China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit 2026: Step-by-Step Guide (57 Countries, 65 Ports, 10 Days)
China's 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit expanded to 57 countries in August 2026, with 65 ports across 24 provinces. No visa, no fee — just a passport valid 3+ months and a confirmed onward ticket. Here's exactly how to use it.
Key takeaway
Since August 20, 2026, citizens of 57 countries (US, UK, Russia, most of Europe) can enter China visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) when transiting to a third country: enter via any of 65 ports across 24 provinces with an ordinary passport valid 3+ months and a confirmed onward ticket. Tourism, business, family visits allowed; work/study not. Done at the border — no application, no fee.
Full report
What the 240-Hour Rule Means
Since August 20, 2026, citizens of 57 countries (including the US, UK, Russia, and most European nations) can enter China visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) when transiting to a third country or region. No visa application, no fee — you just need a passport and a confirmed onward ticket.
Who Is Eligible
- Citizens of the 57 countries covered (US, UK, Russia, most of Europe, plus others)
- Holding an ordinary passport valid for at least 3 months
- Holding a confirmed connecting ticket (air, ferry, or rail) with fixed dates and seats to a third country or region within 240 hours
Where It Applies
You can enter through any of 65 open ports across 24 provinces (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Kunming, Xi'an, and many more). You may stay and travel within the designated regions of those provinces — tourism, business, family visits, and exchanges are allowed. Working, studying, or residence-type activity is not.
Step-by-Step: How to Use It
- Check your nationality is on the 57-country list.
- Book your itinerary: enter China at a covered port, transit to a third country/region within 240 hours. Example: US → Beijing (4 days) → Tokyo.
- Confirm your passport is valid 3+ months with blank pages.
- Hold your onward ticket — a printed or app-based confirmation of the outbound connecting leg.
- At the border: approach the visa-free transit counter, present passport + onward ticket, complete arrival formalities. Officers usually stamp 10 days on entry.
- Stay within the permitted area — the 24 provinces/region you entered, for no more than 240 hours.
- Exit on time via the outbound leg — overstaying triggers fines and future-entry problems.
Important Caveats
- You must actually transit: the rule requires travel onward to a third country/region, not a round trip to your home country.
- Your passport must be valid 3+ months at the time of application at the border.
- Working, studying, or long-term stay is not allowed under this scheme.
- Children and groups follow the same rules.
- If your plans change and you stay longer, you must leave the region or exit China before the 240 hours end; extensions are not available under this scheme.
Quick Summary
- 57 countries, 65 ports, 24 provinces, 240 hours (10 days)
- Requirements: ordinary passport valid 3+ months + confirmed onward ticket to a third country
- Allowed: tourism, business, family visits, exchanges; not work/study
- No visa application, no fee — done at the border
More China travel guides: the full China visa guide for US travelers · China visa types explained · visa processing time and fees Sources:
National Immigration Administration of China (nia.gov.cn) 240-hour visa-free transit notice, August 20, 2026; Xinhua report on expansion to 57 countries (August 20, 2026).
What to do next
Check the 57-country list and your nationality, book a transit itinerary (enter covered port → third country within 10 days), verify passport validity 3+ months with blank pages, and keep the onward ticket handy at the border.
What may vary
The eligible-country list and port list are updated by NIA announcements; some ports apply the policy with local variations; border officers decide on a case-by-case basis; routes not covered by 240h policy may still use the older 144h/72h rules at specific ports.