Transit rules · Mainland China
Layover in mainland China: transit visa and leaving the airport
Every foreign national may transit airside visa-free for up to 24 hours with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, staying in the port's restricted area (24-hour direct transit). Leaving the airport needs either the 30-day unilateral/mutual visa exemption (50 countries as of 2026-02-17, most until 2026-12-31), the 240-hour visa-free transit (57 countries as of 2026-08-20, onward ticket to a THIRD country or region, Beijing Capital/Daxing and Shanghai Pudong/Hongqiao are eligible ports), or a temporary entry permit from border inspection. Transferring between Hongqiao and Pudong counts as leaving the transit area and needs a temporary entry permit.
At a glance, by passport
| Passport | Change planes airside | Leave the airport |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, under the visa-free transit rules · 240 hours |
| Canada | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 30 days |
| United Kingdom | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 30 days |
| Australia | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 30 days |
| New Zealand | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 30 days |
| EU / EEA / Switzerland | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 30 days (Czechia, Lithuania: 240 hours) |
| India | No document needed to stay airside | Not without a visa |
| China (mainland) | – | Yes, you are at home here |
| Brazil | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 30 days |
| Mexico | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, under the visa-free transit rules · 240 hours |
| South Africa | No document needed to stay airside | Not without a visa |
| Philippines | No document needed to stay airside | Not without a visa |
| Japan | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 30 days |
| South Korea | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 30 days |
Changing planes without leaving the airport
Airside means you stay behind passport control: you walk from one gate to the next and never formally enter mainland China. Many countries let you do that without any document, some ask for an online authorisation or a transit visa even for this.
Holders of United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and South Korea passports can change planes airside without any document.
Leaving the airport
To see the city you pass immigration and enter mainland China like any visitor, so the normal entry rule for your passport applies, however short your stay.
Without a visa: Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, Brazil, Japan and South Korea. With the visa-free transit rules: United States and Mexico. Only with a visa: India, South Africa and Philippines. China (mainland) citizens are at home here.
Transit rules in mainland China
240-hour visa-free transit
Who: Ordinary-passport citizens of 57 countries (as of 2026-08-20): 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, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam.
- Passport valid at least 3 months
- Confirmed onward ticket (date and seat) to a third country or region departing within 240 hours
- Origin and destination must differ (official example: Sydney-Shanghai-Melbourne is advised to route via a third country); Hong Kong counts as a separate region (London-Shanghai-Hong Kong qualifies)
- Enter through one of 65 designated ports, including Beijing Capital (PEK), Beijing Daxing (PKX), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA)
- Stay only within the permitted areas (Beijing entry: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei); 24 provinces in total, cross-province travel allowed inside them
- Clock runs from 00:00 of the day after arrival
- No work, study or journalism
Source: National Immigration Administration of China , National Immigration Administration of China , Shenzhen Municipal Port Office (citing NIA) , Beijing Municipal People's Government , Shanghai Municipal People's Government (Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai PSB) , Shanghai Municipal People's Government , Shanghai Exit-Entry Border Inspection General Station , Shanghai Municipal People's Government
24-hour direct transit
Who: All foreign nationals
- Valid travel document and confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region
- Stay in China no longer than 24 hours
- Stay in the port restricted area; leaving it (city visit or Hongqiao-Pudong transfer) requires a temporary entry permit from border inspection
Source: National Immigration Administration of China , National Immigration Administration of China , Shanghai Municipal People's Government (Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai PSB)
30-day unilateral visa exemption
Who: Ordinary passports of 50 countries (as of 2026-02-17): Brunei (no end date), Russia (until 2027-12-31), and 48 others until 2026-12-31: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Republic of Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Sweden, Canada, United Kingdom.
- Purposes: business, tourism, family/friends visits, exchange, transit
- Up to 30 days, counted from the day after entry
- Can depart for China from any country; no onward-ticket requirement stated
- Valid until 24:00 Beijing time on 2026-12-31 for the 48 countries (no extension announced as of the check date)
Source: Embassy of the PRC in the UK , Embassy of the PRC in Sweden , Embassy of the PRC in Saudi Arabia
China’s 240-hour visa-free transit, explained
Your passport in detail
United States passport
Leave the airport: Yes, under the visa-free transit rules Not in the 30-day visa-free list. 240-hour visa-free transit with an onward ticket to a third country or region (Hong Kong/Macau count as a separate region, see s9); otherwise a visa, or a temporary entry permit from border inspection within 24 hours. Stay: 240 hours.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit: confirmed onward ticket to a third country/region, stay in the port restricted area.
Official source: Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , 240-hour visa-free transit policy (2025-11-03) , Does my London-Shanghai-Hong Kong journey qualify for the 240-hr visa-free transit? , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals , Can I have an inter-airport transfer during my layover in Shanghai?
Canada passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Unilateral visa exemption for ordinary passports from 2026-02-17 to 2026-12-31 (business, tourism, family visits, exchange, transit). 240-hour transit also available. Stay: 30 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit.
Official source: Notice on China's Visa Waiver Policy for the UK and Canada , FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (updated 2026/5/25) , Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
United Kingdom passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Unilateral visa exemption for ordinary passports from 2026-02-17 to 2026-12-31. 240-hour transit also available. Stay: 30 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit.
Official source: Notice on China's Visa Waiver Policy for the UK and Canada , FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (updated 2026/5/25) , Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
Australia passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Unilateral visa exemption, ordinary passports, until 2026-12-31. 240-hour transit also available. Stay: 30 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit.
Official source: FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (updated 2026/5/25) , Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
New Zealand passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Unilateral visa exemption, ordinary passports, until 2026-12-31. 240-hour transit also available. Stay: 30 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit.
Official source: FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (updated 2026/5/25) , Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
EU / EEA / Switzerland passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed All EU/EEA states and Switzerland are in the 30-day unilateral exemption (until 2026-12-31) EXCEPT Czechia and Lithuania, whose citizens can use only the 240-hour transit (both are on the 240-hour list) or a visa. Stay: 30 days (Czechia, Lithuania: 240 hours).
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit.
Official source: FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (updated 2026/5/25) , Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
India passport
Leave the airport: Not without a visa Not in the 30-day or 240-hour lists. Visa needed; within a 24-hour transit a temporary entry permit from border inspection may be requested to leave the port (discretionary).
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit applies to all foreign nationals.
Official source: Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (updated 2026/5/25) , Can I have an inter-airport transfer during my layover in Shanghai? , 外国人申请240小时过境免签政策条件是什么? (2025-03-20) , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
China (mainland) passport
Yes, you are at home here
Brazil passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Unilateral visa exemption, ordinary passports, until 2026-12-31. 240-hour transit also available. Stay: 30 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit.
Official source: FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (updated 2026/5/25) , Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
Mexico passport
Leave the airport: Yes, under the visa-free transit rules Not in the 30-day list; Mexico is on the 240-hour visa-free transit list (onward ticket to a third country/region). Stay: 240 hours.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit.
Official source: Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , 240-hour visa-free transit policy (2025-11-03) , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
South Africa passport
Leave the airport: Not without a visa Not in the 30-day or 240-hour lists. Visa needed (or a discretionary temporary entry permit within 24h transit).
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit applies to all foreign nationals.
Official source: Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (updated 2026/5/25) , 外国人申请240小时过境免签政策条件是什么? (2025-03-20) , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
Philippines passport
Leave the airport: Not without a visa Not in the 30-day or 240-hour lists. Visa needed (or a discretionary temporary entry permit within 24h transit).
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit applies to all foreign nationals.
Official source: Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (updated 2026/5/25) , 外国人申请240小时过境免签政策条件是什么? (2025-03-20) , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
Japan passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Unilateral visa exemption, ordinary passports, until 2026-12-31. 240-hour transit also available. Stay: 30 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit.
Official source: FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (updated 2026/5/25) , Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
South Korea passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Unilateral visa exemption, ordinary passports, until 2026-12-31. 240-hour transit also available. Stay: 30 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside 24-hour direct transit.
Official source: FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (updated 2026/5/25) , Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) , 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals
How much time you get in the city
Being allowed out is half the answer; the other half is the clock. Count the time to get off the plane and through immigration, the trip into town and back, and getting back early enough for security and the gate. Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK): the fastest public option, Capital Airport Express to Dongzhimen (about 20 min), then subway to Qianmen and a short walk to Tiananmen, takes about 50 minutes, so plan a layover of at least 6 h 15 min. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG): the fastest public option, Shanghai Maglev to Longyang Road (change to Metro Line 2 towards East Nanjing Road), takes 7 minutes, so plan a layover of at least 4 h 35 min.
The planner on each airport page does this for your own flight times and lets you change every assumption.
Questions
Do I need a transit visa for mainland China?
Holders of United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and South Korea passports can change planes airside without any document.
Can I leave the airport during a layover in mainland China?
It depends on your passport. Without a visa: Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, Brazil, Japan and South Korea. With the visa-free transit rules: United States and Mexico. Only with a visa: India, South Africa and Philippines. China (mainland) citizens are at home here.
How long a layover do I need to leave the airport?
With our cautious defaults (45 minutes to get out, the trip into town and back plus 20%, 120 minutes back before departure, at least 90 minutes in the city): Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK): the fastest public option, Capital Airport Express to Dongzhimen (about 20 min), then subway to Qianmen and a short walk to Tiananmen, takes about 50 minutes, so plan a layover of at least 6 h 15 min. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG): the fastest public option, Shanghai Maglev to Longyang Road (change to Metro Line 2 towards East Nanjing Road), takes 7 minutes, so plan a layover of at least 4 h 35 min.
Official sources
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Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20) (National Immigration Administration of China):
China is implementing this policy for nationals of 57 countries including Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States ... stay in the permitted areas for no more than 10 days.
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240-hour visa-free transit policy (2025-11-03) (National Immigration Administration of China):
interline tickets to a third country(region) with confirmed arrangements and departure dates within 240 hours
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Notice on China's Visa Waiver Policy for the UK and Canada (Embassy of the PRC in the UK):
From 00:00 on February 17, 2026 to 24:00 on December 31, 2026 (Beijing time), ordinary passport holders from the UK and Canada can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for up to 30 days
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FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (updated 2026/5/25) (Embassy of the PRC in Sweden):
Russia · remain in effect until December 31, 2027; Other 48 Countries · remain in effect until December 31, 2026
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24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals (National Immigration Administration of China):
China has implemented a 24-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals from all other countries
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Can I have an inter-airport transfer during my layover in Shanghai? (Shanghai Municipal People's Government (Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai PSB)):
If you plan to leave the transit area during your layover ... whether to transfer between Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong airports or to explore the city ... you must apply for a temporary entry permit at the border inspection upon arrival.
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外国人申请240小时过境免签政策条件是什么? (2025-03-20) (Shenzhen Municipal Port Office (citing NIA)):
持有本人有效国际旅行证件、有效期不少于3个月，符合前往第三国(地区)入境条件。
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240-hour visa free transit - Beijing (Beijing Municipal People's Government):
Beijing Capital International Airport ... Beijing Daxing International Airport
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Does my London-Shanghai-Hong Kong journey qualify for the 240-hr visa-free transit? (Shanghai Municipal People's Government (Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai PSB)):
Your itinerary (London→Shanghai→Hong Kong) qualifies for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy.
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Sydney-Shanghai-Melbourne ticket FAQ (Shanghai Municipal People's Government):
you are recommended to book an onward ticket from Shanghai to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or other cities out of China and Australia, and then depart for Melbourne.
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Which ports does the 240-hour visa-free transit policy cover? (Shanghai Exit-Entry Border Inspection General Station):
including Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports, Shanghai Port (Passenger), Nanjing Lukou International Airport
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How is the duration of the 240-hour visa-free transit calculated? (Shanghai Municipal People's Government):
the visa-free transit is calculated from 00:00 of the next day upon arrival.
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Notice on the Extension of the Unilateral Visa Exemption Policy (Embassy of the PRC in Saudi Arabia):
extended to 24:00 on December 31, 2026 ... ordinary passports ... business, tourism, family visits, exchange, and transit ... up to 30 days
Checked against these sources on 2026-11-01. Rules change; the airline and the border officer have the final word. Found something out of date? Tell us.