China’s 240-hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
Eligibility Criteria:
- Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of one of the 54 eligible countries:
- Europe (40 countries): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, and Norway.
- America (6 countries): The United States of America, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
- Oceania (2 countries): Australia and New Zealand.
- Asia (6 countries): Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
- Travel Documents: Applicants must hold a valid international travel document with a validity of at least three months.
- Third Country Entry Requirements: Applicants must meet the entry requirements for the third country (region) they are transiting to.
- Transit Arrangements: Applicants must hold interline passenger tickets or other documents with a specified date and seat to a third country (region) within 240 hours.
- Arrival Procedures: Applicants must complete the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners and cooperate with checks and inquiries by exit-entry border inspection authorities.
Application Process:
- Eligible foreigners may submit applications to border inspection authorities at 60 designated ports of entry, such as Beijing and Shanghai.
- The border inspection authorities will process temporary entry procedures.
- The stay period begins at 0:00 on the day after entry.
Additional Notes:
- Applicants who qualify under mutual visa exemption agreements signed with China or China’s unilateral visa exemption policies may follow the relevant provisions.
- For the most accurate and updated information, consult the China National Immigration Administration or your nearest Chinese embassy/consulate.