**China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit – Full Q&A **

1. What is the 240-hour visa-free transit policy?
“Transit” means you are only passing through China to reach a third country or region.
The place you start from and the place you finish must be different countries or regions.

Starting Dec 17, 2024, citizens of 54 countries (see list in Part 4) who meet the rules can stay in China 240 hours without a visa.
The 240 hours are counted from 00:00 on the day after you enter.
You must leave before the time is up.

If a visa-waiver agreement or other Chinese rule gives you more days, you can use that rule instead.

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2. What must I show at the border to get the 240-hour waiver?
When you reach the immigration counter, give the officer:
a) A passport (or other travel document) that is still valid for 3 months or more;
b) A confirmed ticket (plane, ship, train) that leaves China within 240 hours for a third country or region;
– You must already have this ticket before you land; if you do not, the officer will refuse the visa-free entry;
c) The completed arrival card for visa-free transit;
d) Answer any questions the officer asks and let them check your papers.

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3. Who will be refused the 240-hour waiver?
You cannot use the waiver if:
a) Your passport is valid for less than 3 months;
b) Your passport has a “visa refused” stamp from any Chinese visa office;
c) In the last 5 years you had any illegal entry, illegal stay, or illegal work record in China;
d) Chinese laws or rules list any other reason that bars you from entering.

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4. Which 54 countries are in the program?

Europe – 40 countries
France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine.

Americas – 6 countries
United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.

Oceania – 2 countries
Australia, New Zealand.

Asia – 6 countries
Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.

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5. At which ports can I enter with the 240-hour waiver?

Beijing
Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing Daxing International Airport

Tianjin
Tianjin Binhai International Airport
Tianjin International Cruise Port (passenger terminal)

Hebei
Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport
Qinhuangdao International Cruise Port (passenger terminal)

Shanxi
Taiyuan Wusu International Airport

Liaoning
Shenyang Taoxian International Airport
Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport
Dalian International Cruise Port (passenger terminal)

Heilongjiang
Harbin Taiping International Airport

Shanghai
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Shanghai International Cruise Port (passenger terminal)

Jiangsu
Nanjing Lukou International Airport
Sunan Shuofang International Airport
Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport
Lianyungang International Cruise Port (passenger terminal)

Zhejiang
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
Ningbo Lishe International Airport
Wenzhou Longwan International Airport
Yiwu Airport
Wenzhou Port (passenger terminal)
Zhoushan Port (passenger terminal)

Anhui
Hefei Xinqiao International Airport
Huangshan Tunxi International Airport

Fujian
Fuzhou Changle International Airport
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport
Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport
Wuyishan Airport
Xiamen International Cruise Port (passenger terminal)

Jiangxi
Nanchang Changbei International Airport

Shandong
Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport
Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport
Yantai Penglai International Airport
Weihai Dashuipo International Airport
Qingdao International Cruise Port (passenger terminal)

Henan
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport

Hubei
Wuhan Tianhe International Airport

Hunan
Changsha Huanghua International Airport
Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport

Guangdong
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport
Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport
Nansha Port (passenger terminal)
Shekou Port (passenger terminal)

Guangxi
Nanning Wuxu International Airport
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
Beihai Fucheng Airport
Beihai International Cruise Port (passenger terminal)

Hainan
Haikou Meilan International Airport
Sanya Phoenix International Airport

Chongqing
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport

Sichuan
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport

Guizhou
Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport

Yunnan
Kunming Changshui International Airport
Lijiang Sanyi International Airport
Mohan Railway Port

Shaanxi
Xi’an Xianyang International Airport

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6. Where can I travel inside China during the 240 hours?
You may move freely inside 24 provinces / regions listed below.
You can cross provincial borders, but you must stay inside the listed areas.

1. Beijing

2. Tianjin

3. Hebei

4. Shanxi – only Taiyuan city and Datong city

5. Liaoning – whole province

6. Heilongjiang – only Harbin city

7. Shanghai

8. Jiangsu

9. Zhejiang

10. Anhui

11. Fujian

12. Jiangxi – only Nanchang city and Jingdezhen city

13. Shandong

14. Henan

15. Hubei

16. Hunan

17. Guangdong – whole province (you can leave China from any open port in Guangdong)

18. Guangxi – only 12 cities: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi, Laibin

19. Hainan – whole province

20. Chongqing – whole municipality

21. Sichuan – only 11 cities: Chengdu, Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Yibin, Ya’an, Meishan, Ziyang

22. Guizhou – whole province

23. Yunnan – only 9 cities/prefectures: Kunming, Yuxi, Chuxiong, Honghe, Wenshan, Puer, Xishuangbanna, Dali, Lijiang

24. Shaanxi – whole province

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7. What must I remember while I am inside China?

• Allowed activities: tourism, business meetings, family visits, trade fairs, etc.

• Not allowed: any paid work, long-term study, news reporting, filming for media, etc. If you need those, get the proper visa before you come.

• Hotel: front desk will register you automatically—keep the receipt.

• Staying with friends or Airbnb: within 24 hours after you move in, you (or the host) must go to the local police station and file a temporary-residence form.

• Need to stay longer than 240 hours or leave the allowed area because of illness, cancelled flight, force majeure?
  → Go to the local Exit-Entry Administration Bureau before the 240 hours end and ask for a stay permit.

• Overstay or fail to register = fine, detention, or future entry ban. The immigration officer or local police can enforce this at any time.

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8. Where can I ask more questions?
Official website (English pages available): www.nia.gov.cn
24-hour hotline: +86-12367
Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, English, Russian, Japanese, Korean.