YouChina
2026 Updated

240-hour transitVisa-free guide for China

China allows eligible foreign travellers transiting to a third country to stay up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa. Eligible nationalities, eligible ports, and the regions where you may stay change as the policy updates — always verify on the official sources linked below to confirm your specific itinerary qualifies.

Eligibility conditionsHow to apply

Eligibility conditions

  • ✓You must have a confirmed itinerary: origin country → China → third country (one-way not eligible)
  • ✓A confirmed ticket to a third country departing from China is mandatory
  • ✓The third country must be accessible without a visa or with a valid visa
  • ✓Entry and exit via an eligible port; stay within the administrative regions defined by the current policy
  • ✓Maximum stay: 240 hours (10 days) from time of entry
  • ✓Eligible nationalities, ports, and regions can change — verify your specific itinerary on the official sources linked below

Cities commonly cited under the 240-hour scheme (actual eligibility depends on port and policy updates)

Beijing
Shanghai
Chengdu
Guangzhou
Shenzhen
Xi'an
Hangzhou
Nanjing
Xiamen
Qingdao
Wuhan
Chongqing

How to apply

  1. 1Book a ticket: origin → China → third country
  2. 2On arrival in China, proceed to the transit counter and request the 240-hour exemption
  3. 3Present passport, round-trip or onward tickets, and hotel booking confirmation
  4. 4If approved, the officer stamps your passport and you can move freely within designated areas

Important notes

  • Conditions vary by airport and nationality — always verify before departure
  • No extension possible — staying over 240 hours is illegal
  • Hong Kong and Macao may be treated as third countries depending on the port
  • Transferring between airports (e.g. Beijing Capital ↔ Daxing) involves additional transport costs

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

If your nationality is on the eligible list and you have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country, yes. Confirm with your airline as rules vary by airport.

Yes. For example, flying into Beijing, taking a domestic flight to Shanghai, then departing to a third country is allowed within the 240-hour limit.

No. Apply directly at the transit counter on arrival. Bring all required documents: tickets, hotel booking, and passport.

How we compare providers

  • We list eSIM providers that publicly advertise a China-mainland plan and either route through international gateways or document VPN-like behavior.
  • Prices, data caps and validity copy come from the provider's own product page. We mark every record with a "last checked" date and re-verify before each report cycle.
  • We never claim that a provider definitely bypasses China's firewall. We describe what the provider documents and what travelers consistently report. Travelers should still install a backup VPN before leaving home.
  • Affiliate status is disclosed on every commercial link. We do not change provider ordering for higher commission. Provider ranking is based on price, transparency, hotspot support and traveler feedback.

Sources

Last updated: