What the NIA page says
The NIA visa-free transit page, dated 20 Aug 2026, describes two policies. The first is the 24-hour transit: it applies at all open exit-entry ports and to nationals of every country. The passenger must hold valid international travel documents and onward tickets, and the page asks for confirmed seats.
The passenger must stay inside the restricted area of the port. Leaving it requires a temporary entry permit from the immigration authority at that port. The page was read on 5 Nov 2026.
24 hours or 240 hours
| Question | 24-hour transit | 240-hour transit |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Nationals of all countries | Nationals of 57 listed countries |
| Stay | Up to 24 hours | Up to 10 days in the permitted areas |
| Where you may be | Inside the restricted area of the port, unless you get a temporary entry permit | Inside the permitted areas, entering through one of 65 listed ports |
| Ticket | Onward ticket with a confirmed seat to a third country or region | Onward ticket with a confirmed seat and departure date to a third country or region |
If your country is on the 57-country list and you want to leave the airport, the 240-hour route is the one built for that. The 24-hour route is for a connection.
Planning a connection through China
- Buy one ticket or two linked tickets that end in a third country or region, with the seat confirmed.
- Check that the ticket dates keep you inside 24 hours.
- Read the NIA page again within a week of departure, because the rules are the ones in force on the day you travel.
- Install a data plan before you fly; app stores and several Western services are hard to reach on local networks.
The online arrival card notice says passengers in direct 24-hour transit who stay in the port’s designated area do not need to fill it in. See the arrival card guide for the other exemptions.
Compare China eSIM plans
Yesim
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Check eSIM compatibility, carrier unlock, coverage and when validity starts. Buy and install while you have reliable Wi-Fi. Prices in US dollars, from each provider’s China page on the date shown. They change often.
Questions before you go
Do I need a visa for a 24-hour transit in China?
Not under the NIA policy, if you hold valid travel documents and an onward ticket with a confirmed seat to a third country or region and stay inside the restricted area of the port.
Can I leave the airport?
The NIA page says leaving the restricted area needs a temporary entry permit from the port’s immigration authority.
Does it apply to every nationality?
Yes, the 24-hour policy applies to nationals of all countries. The 240-hour policy applies only to 57 listed countries.
Sources & review notes
- National Immigration Administration ↗ · Reviewed
- Chinese Embassy in the US: online Arrival Card notice, 3 Dec 2025 ↗ · Reviewed
- Xinhua via the Beijing government, 20 Aug 2026 ↗ · Reviewed
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