What Is the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy?
Effective since January 2024 and fully operational across 26 Chinese cities as of 2026, China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy allows eligible foreign nationals to enter mainland China without a visa for up to 10 days — provided they arrive and depart via designated international airports or seaports on separate international flights or cruises. This is not a tourist visa exemption, but a transit facilitation measure: you must hold confirmed onward tickets to a third country or region (not the country you arrived from), with departure scheduled no later than 240 hours (10 full days) after entry.
The policy replaces earlier 72- and 144-hour versions and now covers more nationalities and entry points — making it the most accessible entry pathway for short-stay travelers in 2026. Crucially, unlike the older rules, the 240h window starts at entry stamp time, not midnight, and includes weekends and holidays — no extensions are granted.
Who Qualifies — and Which Countries Are Included?
As of September 2026, citizens of 54 countries are eligible, including all Schengen Area members, the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, and Brazil — plus select others like Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and the UAE. A full list is published by China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) and updated quarterly; WingPhoenix cross-checks this monthly to ensure accuracy for our users.
Eligibility requires three conditions:
- You hold a valid passport issued by one of the 54 qualifying countries (minimum 3 months’ validity beyond your planned departure date);
- You have confirmed onward travel to a third country or region (e.g., flying from London → Shanghai → Tokyo is eligible; London → Shanghai → London is not);
- You enter and exit through one of the 26 officially designated ports — all of which support the 240h rule as of 2026.
Where Can You Enter? The 26 Approved Ports in 2026
Unlike earlier iterations, the 240h policy now applies uniformly across all 26 designated entry/exit points — no regional restrictions apply. These include major gateways like Beijing Capital (PEK), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), Chengdu Tianfu (TFU), Xi’an Xianyang (XIY), and Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX), plus emerging hubs such as Dalian Zhoushuizi (DLC), Qingdao Jiaodong (TAO), and Xiamen Gaoqi (XMN). Notably, Hainan Island remains under its own separate 30-day visa-free policy for 59 nationalities — do not confuse the two.
For clarity, here’s the complete list of 2026-approved ports:
| City | Airport/Port Code | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | PEK, PKX | Airport | Both Capital & Daxing accepted |
| Shanghai | PVG, SHA | Airport | Pudong & Hongqiao both qualify |
| Guangzhou | CAN | Airport | Includes cruise terminal at Nansha |
| Chengdu | TFU | Airport | Tianfu only (CTU no longer accepted) |
| Xiamen | XMN | Airport | Also accepts ferry arrivals from Taiwan |
| Qingdao | TAO | Airport | Newly added in March 2026 |
| Dalian | DLC | Airport + Seaport | Yacht arrivals permitted under pilot program |
| Hangzhou | HGH | Airport | Expanded to include charter flights (2026 update) |
Note: Entry via land borders (e.g., from Vietnam, Laos, or Russia) is not covered — only air and sea arrivals at these 26 points. Also, if you’re transiting through two Chinese cities (e.g., PEK → PVG → Tokyo), you may still qualify — but you must obtain the 240h permit upon first entry and present both onward tickets to immigration.
How to Apply — It’s On Arrival (No Pre-Application)
There is no online form, no fee, and no pre-approval. Eligible travelers simply proceed to the special transit counter (clearly marked in English) upon arrival at any of the 26 ports. Bring:
- Your valid passport;
- Printed or digital copy of your confirmed outbound ticket (must show third-country destination and date within 240h);
- Proof of accommodation for your entire stay (hotel booking, Airbnb confirmation, or invitation letter from a registered host);
- Return boarding pass or e-ticket — note that some airports (e.g., PVG, CAN) now scan QR codes directly from airline apps.
Immigration officers will verify eligibility, stamp your passport with a “240-Hour Transit Permit”, and issue a small bilingual slip listing your permitted stay period and departure deadline. Keep this slip — you’ll need to surrender it upon exit.
Common reasons for denial include: incomplete onward documentation, mismatched names between passport/tickets, or attempting to re-enter China within 90 days of a prior 240h stay (a soft NIA guideline enforced at discretion).
What You Can (and Can’t) Do on a 240h Permit
You may travel freely within any province or municipality — no geographical restrictions apply. That means entering in Beijing and touring Xi’an, Chengdu, and Guilin is fully permitted — provided you depart from one of the 26 designated ports before the 240h clock expires. You may also use high-speed rail, domestic flights, charter cars, and metro systems without additional permits.
However, key limitations remain:
- You cannot work, study, or conduct paid journalism — this is strictly for tourism, family visits, or business meetings;
- You may not extend or convert the 240h permit into a visa — overstay penalties start at ¥500/day;
- You must depart from an approved port — exiting via land border or unlisted airport voids the permit and triggers overstay procedures;
- If you fly into PEK but leave from CAN, confirm both airports appear on your outbound ticket — some airlines require code-share verification.
Pro tip: Use WingPhoenix’s AI trip planner to auto-generate compliant 240h itineraries — it validates port combinations, checks flight windows, and flags potential bottlenecks (e.g., tight rail connections between cities) before you book. Our system syncs real-time flight data from CAAC and integrates with 2026’s updated NIA eligibility database.
Planning Your 240h Trip? Start Here
The 240h visa-free transit is ideal for multi-city explorers — think: 3 days in Shanghai, 2 in Hangzhou, 2 in Nanjing, and 3 in Beijing — all within one seamless entry. But timing matters: factor in airport transfers (PVG to downtown Shanghai takes ~1 hr by Maglev), domestic check-in windows (2+ hrs for flights), and weekend crowds at major sites like the Forbidden City or West Lake.
Remember: While the policy is generous, it’s not automatic. Always double-check your nationality’s status on the official NIA portal within 72 hours before departure, and carry physical backups of all documents. For stress-free execution — especially if combining transit with charter car bookings, eSIM activation, or same-day metro card top-ups — WingPhoenix offers integrated 240h-ready packages with verified local partners.
Ready to build your compliant, flexible, and fully booked 240-hour China itinerary? Start planning with WingPhoenix’s AI trip planner now.