240-hour visa-free transit for 57 countries at 65 ports
Do you need a transit visa for China?
Most layover travelers don't. If your passport is from one of 57 eligible countries and your onward flight goes to a third country, you can stay for up to 240 hours and leave the airport.
Start here
Answer the four questions below, then read the rules that decide the borderline cases.
Eligibility check
240-hour transit eligibility
A quick first check, not a guarantee. Always confirm with official sources.
Search all nationalities, whether or not your country is eligible.
Looks eligible | with the usual caveats
Eligible
- Your nationality is on the 57-country list.
- Shanghai Pudong (PVG) is a designated transit port.
- Allowed travel area: Shanghai municipality.
- You must hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region departing within 240 hours.
- Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months.
- Rules change, always verify with the National Immigration Administration (NIA) or the 12367 hotline before booking.
- This checker is informational, not a guarantee of entry. Last reviewed 2026-10-16.
Transit rules, in depth
- Updated Nov 8, 2026China Visa-Free Statistics 2026: Entries, Countries and PortsNIA figures on visa-free entries into China (30.08 million in 2025), the 57-country transit list, 65 ports, the 30-day list, and a policy timeline since 2023.
- Updated Nov 6, 2026Free Hotel on a Long Layover? China Airlines vs China EasternChina Eastern, Air China and China Southern give a free layover hotel if your ticket qualifies. China Airlines (Taiwan) works differently. How to apply.
- Updated Nov 6, 2026The Third-Country Rule for China Transit: A→B→C ExplainedChina’s visa-free transit requires an onward ticket to a third country or region. Here’s the A→B→C rule, when Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count, and what gets rejected.
- Updated Oct 16, 202624-Hour vs 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit in China: What’s the Difference?China has two visa-free transit rules. Here’s how the 24-hour (airside and landside) and the 240-hour policies differ, and which one applies to your layover.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China’s 240-Hour Transit: The 65 Ports and Permitted Areas (Reference)The complete reference to the 65 designated ports and the permitted areas for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, organized by province.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China’s 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: The Complete GuideWho can use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, what the rules are, and how to plan a layover trip without a visa.
- Updated Oct 16, 202630-Day Visa-Free Entry vs 240-Hour Transit: Which One Applies to You?China has two different visa-free schemes for short stays. Here’s how the 30-day visa-free entry and the 240-hour transit policy differ, and which one to use for your trip.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Can I Leave the Airport During a China Layover?Usually yes, visa-free, at Shanghai Pudong, Beijing, Guangzhou and 60-plus other ports. What you need, and how many hours make leaving worth it.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China’s Regional Visa-Free Schemes: Hainan, Bilateral Deals & Hainan 30 DaysBeyond the national rules, China runs regional and bilateral visa-free schemes: including 30 days in Hainan and mutual agreements with dozens of countries.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China Transit Mistakes That Get Travelers Denied Boarding or EntryThe most common reasons visa-free transit travelers are refused at check-in or immigration in China, and how to avoid each one before you fly.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China Visa-Free Countries: The Full List (2026)Which countries can enter China without a visa? The full 57-country list for 240-hour visa-free transit, plus how the 30-day, Hainan and bilateral schemes differ.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Can You See the Great Wall on a Beijing Layover?Yes, if you land in the morning with enough hours. The hour-by-hour plan from PEK or PKX to Mutianyu, and the layover length where it stops being worth it.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Is a China Layover Worth It? An Honest LookMost travelers assume a China layover is wasted time. Here’s the honest case for and against leaving the airport, and when staying put is the smarter call.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Do You Need a Visa for China? Visa-Free Entry vs a Chinese VisaIf you don’t qualify for visa-free entry or transit, you need a visa. How to tell whether you need a Chinese visa, which type to choose, and what it costs.