Key rules for United States passport holders
240-Hour Transit Visa-Free · Up to 240 hours (10 days)
- Must hold a confirmed interline ticket to a third country (not your origin country).
- Entry and exit must both be via eligible ports in the 240h zone.
- Do not exceed the permitted time — confirm with 12367 or port authorities if your itinerary changes.
- Verify current port list and eligibility at the official NIA source before travel.
Key requirement: genuine transit only
You must be traveling A → China → B where A and B are different countries. You need an interline ticket with confirmed dates and seats to your onward destination. Entry and exit must both be via one of the 65 eligible ports. The 240-hour clock starts at 00:00 on the day after you clear immigration.
Data source
China National Immigration Administration (NIA) / Official Chinese Embassy announcements. YouChina last reviewed 2026-06-24. Policy can change at short notice — always confirm with official sources before travel.
Reference only. For reference only. Entry decisions are made by Chinese border officials. Entry decisions are made solely by Chinese immigration officers at the port of entry.