240-hour visa-free transit: check your route

Use the official conditions

What was reported, and why it is not the rule

According to Xinhua, republished by the Beijing government on 20 August 2026, the 240-hour visa-free transit now applies to 57 countries. China Briefing reports that the 30-day visa-free entry has been extended to 31 December 2026. These are press reports read on 5 November 2026. The National Immigration Administration page is the rule: check it for your passport on the date you travel.

Xinhua via the Beijing government ↗ · China Briefing ↗

Use the whole route, not only the China stop

Write the journey as three places: arrival origin → mainland China → onward destination. Then compare that actual route with the official transit policy. A change of flight can change the question you need to ask, even if the time spent in China stays the same.

Check both the permitted entry points and the areas in which you may travel. Do not book a cross-country itinerary on the assumption that a transit exemption gives unrestricted access.

Build your schedule around the official time rule

Read how the official policy defines the allowed stay and ask the authority if it is unclear for your arrival and departure times. Leave room for transfers and schedule changes. A sample itinerary on a travel site cannot establish that your ticket meets the conditions.

Write out all three parts of your journey

Note where you arrive from, your mainland China stop and where you travel next. A transit arrangement is tied to the onward route. Do not treat a return trip as automatically eligible.

Check the official list of permitted entry points and areas. Permission under a transit policy does not necessarily allow unrestricted travel across mainland China.

Confirm before relying on it

• Is your nationality and passport type eligible?
• Does your actual onward route meet the policy?
• Are your entry and exit ports covered?
• Does your plan stay within the allowed area and time?
• Are your tickets confirmed as required?

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