within the officially permitted areas.
• Complete the required arrival information.
• Cooperate with immigration inspection at the port.

Travelers covered by a separate unilateral visa-free policy or mutual visa-exemption agreement may be processed under that arrangement instead.

Full List of 55 Eligible Countries

The current list published by China’s National Immigration Administration includes the following countries.

Europe — 40 Countries

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, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

Americas — 6 Countries

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico and the United States.

Oceania — 2 Countries

Australia and New Zealand.

Asia — 7 Countries

Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

Indonesia became the 55th eligible country on June 12, 2025.

Where Does the Policy Apply?

The policy operates through 65 designated entry and exit ports across 24 provincial-level regions:

• Beijing
• Tianjin
• Hebei
• Shanxi
• Liaoning
• Heilongjiang
• Shanghai
• Jiangsu
• Zhejiang
• Anhui
• Fujian
• Jiangxi
• Shandong
• Henan
• Hubei
• Hunan
• Guangdong
• Guangxi
• Hainan
• Chongqing
• Sichuan
• Guizhou
• Yunnan
• Shaanxi

The list includes international airports as well as selected railway, road, sea and passenger ports.

However, inclusion in the 24-region list does not necessarily mean that every part of each province is open to visa-free transit travelers.

Can You Travel Across Provinces?

Yes. One of the most important changes introduced with the 240-hour policy is that eligible travelers may make cross-province trips within the officially permitted areas.

This makes itineraries involving more than one city or province possible. For example, a traveler entering through Shanghai may be able to visit destinations in Jiangsu and Zhejiang before leaving through another eligible port.

However, cross-province travel is not the same as unrestricted travel throughout China.

Some participating provinces allow travel throughout the entire province, while others limit travelers to specified cities or administrative areas. The official December 2024 announcement provided examples such as:

• Anhui: Entire province
• Hainan: Entire province
• Guizhou: Entire province
• Shanxi: Taiyuan and Datong
• Jiangxi: Nanchang and Jingdezhen
• Fujian: Entire province
• Hubei: Entire province
• Shaanxi: Entire province
• Guangxi: Twelve specified cities, including Nanning, Guilin, Beihai and Liuzhou

Travelers should check the permitted area connected to their arrival port before booking domestic flights, trains or hotels.

Can You Enter Through One City and Leave Through Another?

In many cases, yes.

Eligible travelers may enter through one participating port and leave through another, provided that:

• Both ports participate in the 240-hour policy.
• The itinerary remains within the permitted travel areas.
• The onward journey leads to a third country or region.
• Departure takes place within the approved stay period.

For example, an itinerary that enters through Shanghai, visits destinations in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and leaves through another participating port in the same permitted region may qualify.

A longer itinerary involving several provinces should be checked carefully against the current official port and permitted-area list. Do not assume that a destination is allowed simply because its province appears among the 24 participating regions.

How Are the 240 Hours Calculated?

According to the current NIA conditions, the 240-hour stay is calculated from 00:00 on the day following the day of entry.

For example, if immigration approves your temporary entry on Monday afternoon, the official calculation normally begins at 00:00 on Tuesday.

Travelers should check the date recorded during immigration processing rather than relying only on their flight’s arrival time.

Your confirmed departure must fall within the period granted by immigration authorities.

What Activities Are Allowed?

Within the permitted area and approved stay period, travelers may generally participate in:

• Tourism
• Business activities
• Exchange visits
• Visits to friends
• Family visits

The policy does not authorize employment, long-term study or news reporting that requires prior approval.

Travelers planning to work, study, conduct journalistic activities or take part in another regulated activity must obtain the appropriate visa or authorization before arriving in China.

What Should You Prepare Before Flying?

Keep the following documents available during airline check-in and immigration inspection:

1. A valid passport or other accepted international travel document.
2. Your confirmed ticket to China.
3. A confirmed onward ticket to the third country or region.
4. Any visa or entry permission required by the onward destination.
5. Hotel reservations or the address where you will stay.
6. A simple itinerary showing the cities you intend to visit.
7. Offline or printed copies of your tickets and reservations.

Tell the airline at check-in that you plan to use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy. Airline staff may need to verify your nationality, onward ticket and eligibility before allowing you to board.

Official Sources Used

• National Immigration Administration — Announcement on Implementing 10 New Measures to Support the Expansion of Opening-up and Serve High-quality Development, November 3, 2025.
• National Immigration Administration — China Extends 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy Coverage to 55 Countries, June 13, 2025.
• National Immigration Administration — China’s Visa-Free Transit Policy Fully Relaxed and Optimized, December 19, 2024.
• The State Council of the People’s Republic of China — Extended Visa-Free Transit Program Fuels Surge in China’s Inbound Visitors, January 8, 2026.