China 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit (Now 240 Hours)
Everything about China's visa-free transit in 2026: the upgraded 240-hour policy, all designated ports, the 10 city guides, and how to qualify — checked against the NIA policy page.
Transit rules vary by nationality and route — check if you qualify in 30 seconds →
From 144 Hours to 240 Hours: What Changed
If you planned a trip around the old "144-hour visa-free transit" — or the even older 72-hour version — here is the current rule: China consolidated the 72h/144h tiers into a single 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy. The entry logic did not change (you still need an onward ticket to a third country or region), but the allowed stay quadrupled from 6 days to 10, and the list of eligible countries and designated ports expanded to 57 nationalities and 65 ports across 24 provincial-level regions.
Practical upshot: itineraries that used to be a squeeze — Great Wall plus a Tianjin side trip, Shanghai plus Hangzhou and Suzhou — now fit comfortably with slack. Cross-province travel is officially allowed, so you can land in one city and fly out of another.
Who Qualifies — and the A→B→C Rule
Qualification rests on two legs. First, nationality: you must hold a passport from one of the 57 eligible countries (the full list is in the checker). Second, genuine transit: your trip must follow the A→B→C pattern — A is where you depart from, B is your Chinese port of entry, and C, the destination on your confirmed onward ticket, must be a third country or region. London → Beijing → Tokyo qualifies; London → Beijing → London does not.
On top of that, bring the usual documents:
- Valid ordinary passport
- Practical tip: passport validity should cover your stay and onward travel — some airline check-in systems apply their own rules, so confirm with your airline if your passport is close to expiry
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country
- Hotel booking or accommodation address
- WeChat Pay activated for cashless payments
- Essential apps downloaded (WeChat, Alipay, Metro, Didi)
240h Transit City Guides
Ten deep-dive guides for the busiest transit gateways — each with entry steps, designated ports, permitted area and itinerary ideas:
The 65 Designated Ports at a Glance
The 240-hour policy applies at 65 designated exit-entry ports across 24 provincial-level regions: 47 airports, 13 seaports, 2 rail crossings (including the West Kowloon link), 2 land ports and 1 ferry terminals. Airports carry most transit traffic — Beijing Capital (PEK), Beijing Daxing (PKX), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) and Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) among them.
The full, filterable port table — all 65 entries with provinces and codes — lives in the 240-hour visa-free checker, which also lists every eligible nationality.
China Visa-Free Transit — FAQ
Is the 144-hour visa-free transit still available in China?
Not on its own. Since the policy upgrade (NIA, 2026-08-20), the former 72-hour and 144-hour transit options have been consolidated into a single 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy. If you search for the "144-hour visa-free transit", you will now be granted 240 hours under the same entry conditions.
Which nationalities qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit?
Nationals of 57 eligible countries across Europe, the Americas, Oceania and Asia qualify, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. Use our 240-hour visa-free checker for the complete and current list.
Can I enter in one city and leave from another?
Yes. The 240-hour policy officially allows cross-province travel: enter through any of the 65 designated ports and depart from any other designated port, as long as you stay within the permitted areas and leave before the 240 hours are up.
Does my onward ticket have rules attached?
Yes — the A→B→C rule. Your onward ticket must go to a third country or region, not back to the country you came from. It must be a confirmed booking with seat and date. For example, London → Beijing → Tokyo qualifies, while London → Beijing → London does not.
Can I leave the airport during transit without a visa?
Yes. After border inspection at a designated port you receive a temporary entry permit that lets you enter China for up to 240 hours. You can leave the airport, travel cross-province, and explore — tourism, business, visits and family reunions are allowed; work, study and news reporting still require a visa.
How is the 10-day (240-hour) limit counted?
Official rules do not specify exactly when the clock starts. Our departure deadline calculator uses the most conservative reading — 240 hours from your entry moment — so any other interpretation only gives you more time. The port officer has the final say; leave yourself a buffer.
Source: National Immigration Administration — Visa-Free Transit Policies, updated 2026-08-20. Data verified 2026-09-06.