China Expands Visa‑Free Transit to 54 Countries from June 2026 – 240‑Hour Stay, Cross‑Province Travel Allowed

Published: April 8, 2026 | Updated: May 15, 2026 | By Finerise Consultants

📢 Policy clarification: The 54‑country visa‑free transit policy described below is an established policy documented by China's National Immigration Administration. Citizens of the listed countries holding valid international travel documents with connecting air tickets to a third country (region) within the specified timeframe may enter China visa‑free through designated ports.

🌏 Major Expansion of China‘s Visa‑Free Transit Program

Effective June 2026, China will significantly expand its visa‑free transit policy to cover 54 countries, making it easier than ever for international travelers to explore China on a stopover. This policy update represents the most opening and streamlined version of the visa‑free transit program since its launch in January 2013.

Under the relaxed and optimized policy, eligible foreign nationals are allowed a stay of up to 240 hours (10 days) within designated regions, and recent updates now permit cross‑province travel within the expanded eligible area — addressing a key limitation of earlier visa‑free policies.

🎯 Key highlights of the 54-country visa‑free transit policy:
• Extended stay: 240 hours (10 days) – up from 72 and 144 hours
• Cross‑province travel allowed within 24 provinces/autonomous regions
• Expanded port access: 60 designated entry/exit ports nationwide
• Permitted activities: Tourism, business visits, family visits, and transit

📋 Eligible Countries – Full List of 54 Nationalities

The visa‑free transit policy applies to citizens holding ordinary passports from the following 54 countries.

Europe (41 countries): Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom.

America (5 countries): Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the United States.

Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand.

Asia (6 countries): Brunei, Japan, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates.

⏱️ Stay Duration and Permitted Activities

Under the relaxed and optimized 240‑hour visa‑free transit policy, eligible foreign nationals may stay for up to 240 hours (10 full days). The permitted duration is calculated starting from the day after entry. For example, entering at 8:00 AM on June 1st gives you until 24:00 on June 11th to depart — giving you ten full days to explore.

During the visa‑free stay, travelers may engage in tourism, short‑term business visits, family visits, transit, and other short‑term activities consistent with the visa‑free entry purposes. This level of flexibility makes the policy highly attractive for a wide range of travelers.

🌍 Key requirement – transit to a third country or region:
The visa‑free transit policy is only available to foreign nationals traveling from one country to a third country (or region) via China. For example, a traveler flying from London → Beijing → Tokyo qualifies, while a traveler flying London → Beijing → London does NOT qualify. Travelers should plan their itineraries accordingly.

✈️ Eligible Ports and Permitted Regions

Eligible foreign nationals may enter and exit through 60 designated open ports across 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities). The following major airports are among the designated ports:

Beijing: Capital International Airport, Daxing International Airport
Shanghai: Pudong International Airport, Hongqiao International Airport
Guangdong: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao‘an International Airport
Other major hubs: Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, Xi‘an Xianyang International Airport, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, Nanjing Lukou International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
Newly added ports (21 in total): Taiyuan Wusu International Airport, Wenzhou Longwan International Airport, Yiwu Airport, Hefei Xinqiao International Airport, Huangshan Tunxi International Airport, Fuzhou Changle International Airport, Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport, Nanchang Changbei International Airport, Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport, Yantai Penglai International Airport, Weihai Dashuipo International Airport, Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport, Nanning Wuxu International Airport, Beihai Fucheng Airport, Haikou Meilan International Airport, Sanya Phoenix International Airport, Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport, and others.

The permitted stay region has expanded from 19 to 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), including the newly added Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan, and Guizhou. Travelers may now move across provinces within the 24 eligible regions — a major relaxation from earlier policies that restricted activities to a single province or city cluster.

✅ Requirements for Visa‑Free Transit Eligibility

To qualify for the 240-hour visa‑free transit policy, applicants must meet the following three conditions:

Nationality requirement: Hold a valid ordinary passport from one of the 54 eligible countries listed above.
Third-country ticket requirement: Hold a confirmed connecting air ticket (with confirmed date and seat) to a third country or region (i.e., the traveler must pass through China en route from one country to another non‑adjacent country or region).
Port designation: Enter and exit China through one of the 60 designated open ports within the eligible region.

The passport must be valid for the duration of the intended stay in China. Travelers using travel documents other than ordinary passports (such as emergency passports or travel certificates) are not covered.

⏰ Practical Planning: What Can You Do in 240 Hours?

Ten days is a generous window that allows travelers to explore a region in depth. For example, entering via Shanghai（上海）Pudong Airport, you could spend two days exploring the Bund and French Quarter, take a high‑speed rail day trip to Suzhou（苏州）, visit Nanjing（南京）for two days, and still have time left over. Entering via Guangzhou（广州）Baiyun Airport（白云机场）allows you to explore the Pearl River Delta（珠江三角洲）, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen（深圳）, and Hong Kong（香港）(special administrative region arrangements apply separately). Entering via Beijing（北京）Capital Airport gives you access to the Forbidden City（紫禁城）, the Great Wall（长城）, the Summer Palace（颐和园）, plus day trips to Tianjin（天津）or the mountains.（山）

For business travelers, 240 hours provides ample time to hold meetings, inspect facilities, and complete short‑term assignments without the overhead of applying for an M (business) visa in advance.

⚠️ Important – Do NOT exceed the 240-hour stay limit:
Foreign nationals entering China under the 240‑hour visa‑free transit policy are required to depart China within the 240‑hour window. Overstaying constitutes an immigration violation and may result in fines, detention, deportation, and potential entry bans. The departure point need not be the same as the entry point, provided it is one of the designated ports and the total stay remains within 240 hours.

📝 Compliance Requirements After Entry

Once admitted to China under the visa‑free transit policy, travelers must:

Comply with the permitted activities (tourism, short‑term business visits, family visits, transit). Engaging in formal employment or other activities inconsistent with the purpose of visa‑free entry is prohibited.
Complete accommodation registration, as with other entry types, within 24 hours of arrival if staying at an unregistered property (hotels will automatically handle registration).
Depart China within the 240‑hour authorized stay period.

💡 How Finerise Consultants can assist business travelers and employers:
While the visa‑free transit policy is largely self‑service at immigration, we provide pre‑travel briefings, documentation review, and emergency on‑ground support. For foreign employees who need to transition from visa‑free transit status to longer‑term work or residence permits, we offer consultation on in‑country options and eligibility assessment.

📞 Need Assistance with China Travel or Work Permits?

Finerise Consultants specializes in China immigration and work permit solutions for foreign nationals and their employers. Contact us for a free consultation on visa‑free transit eligibility, cross‑province travel rules, or transitioning to work permit status if you are in China under the visa‑free transit policy.

Contact Finerise Consultants → View all China visa services

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration policies may change and are subject to varying local implementation. Always check entry eligibility with the relevant Chinese authorities before traveling. Finerise Consultants accepts no liability for any decisions made based on this content without official confirmation.