240-Hour Visa-Free Transit
If your home country is not on the unilateral visa-free list — including the United States — the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit is your fastest legal way into mainland China without a visa.
How it works
You fly into mainland China and fly out to a third country or region within 240 hours (10 days). Your passport must be valid for the whole stay, and you must hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third destination — not back to where you came from.
- ✅ Allowed: USA → Beijing → Seoul
- ✅ Allowed: London → Shanghai → Singapore
- ❌ Not allowed: USA → Beijing → USA (returning to your country of origin)
Who qualifies
Citizens of 57 countries, including the US, Mexico, Canada, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, and most European nations (as of the August 2026 expansion).
Eligible ports & regions
The policy applies at all major international airports and designated ports across 24 provinces and regions, including Beijing (PEK/PKX), Shanghai (PVG/SHA), Guangzhou (CAN), Shenzhen (SZX), Chengdu (TFU), Xi'an (XIY), Chongqing (CKG), Hangzhou (HGH), Kunming (KMG), Harbin (HRB), Shenyang (SHE), Dalian (DLC), Zhengzhou (CGO), Wuhan (WUH), Changsha (CSX), Fuzhou (FOC), Xiamen (XMN), Nanning (NNG), Urumqi (URC), and Hainan's Haikou and Sanya airports.
| Policy element | Rule (as of 2026) |
|---|---|
| Maximum stay | 240 hours (10 days) |
| Eligible nationalities | 57 countries |
| Onward ticket | Required — to a third country, not your origin |
| Travel area | Free movement within the 24 covered provinces/regions |
| Entry & exit ports | May differ, both must be designated ports |
| Advance application | Not required — granted on arrival |
Note: not all land-border crossings participate — check the specific port before planning an overland exit. Entering from Hong Kong or Macao counts as a brand-new mainland entry with a fresh countdown.
Unilateral Visa-Free Entry
The headline policy for most travelers: 30 days in China, no visa, no invitation letter, no fee.
Who qualifies (~50 countries, as of 2026)
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| Europe (35) | Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom (Feb 2026), Russia |
| Asia-Pacific | Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Brunei |
| Americas | Argentina, Brazil, Canada (Feb 2026), Chile, Peru, Uruguay |
| Middle East | Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia |
Key rules
- Valid for 30 days, counted from the day after entry.
- Ordinary passports only — emergency and temporary passports are excluded.
- Purpose must be tourism, business visits, family visits, cultural exchange, or transit.
- Most countries are covered until December 31, 2026; Russia until 2027; Brunei has no expiry.
- Important: the United States is NOT on this list — US passport holders should use the 240-hour transit or apply for an L visa.
Visa on Arrival
China does not offer traditional visa-on-arrival for most nationalities — there is no airport counter where you can queue, pay, and get stamped in. The policies above are genuine visa-free entry: if you qualify, you simply walk through immigration. If you do not qualify and do not hold a visa, you will be refused boarding or entry. The closest "on arrival" options are the Hainan 30-day visa-free island policy (arranged through a registered travel agency, Hainan-only) and the 240-hour transit described above.
Step-by-Step: How to Use Visa-Free Entry
- Check your nationality against the two lists above. Unsure? Confirm on the official National Immigration Administration site (en.nia.gov.cn) or message us on WhatsApp — we verify policy daily.
- Book your tickets. Transit users must secure a confirmed ticket to a third country before flying.
- Pack your documents — ordinary passport valid for the full stay, hotel confirmation, and return ticket (immigration sometimes asks).
- Fill in the arrival card on the plane or at the e-channel kiosk. No fee, nothing to file in advance.
- Walk through immigration at a designated port, get your entry stamp, and note your permitted exit date.
- Respect the countdown. 30 days (unilateral) or 240 hours (transit) from the day after entry — overstays bring fines and bans.
- Travel freely between cities within the allowed area under both policies, with no extra registration.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing the two policies. Unilateral visa-free = 30 days, no onward ticket needed. Transit = 10 days max, onward ticket to a third country required.
- Flying back to your origin country on transit. USA → China → USA does not qualify; add any third-country stop and you are fine.
- Bringing the wrong passport. Emergency or temporary passports are excluded from unilateral visa-free entry.
- Misreading the countdown. The 30-day clock starts the day after arrival — a common cause of accidental overstays.
- Assuming every border port works. Transit applies at designated airports and select rail/sea ports; not all land crossings participate.
- Not keeping proof of onward travel. Immigration can ask to see your return or onward ticket at any time.
- Trusting outdated blog posts. Policies changed repeatedly through 2025–2026 (UK and Canada added February 2026; Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan added August 2026). Check a source updated this year.
FAQ
Do I need a visa for China in 2026?
How long can I stay visa-free in China?
Is the US on China's visa-free list?
Can I travel to multiple Chinese cities on visa-free entry?
How long does China's visa-free policy last?
Where to Go With Your Visa-Free Days
Ten days in China is enough for one classic region; thirty days lets you weave two or three together. These private itineraries are built around the visa-free entry points:
- Beijing — 4-Day Imperial Discovery · Great Wall at Mutianyu, Forbidden City, Peking duck
- Xi'an — 3-Day Terracotta Warriors · city wall, Muslim Quarter (4.5h train from Beijing)
- Shanghai — 2-Day City Lights · Bund skyline + Zhujiajiao water town
- Chengdu — 4-Day Pandas & Spicy Food · panda base, Leshan Giant Buddha (3h train from Xi'an)
- Guilin — 3-Day Li River Cruise · karst peaks, Yangshuo countryside
- Zhangjiajie — 3-Day Avatar Mountains · glass skywalk, Hallelujah Mountain
Not sure which cities fit your route? Message us your itinerary dates on WhatsApp and we'll map the route for you — free.