🌍 China’s Unilateral Visa-Free Entry Scheme (Latest Update)

30 Days Visa-Free Country List

Effective Date: June 6, 2025

Who it applies to: Ordinary passport holders from 43 countries

Purpose: For business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchange, or transit

Max stay per visit: 30 days (counted from 00:00 the day after arrival)

This policy does not require a visa or embassy approval and permits multiple short visits throughout the year as long as each visit remains under 30 days.

📍 Europe (30 Days Visa-Free)

🌏 Asia-Pacific (30 Days Visa-Free)

🌿 Latin America (30 Days Visa-Free)

💼 Entry Rules & Useful Info

• No pre-approval needed: Just present your passport upon arrival.
• Short stays only: Limited to tourism, business, or family visits. Not valid for work, study, or journalism.
• Multiple visits allowed: You can re-enter multiple times as long as each visit is under 30 days.
• Bring proof of onward travel: Immigration may ask to see a return flight or hotel bookings.
• Extensions: If you wish to stay longer than 30 days, apply for a visa from within China before expiry.

240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy (10 Days)

🧭 What Is the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit?

China’s 240-hour visa-free transit (also called TWOV: Transit Without Visa) lets eligible travelers enter China without a visa, stay up to 10 days, and then leave for a third country or region.

✅ Key Rules:

• Stay up to 240 hours (10 days) in China
• Enter and exit from designated ports in 24 provinces
• Cross-province travel is now allowed
• Must arrive from one country and depart to another
• No visa is needed in advance

🌍 Who Is Eligible?

Travelers holding passports from 55 countries qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit.

🛬 What Are the Conditions?

To qualify, you must:

• Hold a valid passport from one of the 55 countries
• Fly into China from one country and exit to a different one
  • Example: Tokyo → Shanghai → Bangkok ✅
  • Tokyo → Shanghai → Tokyo ❌
• Enter through a designated city or airport (see next section)
• Leave within 240 hours (counting from 00:00 the day after entry)

Carry proof of:

• Flight ticket to your next destination
• Hotel booking (or accommodation address)
• Sufficient funds for your stay

🗺️ Where Can You Enter? Cities and Regions Included

In 2025, the 240-hour transit policy is available at 60+ ports in the following 24 provinces and cities.

Major Approved Areas

🧠 Tip: Always check your arrival and exit city in advance. Not all Chinese airports are eligible. Use major international airports like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Chengdu for best results.

⏳ How Is the 240 Hours Calculated?

Your allowed time begins at 00:00 the day after you arrive.

Example:

• Arrival: July 10 at 18:00 → Your 240 hours start at 00:00 on July 11
• You must leave by: July 20 at 23:59

🧳 Can I Travel Across China During My Stay?

Yes! As of June 2025, you can travel freely between any of the 24 allowed provinces. This means you can:

• Land in Beijing
• Visit Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin, Zhangjiajie
• Fly out from Shanghai — all under the same visa-free entry!

You no longer need to stay in one city or province.

✨ What Can You Do in 10 Days?

With China’s high-speed rail network and dozens of flights, you can easily:

• Visit the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, and Pandas in Chengdu
• Hike in Zhangjiajie or sail the Li River in Guilin
• Stroll the Bund in Shanghai and dine in Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter
• Attend trade fairs in Guangzhou or business meetings in Beijing

📝 Final Tips

Plan your flights carefully — no stopovers in China outside the allowed area

• Pre-book flights and hotels to avoid immigration issues
• Always carry your passport, onward ticket, and hotel confirmations