China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Eligibility and Travel Planning

China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy may allow eligible travelers to visit China for up to ten days while traveling onward to a third country or region. It is not a universal ten-day tourist visa waiver, and eligibility depends on your passport, route, arrival port and itinerary.

Who may qualify?

According to China’s National Immigration Administration guidance dated 20 August 2026, the 240-hour transit policy covers 57 eligible nationalities and 65 designated entry-exit ports in 24 provincial-level regions. The eligible list and permitted travel areas can change. Check the current official list immediately before buying tickets.

You generally need an eligible ordinary passport, an onward ticket with a confirmed departure date and seat to a third country or region, and an arrival through a designated port. The policy is for qualifying transit. A return trip to the same country or region from which you entered should not be assumed to meet the third-destination condition. Border officers make the final entry decision.

Plan around the permitted travel area

Do not assume every city can be included in every transit itinerary. Check the entry port, allowed regions and the onward departure arrangements together. For a Beijing-centered visit, choose activities based on the rules that apply to your actual entry and departure ports rather than a generic “ten days anywhere” claim.

Before departure: your practical checklist

• Confirm your nationality against the latest official eligible-country list.
• Verify that both your arrival and onward departure fit the policy.
• Carry your passport, confirmed onward ticket and accommodation details.
• Check any separate visa-free agreement that may apply to your nationality.
• Leave time for immigration checks; entry is assessed at the border.

Planning note: This is travel information, not an immigration approval or a guarantee of entry. Regulations and port arrangements can change. Recheck the linked official guidance before travel.

Planning a short China visit

A Beijing sightseeing plan can make good use of a qualifying stopover, but transport, hotel and attraction availability should be assessed separately from immigration eligibility. Review a Beijing sample itinerary for ideas; request a confirmed itinerary only through a verified contact channel.

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Sources and last checked: 2026-11-05

• https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c183412/content.html
• https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147468/c217849/content.html