Entry rules · 2026

240-hour visa-free transit: check these six things before you book

The 240-hour transit rule is generous and literal: right nationality, right ports, and a real onward ticket to a different region. Miss one and the airline stops you before China does.

By OffPathNow Editorial Team · Research updated 26 October 2026 · Chengdu-based

This is the pre-booking checklist. Full country tables live on the visa-free lists page, and the interactive checker is on the Sichuan planner.

How this guide was built: Rules per the National Immigration Administration 240-hour transit policy (57 countries, 65 designated ports, 24 provincial regions), cross-checked 26 October 2026. Airline practice from recent traveller reports.

Passport validityAt least 6 months remaining, with blank pages for the entry stamp.

Nationality on the 57-country listCheck your country on the full list, then verify with the calculator tool.

Onward ticket to a DIFFERENT regionA to China to C: C must differ from A. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as third regions. Separate bookings are fine.

Entry and exit via designated ports65 ports across 24 provincial regions accept 240-hour transit - including the major international airports and key land borders.

Stay within allowed regionsTransit permits travel between approved areas only, not the whole country.

Purpose is transitTourism within the window is accepted; work and study are not. Print the NIA page in case check-in staff are unsure.

Assembling the onward ticket

Cheapest qualifying sectors: Chengdu/Shanghai/Beijing to Hong Kong, Macau, Bangkok or Singapore on low-cost carriers.
The onward booking may be on a different airline and a separate PNR from your inbound flight.
A return to your origin country does NOT qualify - C must differ from A.
Do not plan to “sort it at the airport”: check-in staff verify it before boarding.
Travelling with a big bag between flights? Luggage-storage networks such as Radical Storage hold bags at shops and hotels for a few euros a day.

Transit vs 30-day visa-free entry

If your nationality is also on the 50-country 30-day unilateral list, you may not need transit at all - fly straight in. Use the checker to see both answers at once.

Open the calculator →

FAQ

Do Hong Kong and Macau count as the third region?

Yes. For the 240-hour transit policy, Hong Kong and Macau count as third regions. A Shanghai in, Hong Kong out routing can qualify, as long as the next destination differs from where you arrived from.

Can I leave the arrival city during the 240 hours?

You must stay within the allowed provincial-level regions for your port of entry, and exit through a designated port. Cross-region travel is permitted between the approved areas, not nationwide - check the National Immigration Administration details for your entry point.

Do I need the onward ticket before boarding?

Yes in practice. Airlines verify the A to China to C itinerary at check-in; without proof of onward travel to a different country or region, boarding can be denied. A separate low-cost booking to Bangkok, Hong Kong or Singapore is the usual fix.

Research notes & sources

National Immigration Administration: 240-hour visa-free transit for 57 countries, 65 designated ports, 24 provincial regions; Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as third regions.
Full country tables: visa-free country lists. Interactive check: eligibility calculator.

Independent research; no operator paid for inclusion. Rules can change — confirm with the official source before you travel.

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