Complete guide to China's 10-day visa-free transit policy. Learn about eligible ports, route requirements, time calculation, and restrictions for layovers in mainland China.
China's 240-hour visa-free transit allows travelers from most countries to stay in mainland China for up to 10 days without a visa, as long as they are passing through to a third country or region. You must enter and exit through one of 24 designated ports and hold a confirmed onward ticket.
The 240-hour transit policy covers almost all nationalities, including those who normally need a visa to enter China. This makes it one of the most flexible transit options in the world.
UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland
USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina
Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Philippines
Tip: Some passports also qualify for 30-day visa-free entry to China, which may be simpler if China is your final destination. See the full visa-free countries list, including UK citizens.
You must enter and exit mainland China through one of these designated ports to use the 240-hour visa-free transit.
The most important rule is that you must be transiting to a third country or region. You cannot return directly to where you came from.
UK and Japan are different countries
You cannot return directly to your origin country
Hong Kong is considered a separate region for transit purposes
Origin and destination must be different countries/regions
The clock does not start when your plane lands. It starts at midnight on the day after your arrival, giving you up to 10 full calendar days.
You land at 2:00 PM on January 1st
Midnight (00:00) on January 2nd
11:59 PM on January 11th (10 full days)
China's 240-hour visa-free transit allows travelers from most countries to pass through mainland China without a visa for up to 240 hours (10 days). You must have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country (different from your origin), enter and exit through one of 24 designated ports, and not overstay the time limit.
Almost all countries are eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, most European countries, and many Asian, African, and South American countries. The policy is broader than the 30-day visa-free entry, covering countries that normally require a visa for China.
The 24 eligible ports are: Beijing (PEK/PKX), Shanghai (PVG/SHA), Guangzhou (CAN), Shenzhen (SZX), Chengdu (TFU), Hangzhou (HGH), Nanjing (NKG), Xiamen (XMN), Qingdao (TAO), Dalian (DLC), Tianjin (TSN), Xi'an (XIY), Chongqing (CKG), Kunming (KMG), Wuhan (WUH), Changsha (CSX), Fuzhou (FOC), Guilin (KWL), Harbin (HRB), Shenyang (SHE), Urumqi (URC), Zhengzhou (CGO), Ningbo (NGB), and Jinan (TNA).
The route requirement means your journey must be: Country A → China → Country B, where Country A and Country B are different countries or regions. For example, USA → China → Japan qualifies, but USA → China → USA does NOT qualify. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are considered separate regions for this purpose.
The 240 hours start from midnight (00:00) on the day AFTER your arrival. For example, if you arrive at 2:00 PM on January 1st, the countdown starts at midnight on January 2nd, giving you until 11:59 PM on January 11th (10 full days). You must depart mainland China before the 240-hour limit expires.
Yes, you can leave the airport and travel within the eligible administrative area of the port city. Some ports allow travel within the entire province or municipality. For example, Shanghai allows travel within the entire Shanghai municipality. Check the specific rules for your entry port before traveling.
No advance application is needed. Upon arrival at an eligible port, proceed to the special 240-hour transit lane at immigration. Present your passport, confirmed onward ticket to a third country, and completed arrival card. The immigration officer will stamp your passport with the transit permit showing your deadline.
Overstaying the 240-hour transit period is a serious violation of Chinese immigration law. It can result in fines (typically RMB 500 per day), detention, deportation at your own expense, and being placed on a blacklist that prevents future entry to China. Always depart before the deadline shown on your transit stamp.
Use our free calculator to see if you qualify for visa-free entry or 240-hour transit.