Qu’est-ce que le transit sans visa de 240 heures ?
Since January 2024, China has expanded its transit sans visa policy to allow eligible foreign nationals to stay up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa — provided they arrive and depart from designated international airports and travel within approved administrative regions. As of 2026, this policy remains fully active and has been extended to 27 airports across 20 provinces/municipalities, including Beijing Capital (PEK), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), Chengdu Tianfu (TFU), Xi’an Xianyang (XIY), and newly added Dalian Zhoushuizi (DLC) and Urumqi Diwopu (URC). Unlike the older 72/144-hour rules, the 240h window gives real flexibility: you can enter on Monday and leave next Wednesday — no need to rush back to the airport on day 10’s exact hour.
Who Qualifies — and Who Doesn’t?
Eligibility hinges on three strict conditions — all must be met:
- You hold a passport from one of the 54 qualifying countries (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and all Schengen states — but non India, Pakistan, or Nigeria as of 2026).
- You have a confirmed onward ticket departing China within 240 hours from the same or another designated airport (inter-transfert aéroports are permitted if both are on the official list).
- You hold valid visas or residence permits for the destination country — e.g., if flying from London to Tokyo via Shanghai, you must show your Japanese visa or residence card at immigration.
Note: Dual citizens must use the passport of a qualifying nationality. Transit via Hong Kong or Macau does non count toward the 240h — entry must be through mainland China’s designated airports. Also, travelers arriving by cruise or land border are non eligible.
Where Can You Go During Your 240h Stay?
The 240h zones de transit sans visa transit allows movement only within specific administrative boundaries tied to your port of entry. These are not arbitrary city limits — they’re defined provincial or municipal zones set by the National Immigration Administration (NIA). For example:
| Aéroport (code IATA) | Permitted Transit Zone (2026) | Villes principales incluses |
|---|---|---|
| PEK / PKX | Municipalité de Pékin + province du Hebei + municipalité de Tianjin | Pékin, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao |
| PVG / SHA | Shanghai Municipality + Jiangsu Province + Zhejiang Province | Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou, Ningbo |
| CAN | Guangdong Province + Fujian Province | Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Xiamen, Fuzhou |
| TFU | Sichuan Province + Chongqing Municipality | Chengdu, Chongqing, Leshan, Mianyang |
| URC | Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region | Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar (domestic flights required) |
Crucially: You ne pouvez pas cross zone boundaries. A traveler entering via PVG cannot take a high-speed train to Wuhan (Hubei Province) — it’s outside the permitted zone. Always verify your itinerary against the latest NIA map (updated quarterly; the 2026 version is live at en.nia.gov.cn). Immigration officers routinely check hotel bookings and transport tickets — so keep digital or printed proof ready.
Step-by-Step: Entering & Staying Legally
At immigration, present: (1) your passport, (2) onward flight e-ticket with departure within 240h, and (3) destination visa/residence permit. Officers will stamp your passport with a “240-Hour Temporary Entry Permit” — not a visa — valid only for the approved zone and duration. You’ll receive a bilingual (English–Chinese) slip with your expiry date/time and permitted area.
While inside China, you must:
- Register your accommodation within 24 hours — hotels do this automatically; hostels and private rentals require you to visit the local police station or use the “Safe Travel” WeChat mini-program (available in English).
- Carry your passport + entry permit at all times — random ID checks occur at metro gates, scenic sites, and à grande vitesse stations.
- Avoid prohibited activities: no paid work, journalism, or long-term study. Volunteering or remote work is tolerated but discouraged without formal approval.
If you overstay — even by 15 minutes — you face fines (¥500/day), possible detention, and future visa restrictions. There is no grace period. If your flight is delayed beyond 240h due to weather or airline fault, go immediately to the airport immigration office with your boarding pass and delay certificate — they may extend your permit at discretion.
Smart Itinerary Planning for 240h
With 10 full days, thoughtful pacing beats cramming. Example: Arriving at PVG on Monday 10:00 AM? Don’t head straight to Hangzhou — take Tuesday to explore Shanghai’s French Concession and Yu Garden, then catch the 07:30 G-train to Hangzhou on Wednesday (1h), spend Thursday–Saturday in West Lake and Longjing tea villages, return Sunday morning, and relax at Shanghai Disney or Jing’an Temple Monday before your 18:20 flight out. That’s 9 days, 20 hours — well within limit.
Transport between cities in your zone is seamless: high-speed rail (book via 12306.cn or Trip.com using your passport number) and intercity buses accept foreign IDs. Metro apps like Shanghai Metro QR ou Alipay Ride Code work instantly — just link a foreign card or top up via eSIM wallet. No need for physical transit cards.
Pour une planification sans stress, le Planificateur de voyage AI helps generate compliant 240h itineraries — input your airport, arrival/departure times, interests (e.g., “tea culture”, “ancient temples”, “street food”), and it auto-selects only cities and transport options within your permitted zone. It also flags registration deadlines and reminds you to save police-station-ready PDFs. Our AI transferts en voiture privée service integrates directly with your plan — no language barriers, no cash haggling, just door-to-door coverage in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and 12 other major transit hubs.
What’s New in 2026?
This year brought three key updates: First, digital entry permits are now issued via WeChat Mini-Program ‘China Immigration’ for 19 airports — scan QR at self-service kiosks and skip the counter line (requires Chinese mobile number or WingPhoenix eSIM). Second, multi-entry 240h permits are piloted for US, UK, and German passport holders transiting twice within 90 days — ideal for round-trip Asia-Europe routes via Shanghai or Beijing. Third, police station registration is now optional if staying in certified “Transit-Friendly Hotels” — look for the gold NIA logo on Booking.com or Ctrip listings (over 1,200 properties nationwide as of Oct 2026).
Bottom line: The 240h visa-free transit isn’t just for layovers — it’s a legitimate short-stay option. With precise zone awareness, timely registration, and smart transport choices, you can experience authentic China — from Sichuan hotpot in Chengdu to Xinjiang naan in Urumqi — without a single visa stamp. Just remember: eligibility is passport-specific, zones are non-negotiable, and timing is absolute.
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