China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Explained (2026 Guide for US, UK & Canadian Travelers)
October 2026
Verified on October 29, 2026 against the National Immigration Administration (NIA), Chinese embassy notices and GOV.UK. Entry rules change often. Always re-check the official sources linked below before you book, and again before you fly.
If you've looked into a trip to China, you've probably heard that many travelers can now visit for up to 10 days without a visa. That's true, but there's one catch that trips up a lot of first-timers: it's a transit policy. You have to be on your way somewhere else.
This guide covers who qualifies, how the "onward ticket" rule works, where you can enter and travel, and how it fits with China's separate 30-day visa-free entry for some countries, including the UK. Think of it as the explanation a friend who has done the paperwork would give you.
What is China's 240-hour visa-free transit?
According to the National Immigration Administration's policy interpretation, nationals of 57 eligible countries who are transiting through China to a third country or region can enter without a visa through any of 65 designated ports in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. They can stay in the permitted areas for no more than 10 days (240 hours).
In December 2024 the window was extended from the old 72-hour and 144-hour versions to 240 hours, and 21 new ports were added (NIA announcement). Most recently, the NIA added Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam on August 20, 2026, which brought the list to 57 countries (NIA Announcement No. 4 of 2026).
During your stay you can do tourism, business, visits and family visits. Work, study and news reporting still need the proper visa.
Who qualifies?
Eligible nationalities
The NIA list (as of August 20, 2026) includes:
- North America: United States, Canada
- Europe (40): including the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Nordic countries, Poland, Russia and others
- Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
- South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico
- Asia: Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, UAE, Vietnam
Check the full official list for your exact passport.
The documents you need
Based on the NIA rules and a Tianjin government summary of the conditions, you'll need:
- An ordinary passport from an eligible country. The Tianjin summary says it should be valid for at least 3 months. Airlines and other governments may ask for more: GOV.UK tells British travelers to have at least 6 months' validity and 2 blank pages.
- A confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, with a fixed date and seat, leaving within 240 hours.
- Anything your next destination requires, such as a visa for that country.
- A completed arrival card for temporary-entry foreigners, plus your cooperation with the immigration inspection.
The "third country" rule (read this twice)
This is where most people go wrong. Your trip has to look like Country A → China → Country B, and Country B has to be somewhere other than the place you came from.
| Itinerary | Qualifies? |
|---|---|
| New York → Beijing → (10 days) → Seoul | ✅ Yes |
| London → Shanghai → (8 days) → Hong Kong | ✅ Generally yes, because Hong Kong and Macao count as separate regions for this policy. Confirm with your airline and the official sources |
| Los Angeles → Shanghai → Tokyo → Los Angeles | ✅ Yes, the China leg ends in a third country |
| Chicago → Beijing → Chicago | ❌ No, that's a round trip |
Airline staff check this at check-in. If your ticket doesn't show an onward trip to a third country, they may refuse to board you.
How the 10 days are counted
The stay period is counted from 00:00 on the day after you arrive (Tianjin government summary). So if you land at 3 pm on a Monday, the clock starts at midnight that night. Even so, plan your departure with a comfortable margin. Overstaying is a serious matter in China.
Where can you enter, and where can you go?
Eligible ports
You can enter through any of the 65 designated ports. They are mostly major international airports, plus some sea and rail ports. The ones first-time visitors use most include:
- Beijing (Capital and Daxing airports)
- Shanghai (Pudong and Hongqiao airports)
- Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao'an
- Chengdu Shuangliu and Tianfu
- Xi'an Xianyang
- Changsha Huanghua and Zhangjiajie Hehua
- Chongqing Jiangbei, Kunming Changshui
Port details come from the NIA and official port lists published by local governments. Always check that your arrival airport is on the current NIA list.
Permitted areas and cross-province travel
Since December 2024, travelers can move between provinces inside the permitted areas of all 24 provinces (NIA). That's what makes multi-city trips possible. For example:
- Beijing, Shaanxi (Xi'an) and Shanghai are all permitted areas, so a Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai 8-day trip fits the policy.
- In Sichuan, the permitted area covers 11 cities, including Chengdu, Leshan and Ya'an. It does not cover the whole province. Hunan is covered province-wide, Zhangjiajie included. That's why our 10-day Pandas & Peaks trip is planned around those boundaries.
Some provinces are only partly covered. Shanxi, for example, is limited to Taiyuan and Datong. If you plan to go anywhere off the main routes, check the list.
You can usually leave from a different eligible port than the one you arrived at, but confirm this for your specific route.
240-hour transit vs. 30-day visa-free entry
There's a second, separate policy that matters a lot for UK travelers.
UK & Canadian travelers: you may not need the transit rule at all
From February 17, 2026 to December 31, 2026, holders of ordinary UK and Canadian passports can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit (Chinese Embassy in the UK notice; GOV.UK). You don't need an onward ticket to a third country under this policy, so a simple London–Beijing–London round trip works. GOV.UK notes that it applies to passports where the nationality is listed as "British citizen."
The same 30-day policy covers many European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and others (NIA unilateral visa-exemption list). Most of these countries' waivers currently run until December 31, 2026. If you're traveling in 2027, check whether they've been extended.
US travelers: the transit rule is your visa-free option
The United States is not on the 30-day unilateral list (as of our verification date). For Americans, the realistic choices are:
- 240-hour transit: up to 10 days with an onward ticket to a third country or region, or
- A tourist (L) visa, if you want a round trip, a longer stay, or places outside the permitted areas. See the Chinese Embassy in the US for how to apply.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Booking a round trip. US–China–US doesn't qualify for transit.
- Leaving the permitted area. Tibet and parts of some provinces aren't covered, so check before adding side trips.
- Overstaying by a day. Count from midnight after arrival and leave yourself buffer time.
- Forgetting to tell the airline. Have your onward booking printed or ready on your phone at check-in.
- Assuming the rules haven't changed. Countries and ports have been added several times since 2024. Re-check the NIA notices page close to departure.
- Skipping accommodation registration. Foreigners must register where they stay. Hotels do this for you at check-in. If you stay in a private home, ask your host about registering with the local police.
FAQ
Can I use 240-hour visa-free transit for a round trip?
No. You need an onward ticket to a third country or region, not back to where you started.
Does Hong Kong count as a "third region"?
For this policy, Hong Kong and Macao are treated as separate regions from mainland China, so flying on from the mainland to Hong Kong is commonly used. Confirm with your airline and the official sources before booking.
Can I visit several cities?
Yes. You can travel across provinces as long as you stay inside the permitted areas of the 24 covered provinces.
Do I apply in advance?
No pre-application is needed. You apply to immigration on arrival at an eligible port by showing your passport and onward ticket and filling in the arrival card. Tell your airline at check-in that you're using visa-free transit.
When does the 10-day clock start?
At 00:00 on the day after you enter.
I'm British. Which policy should I use?
For trips until December 31, 2026, the 30-day visa-free entry is usually simpler because it doesn't require an onward third-country ticket. Check GOV.UK for the latest.
Can I work or study on visa-free transit?
No. Work, study and journalism require the appropriate visa.
Plan a visa-free trip that actually fits the rules
Fitting a trip into 10 days, with the right entry port, permitted areas and onward ticket, is very doable. It's also easy to get one detail wrong. We plan private and small-group trips with licensed Chinese partner agencies and can build an itinerary around the policy that applies to your passport.
Two routes that work well for first-timers:
Ask Tommy on WhatsApp or send an inquiry through our form. Tell us your passport country, dates and where you're flying next, and we'll suggest a route that fits.
This article is general travel information, not legal advice. The immigration authorities make the final decision at the port of entry.