240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Eligibility Checker

Check if you qualify for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit: 60 designated ports across 24 provinces (snapshot Feb 2026). Always confirm with your airline and official notices before you fly.

Nationality

Departure Country/Region (A)

Transit City in China (B)

Onward Destination (C)

240-hour stay calculator

Officially, the 240-hour clock starts from 00:00 on the day after you enter China. This helper estimates the latest time you should depart under that window.

Policy snapshot (updated Feb 2026)

This is a simplified overview of China’s current 240-hour visa-free transit policy. Always verify details with official immigration websites and your airline.

54 eligible countries

Citizens of 54 countries can use the visa-free transit when holding a valid passport and a confirmed onward ticket to a third country/region. The eligible nationality list has not expanded since 2024–2025 (no new countries added as of Feb 2026).

Stay counted from midnight

The stay is counted from 00:00 on the day after arrival, up to 240 hours at designated ports across 24 provincial-level regions (60 ports as of Feb 2026).

Designated ports only

You must enter and leave China from designated ports within approved transit areas; many regions now allow cross-regional travel within those 24 provincial-level areas.

A and C must differ

A and C must be different countries/regions; Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan normally count as separate regions for this purpose.

Verify before you fly

Rules can change quickly. For the latest information, check the National Immigration Administration and local Public Security/Exit-Entry websites before you fly.

Sources: National Immigration Administration, State Council English Portal, Beijing & Shanghai Foreign Affairs Offices (2024–2025 updates).

Routing examples & quick checklist

Often acceptable routes (examples)

US → Shanghai → Japan
UK → Beijing → Hong Kong
Germany → Guangzhou → Singapore

Above assume you hold a confirmed onward ticket within the allowed hours and stay within approved transit areas.

Commonly risky / ineligible routes

US → Shanghai → US (A and C are the same)
France → Shanghai → Guangzhou → France (double mainland transit, may fall outside one transit area)
Short stop in China without an onward ticket issued yet

Airlines and border officers can deny boarding/entry if they believe your trip does not qualify as genuine “transit”.

Quick self-check (non-official)

You hold a passport from one of the 54 eligible countries.
Your itinerary is A → China (B) → C, and A and C are different countries/regions.
You have a ticket issued for your onward journey within the 240-hour window and can show it at check-in.
You have hotel bookings or proof of stay in China covering your transit period.
Your passport will remain valid for at least three months after your planned entry.

Tick the boxes to see a quick, non-official preparation signal. This does not replace airline or immigration decisions.

Visa sorted? Now fix your digital setup.