How the clock starts
For 240h, the timer starts at 00:00 on the day after entry, not at the moment your plane lands. Each port may interpret this differently — confirm at inspection.
240h transit visa-free
240 hours in China without a visa. Use them well.
Pick a passport, a port and where you fly to next. We tell you in plain language whether you qualify, what you can see, and where you cannot go.
Source · NIA 2025-11-04 · Last reviewed 2026-05-22
Visa-free decision tool
Decision tool
Four short answers, no commitment. We update this tool quarterly against the National Immigration Administration source.
Not eligible — here is why
Pick a passport, entry port, onward destination and stay length to get a verdict.
Fill in all four steps to see your answer.
The full caveats are listed below.
Caveats and risks
- You must exit through a port within the same approved region — no leaving from a non-approved province.
- You cannot extend the 240-hour clock once granted. Plan your onward flight conservatively.
- Working, studying, long-term living and investment activities are not allowed under the transit visa-free programme.
- If your onward ticket flies back to your departure country, immigration may treat it as a round trip and refuse entry.
- Policy is being revised quarterly. Check the NIA source linked above before flying.
Caveats
The fine print, written like a person
Where you can go
24 provincial-level regions. You may not cross into a province that is outside your entry region without first leaving China.
What you cannot do
No paid work, study, investment or long-term residence. Business meetings sit in a grey zone — keep them light.
When you may be refused
A return ticket back to your departure country, frequent re-entry on the same passport, or unclear onward documentation can each end the trip at the border.
Policy changes fast
China widened transit visa-free in 2024 and 2025 (24 → 55 countries, 144 → 240 hours). Always re-check before booking.
Visa-free route starters
Four 10-day starting points the planning team can rearrange to your group, pace and return flight.
- Ask the team for this routeBeijing-Tianjin-Hebeicustom-built
Beijing 240h · 10 days, BTH region
Forbidden City, Great Wall, Tianjin and Beidaihe — onward via HK / Korea / Japan.
- Ask the team for this routeYangtze River Deltacustom-built
Shanghai 240h · 10 days, Yangtze Delta
Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Nanjing — onward to Japan / Korea.
- Ask the team for this routePearl River Deltacustom-built
Guangzhou 240h · 10 days, Pearl River Delta
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai — exit via the HZM Bridge or West Kowloon to HK / Macao.
- Ask the team for this routeSichuan & Chongqingcustom-built
Chengdu / Chongqing 240h · 10 days
Chengdu, Dujiangyan, Leshan and Chongqing — onward to Thailand / Vietnam.
Still confused? Skip the form.
Send the team your passport, entry port and onward country. We check the visa-free boundary first, then suggest a route.
Tailor-make
Or build a custom route from these answers
We will pre-fill the planner with your visa-free choices so the conversation can start where you left off.