Ever fancied a stroll along the Bund, a sunrise hike on the Great Wall, or dumplings in Chengdu – without the hassle of applying for a Chinese visa? Well, here’s your golden ticket: China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy (that’s 10 days to you and me) is your excuse to detour through the Middle Kingdom en route elsewhere.
And yes, this rule still works in 2025 – with even more airports in on the action.
In This Post
The Basics: What’s the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy?
It’s called the TWOV: Transit Without Visa in proper travel. In plain English:
If you’re from one of 54 blessed countries (including the UK, US, EU, Australia, and more), you can enter China for up to 240 hours visa-free – as long as you’re transiting to a third country.
So, a cheeky UK–Shanghai–Tokyo itinerary? All good.
London–Beijing–London? Absolutely not. Nice try.
Here’s How It Works: No-Nonsense Edition
- Eligible travellers: Passport holders from 54 countries
- Purpose: Transit only (no business or “I just fancied a holiday” excuses)
- Max stay: 240 hours (that’s 10 days)
- The clock starts At 00:00 the day after you land. That’s right – land on Monday at 9am, and your countdown starts Tuesday at midnight. Win.
Where You Can Enter: Now Bigger Than Ever
As of 2025, the visa-free transit scheme is accepted at 60 entry ports across 24 provinces, including all the good stuff:
- PEK (Beijing Capital)
- PVG (Shanghai Pudong)
- CAN (Guangzhou)
- CTU (Chengdu Tianfu)
- XIY (Xi’an Xianyang)
- WUH (Wuhan)
- SZX (Shenzhen Bao’an)
- …and many more.
Your best bet? Fly into one of the mega hubs and book an onward ticket to somewhere dreamy – Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Sydney, or even Dubai.
You’ll Need:
- A passport valid for at least 3 months
- A confirmed onward ticket to a third country (not back where you came from)
- A completed arrival card and declaration
- No dodgy travel history or expired visas
- And a smile (optional but helps at immigration)
What You Can’t Do:
- Travel outside your approved region unless the whole country is listed (e.g., Shanghai lets you roam Jiangsu and Zhejiang, but don’t go wandering into Tibet)
- Reset the clock by hopping to Hong Kong and back – the authorities clock that
- Extend the stay. 240 hours. Hard stop.
Not to Be Confused With: Visa-Free Entry for Other Countries
In 2024 and 2025, China rolled out 15–30 day visa-free entry for countries like France, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
But the UK? Still not invited to that party.
So, for Brits, the 240-hour transit exemption remains your only legitimate shortcut into China without a visa.
Bonus: ASEAN Group Travel Loophole (Fun but Not for You)
Just so you know, groups from ASEAN countries (e.g., Thailand and Vietnam) can now visit Xishuangbanna in Yunnan for six days visa-free as long as they’re on a group tour.
It doesn’t help you, but it shows that China is becoming friendlier to tourism again. Watch this space.
Final Boarding Call: Palty’s Tips
- Use a third-country hop smartly: Book UK–China–Japan, or EU–China–Thailand. You need to leave for a different country than you came from.
- Print your itinerary: Screenshots work, but printed proof helps at check-in.
- Double-check your arrival and departure airport: Not all airports support this transit policy. Some cities require you to fly in and out of the same port.
Link for the visa can be found here:
Keep the Miles Rolling
Slide into the comments or ping us on X – we’ll help you milk this policy for all it’s worth.
