China travel answer · Entry
What is China's 240-hour visa-free transit program?
Updated 2026-09-14 · Conditions and policies can change
Applies to
International visitors checking entry eligibility, transit rules or travel documents.
Editorial status
Published and under review
Last checked 2026-09-14; corrections are applied without unpublishing useful guidance.
Direct answer
It can allow eligible travelers to remain in approved areas for up to 10 days while transiting to a third country or region. It is not a general ten-day visa exemption.
Before you act on this answer
- ✓Confirm the rule for the passport you will actually use.
- ✓Recheck the complete route before paying for nonrefundable travel.
What to know
- ●Nationality, designated port and onward route all matter.
- ●Your onward destination must satisfy the third-country-or-region condition.
- ●Travel is limited to the areas permitted under the current program.
Primary sources to verify
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