Official 2026 National Immigration Administration (NIA) Rules

China 144-Hour & 240-Hour
Visa-Free Transit Master Guide

Citizens of 54 qualifying countries can enter Mainland China without applying for an advance consular visa, as long as they hold confirmed onward tickets to a third country or region within 144 or 240 hours.

54 Eligible Countries 30+ Entry Sea/Air Ports Clock Starts 00:00 Next Day
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China Visa & 240h / 144h Transit Eligibility Checker

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54 qualifying countries supported
5 Days
240h transit allows up to 10 full days (+arrival day)
*Hong Kong & Macau count as 3rd Region!
240-Hour (10-Day) Visa-Free Transit Eligible

You qualify for the 240-Hour (10-Day) Visa-Free Transit!

Explore 240h Transit Hubs & Route Maps

You do NOT need an advance visa. Under China's upgraded 240-Hour (10-Day) Visa-Free Transit scheme, travelers connecting from Country A → Mainland China (up to 240h) → Country/Region C (including Hong Kong / Macau) can explore across designated regional clusters.

Key Requirements to Keep in Mind:
  • Confirmed onward flight/cruise ticket to a 3rd country or region within 240 hours (10 days).
  • The 240h countdown starts at 00:00 the day AFTER arrival (giving you up to 11 calendar days).
  • Stay within the authorized transit cluster (e.g., Shanghai + Jiangsu + Zhejiang, Beijing + Tianjin + Hebei, or Guangdong).
  • Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count as eligible 3rd transit destinations!
1

The "A → B → C" Transit Rule

You must travel from Country/Region A → Mainland China (B) → Country/Region C. A return flight back to Country A (e.g., USA → Beijing → USA) is strictly considered a round-trip and is NOT eligible for visa-free transit.

Note: Hong Kong and Macau count as Region C! (e.g. London → Shanghai → Hong Kong is 100% valid).
2

Timing Calculation (00:00 +1)

Your 144-hour or 240-hour limit does NOT begin when your wheels touch the tarmac. It begins at 00:00 the day following arrival. This effectively grants travelers up to nearly an entire extra calendar day in China.

Arrive at 08:00 on May 1st → Timer begins at 00:00 on May 2nd!
3

Strict Boundary Enforcement

You are legally bound to stay within the permitted cluster (e.g. Shanghai + Jiangsu + Zhejiang). You cannot take a bullet train to Beijing or Xi'an on a Shanghai 144h transit permit without risking detention and entry revocation.

Stay within your declared provincial cluster boundary.
Eligible Nationalities

The 54 Passport Countries Qualified for 144h/240h Transit

European Countries (40 Nations)

AustriaBelgiumCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandItalyLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaNetherlandsPolandPortugalSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandRussiaUnited KingdomIrelandCyprusBulgariaRomaniaUkraineSerbiaCroatiaBosnia & HerzegovinaMontenegroNorth MacedoniaAlbaniaMonacoBelarusNorway

Americas (6 Nations)

United StatesCanadaBrazilMexicoArgentinaChile

Oceania (2 Nations)

AustraliaNew Zealand

Asia (6 Nations)

South KoreaJapanSingaporeBruneiUnited Arab EmiratesQatar
Provincial Zones

Approved Transit Port Clusters & Allowed Regions

01Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region (京津冀)

Full 144h Scope
Authorized Entry Ports:

Beijing Capital (PEK), Beijing Daxing (PKX), Tianjin Binhai (TSN), Tianjin Cruise Port, Shijiazhuang Zhengding (SJW), Qinhuangdao Sea Port

Permitted Movement Scope:

Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality, and Hebei Province.

Transit Tip: Travelers can land in Beijing, take high-speed train to Tianjin or Chengde, and fly out from either Beijing or Tianjin.

02Yangtze River Delta Region (江浙沪/长三角)

Full 144h Scope
Authorized Entry Ports:

Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal, Hangzhou Xiaoshan (HGH), Ningbo Lishe (NGB), Nanjing Lukou (NKG), Lianyungang Port

Permitted Movement Scope:

Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province (Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi), and Zhejiang Province (Hangzhou, Ningbo).

Transit Tip: Unrestricted high-speed bullet train travel between Shanghai, Suzhou gardens, Hangzhou West Lake, and Nanjing.

03Guangdong Province (Greater Bay Area)

Full 144h Scope
Authorized Entry Ports:

Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX), Jieyang Chaoshan (SWA), Nansha Passenger Port, Shekou Ferry Port

Permitted Movement Scope:

Entire administrative area of Guangdong Province.

Transit Tip: Transit passenger must enter from designated Guangdong air/sea ports and depart to a third country or Hong Kong/Macau.

04Sichuan / Chengdu Hub

Full 144h Scope
Authorized Entry Ports:

Chengdu Tianfu Int’l (TFU), Chengdu Shuangliu (CTU)

Permitted Movement Scope:

Chengdu, Leshan, Deyang, Suining, Meishan, Ya’an, Ziyang, Neijiang, Zigong, Luzhou, Yibin.

Transit Tip: Includes Giant Panda Breeding Base and Leshan Giant Buddha.

05Chongqing Municipality Hub

Full 144h Scope
Authorized Entry Ports:

Chongqing Jiangbei Int’l (CKG)

Permitted Movement Scope:

Entire administrative boundary of Chongqing Municipality.

Transit Tip: Includes downtown cyberpunk sights, Wulong Karst, and Yangtze River departure ports.

06Shaanxi / Xi’an Hub

Full 144h Scope
Authorized Entry Ports:

Xi’an Xianyang Int’l (XIY)

Permitted Movement Scope:

Xi’an City and Xianyang City.

Transit Tip: Covers Terracotta Warriors Museum, Ancient City Wall, Dayan Pagoda, and Muslim Quarter.

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