China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: 10 Days in China Without a Visa (2026 Guide)
China's 240-hour visa-free transit lets citizens of 57 countries — including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, most of Europe, Japan, South Korea and Singapore — stop over in China for up to 10 days (240 hours) without applying for a visa, as long as you are travelling onward to a third country or region and enter through one of the eligible ports. The clock starts at 00:00 the day after you arrive, and you can stay within the designated areas of the permitted provinces.
240-hour transit at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| How long | Up to 240 hours (10 days) |
| When the clock starts | 00:00 on the day after you enter — your arrival day doesn't count |
| Who qualifies | Passport holders of 57 eligible countries |
| Key condition | A confirmed onward ticket (date + seat) to a third country or region |
| Where you can enter | 57 countries, 65 ports (NIA, 20 Aug 2026) |
| Where you can travel | Within the designated stay areas of the permitted provinces — check the NIA list for your port. |
| Cost | Free — no visa fee; you apply at the border on arrival and officers decide whether to grant it |
Policy details on this page are verified against the National Immigration Administration and China's State Council and are current as of August 2026. The scheme keeps expanding, so confirm your specific port before you fly.
What is China's 240-hour visa-free transit?
It's a transit exemption: if you're flying (or sailing, or taking the train) from one country to another via China, you can leave the airport and spend up to 10 days in the country without a visa. It replaced the older 72-hour and 144-hour transit schemes at most ports in December 2024, and coverage has kept expanding — Indonesia became the 55th eligible nationality in June 2025, and the number of open ports grew from 60 to 65 in November 2025. Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan joined on 20 August 2026, bringing the list to 57 countries.
This is different from applying for a visa in advance. If you'd rather compare full visa options — including the 30-day visa-free entry many nationalities now qualify for, and standard tourist (L) visas — start with our China visa guide by country.
Who is eligible?
As of August 2026, citizens of 57 countries can use 240-hour visa-free transit. They include:
- North America: United States, Canada, Mexico
- Europe: the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and most other Schengen and non-Schengen states, plus Russia
- Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, Australia, New Zealand
- Middle East & South America: the UAE, Qatar, Brazil, Argentina, Chile
Check your own country's exact entry rules on its dedicated page — for example United States, United Kingdom, Canada or Australia. Guides are also available for France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Singapore.
The one rule people get wrong: you must be going to a third country
This is the single most common reason travellers are turned away. Visa-free transit is for transit — you must arrive from Country A and depart to Country C, where C is different from A. A round trip (home → China → home) does not qualify, and neither does entering China as your final destination.
You'll need to show a connecting ticket with a confirmed date and seat to that third country or region, booked before you arrive — Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as separate "regions" for this purpose. Immigration officers check this at the border, so have it ready.
A handy option if you enter via Shenzhen or Guangzhou: because Hong Kong counts as a separate region, an onward ticket to Hong Kong satisfies the rule — and the high-speed train from Shenzhen to Hong Kong West Kowloon takes about 15 minutes, making it one of the easiest onward journeys to arrange.
How the 10 days are counted
The 240 hours begin at 00:00 on the day after you enter. So if you land on a Monday afternoon, Monday is effectively free and your 10-day count runs from Tuesday at midnight. That quirk gives you a little extra time — plenty to land, rest, and still have a full working week on the ground.
Where you can enter — and where you can go
You can enter through any of 65 designated ports across 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and — unlike the old rules — you can now travel between the eligible regions rather than being confined to your entry city. Major gateways include:
| Entry city | Region | SinoCareLink medical hub? |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Shanghai | Yes — Ruijin & Yueyang hospitals |
| Beijing | Beijing | Yes — leading tier-3A hospitals |
| Shenzhen / Guangzhou | Guangdong | Yes — Taikang Qianhai, HKU-SZH |
| Hangzhou | Zhejiang | Reachable from Shanghai |
| Chengdu | Sichuan | — |
| Xi'an | Shaanxi | — |
Because you can combine neighbouring eligible regions, the practical travel clusters are:
- Yangtze River Delta — enter at Shanghai or Hangzhou, then move across Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
- Greater Bay Area — enter at Shenzhen or Guangzhou (Guangdong), with Hong Kong a short hop away for your onward leg.
- Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei — enter at Beijing, with Tianjin and Hebei within reach.
- Chengdu-Chongqing — enter at Chengdu (Sichuan) or Chongqing for western China.
A few regions have a narrower designated scope than others, so check the official National Immigration Administration port list for the exact boundaries of your route before you book.
Can you get medical care during visa-free transit?
The NIA lists tourism, business, visits and family visits as permitted activities for 240-hour visa-free transit; medical treatment is not on that list. If healthcare is part of your trip, check the right visa route for your passport with the Chinese embassy or consulate before you travel. Border officers decide on entry.
When transit is not the right route
Some treatments don't fit a stopover, and some travellers aren't really transiting. Please note:
- Multi-visit treatment — dental implants, All-on-4 and orthodontics need two trips months apart, so they can't be completed inside one transit window. Use the first stopover for the consultation and scan, then return on a proper visa for treatment.
- If China is your destination — coming specifically for treatment and flying home again is a round trip, which does not qualify for transit. Citizens of some countries can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit. Medical treatment is not on that list, so check the right entry route for your passport with the Chinese embassy or consulate before you book. Our visa guide shows which applies to you.
Not sure which route fits your plans? Tell us your passport, your dates and what you'd like done, and we'll map out the simplest legal way to do it — get in touch.
240-hour vs 144-hour vs 72-hour transit
You may still see references to 72-hour and 144-hour visa-free transit. As of December 2024 the 240-hour policy replaced both at the participating ports, so at eligible entry points you now get the full 10 days rather than 3 or 6. A handful of ports and rules can still differ, which is why it's worth confirming your specific airport before you fly.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I stay in China without a visa on 240-hour transit?
Up to 240 hours — 10 days — counted from 00:00 the day after you enter. Your arrival day itself isn't counted, so you effectively get a little extra.
Do I really need an onward ticket to a third country?
Yes. You must hold a confirmed onward ticket (with a fixed date and seat) to a country or region different from where you came from, and it must be booked before you arrive. This is the number-one reason travellers are refused, so have it ready at immigration.
Can I travel between cities during visa-free transit?
Yes. Under the current rules you can move across the eligible provinces and regions, not just stay in your entry city — though a few areas limit you to specific cities, so check the port list for your route.
Can I see a doctor or get a health check-up during a China stopover?
The NIA lists tourism, business, visits and family visits as permitted activities for 240-hour visa-free transit; medical treatment is not on that list. If healthcare is part of your trip, check the right visa route for your passport with the Chinese embassy or consulate before you travel. Border officers decide on entry.
Do I need to apply in advance, or is it granted on arrival?
You apply at the border on arrival; officers decide whether to grant it. There's no advance application and no fee. Just have your passport and your confirmed onward ticket ready.
Can I use 240-hour visa-free transit more than once a year?
The NIA does not publish an annual limit, but each entry is assessed by border officers.
Do Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan count as a third region for my onward ticket?
Yes. An onward ticket to Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan satisfies the third-region requirement, since they are treated as separate regions for the policy.
Do I need to register with the police after I arrive?
Yes, within 24 hours of arrival. If you stay in a hotel this is usually handled automatically at check-in; if you stay privately, register at the local police station.
How many months of passport validity do I need?
You need a valid passport from an eligible country. Allow at least six months' validity to be safe, and check any port-specific requirements before you fly.
Which cities can I fly into?
65 ports across 24 provinces and regions, including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Xi'an. Check the official National Immigration Administration list for the full, current set.
What if China is my final destination, not a transit stop?
Then 240-hour transit doesn't apply — it's only for onward travel to a third country. Many nationalities now qualify for 30-day visa-free entry for tourism, or you can apply for a tourist visa. See our China visa guide by country.
Planning a China stopover? Let us fit in your health check-up or dental consult →