Your Ultimate Guide for Traveling to China

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About the 240-Hour Transit Visa-Free Policy

China has expanded the 144-hour and newly introduced 240-hour transit visa-free policies to multiple countries. Eligible foreign travelers and business people can enter through designated ports and stay in designated areas for up to 6–10 days without prior visa application.

54 Countries

Open Countries

240h

Max Stay

Open Provinces

60+

Entry Ports

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FAQ

Questions about 144/240-hour transit visa-free policies

1.When does the 240 hours start counting?

The 240 hours are calculated from 00:00 on the day following the day of entry until 24:00 on the day of exit. For example, if entering on December 1st, the 10-day visa-free period is from 00:00 on December 2nd to 24:00 on December 11th.

2.Can I travel across provinces?

Yes, you can travel freely within the provinces covered by the visa-free policy within 10 days.

3.Can I enter mainland China from Hong Kong?

No, according to official policy, foreigners entering from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan regions are not eligible for the 240-hour transit visa-free policy and must apply for the appropriate visa in advance.

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4.Can I purchase an outbound ticket after entry?

No, you must hold confirmed connecting tickets with specific dates and seats in advance.

5.Is it allowed to enter in Guangzhou and exit from Shanghai?

Yes, different ports of entry and exit are supported.

6.How to apply for a temporary entry permit?

Special counters are available at designated ports (e.g., Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 3). You need to fill out the Temporary Entry Card for Foreigners on-site, submit your passport and connecting flight ticket, and the permit will be issued after border inspection approval.

7.Is transit via Hong Kong/Macau allowed?

Yes. For example, USA→Guangzhou→Hong Kong West Kowloon with a high-speed rail ticket is eligible; Canada→Zhuhai→Macau with a ferry ticket is also applicable.

8.Can connecting tickets include land transportation?

Yes. Cross-border combined transport tickets such as Guangzhou→Hong Kong high-speed rail tickets and Zhuhai→Macau ferry tickets are acceptable.

9.What if I lose my documents?

Report to the local public security bureau immediately. Apply for a stay permit at the exit-entry administration with the Passport Loss Certificate, and contact your country's embassy or consulate to apply for a new travel document.

10.How to choose between visa-free and transit visa-free?

If you are a citizen of visa-free countries like Singapore, it is recommended to use the 30-day visa-free entry (more flexible); if only transiting, choose the 240-hour transit visa-free (no visa fee required).

11.What if I overstay?

A fine of 500 RMB per day will be imposed, with a maximum of 10 days of detention and a deadline for departure. You will also be barred from applying for transit visa-free entry for 5 years.

12.How to check real-time policies?

Search for the 'National Immigration Administration' mini-program on WeChat, or call the 12367 hotline (supporting 8 languages including English, Japanese, and Korean).

13.What is considered illegal employment?

This includes commercial filming, profiting from live streaming, and temporary teaching. These can be considered illegal even without a formal labor contract.

14.Special process at Beijing Capital Airport?

Terminal 3 has a 'Transit Visa-Free Fast Track' with trilingual staff (English/Japanese/Korean), reducing processing time to within 15 minutes. Note that from 22:00 to 06:00 daily, you must go to the 24-hour emergency window.

15.How to transfer at Shanghai Pudong Airport?

An 'Air-Rail Link' service is provided. With a high-speed rail ticket, you can complete transit procedures directly at the satellite terminal. For example, a through ticket from Paris to Shanghai to Hangzhou East can be processed within the sterile area.

16.Restrictions for photography enthusiasts?

Commercial filming requires a work visa, but personal travel photography is allowed. Drones are strictly prohibited in no-fly zones (e.g., within 500m of military facilities), with fines up to 20,000 RMB.

17.How to handle ticket changes?

One free ticket change is allowed and must be completed before the 7th day of your stay. For example, if you change a Day 10 flight to Day 11, you must register the new ticket with the border inspection at your port of entry by Day 7.

18.Are cross-border rail tickets recognized?

International rail tickets like the China-Laos Railway (Kunming-Vientiane) or China-Vietnam Railway (Nanning-Hanoi) are recognized, requiring both a paper ticket and an e-ticket number for verification.

19.How to apply for pre-examination via WeChat?

Submit your passport bio-page and e-ticket in the 'Immigration' mini-program. An AI system generates a 'Transit Pre-examination Code' in 10 minutes, which can reduce port processing time by 50%.

20.Behaviors that might cause misunderstandings?

Avoid taking photos with 'V' signs in front of government offices or filming people in ethnic costumes without permission. Follow dress codes at religious sites (e.g., no shorts in temples).

21.How to seek medical care for sudden illness?

You can go to the emergency department of any Tier 2 or higher hospital with your passport. 53 foreign-related hospitals like Peking Union or Shanghai Ruijin are recommended. Keep medical receipts to apply for a stay extension.

22.How to extend stay due to illness?

You must provide a hospital diagnosis certificate and apply at the local municipal Public Security Bureau's exit-entry administration office 3 working days before your stay expires. Extensions up to 30 days are possible.

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