If your ordinary passport is on the 57-country list, you have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan can count), and you enter through one of 65 designated ports, you can stay up to 240 hours without a visa. It is a transit rule, not a tourist visa. The United States is on this list — and is not on the 30-day visa-free entry list. In Shenzhen, do not enter at Luohu, Futian or Shenzhen Bay on this rule.
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Key facts
| Coverage (as of 20 Aug 2026) | 57 countries · 65 designated ports · according to the National Immigration Administration |
|---|---|
| What you need | Ordinary passport · confirmed onward ticket with a date · a designated port · stay in the permitted area |
| Onward destination | A third country or region — not back to where you started. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan can count |
| Not for | Work, study, or journalism — those still need a visa in advance |
| US passports | Eligible for this transit; not eligible for 30-day visa-free entry |
| Shenzhen entry that works | Bao’an Airport · Shekou ferry port · high-speed rail from West Kowloon |
| Shenzhen entry that does not | Luohu · Futian · Shenzhen Bay (land crossings) |
57 countries, 65 ports, a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region — and in Shenzhen, not via Luohu, Futian or Shenzhen Bay.
The Shenzhen catch is the one that sends people back to Hong Kong: three familiar land crossings do not qualify.
Honestly China editors
What the 240-hour transit actually is
China’s 240-hour visa-free transit lets citizens of eligible countries pass through China without a visa for up to 240 hours (ten days), as long as they are travelling on to a third country or region. According to the National Immigration Administration (NIA), as of 20 August 2026 the policy covers 57 countries and 65 designated ports in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.
It is a transit rule, not a tourist visa. You need a confirmed onward ticket with a seat and a departure date. Flying from the United States to Shanghai and then back to the United States does not qualify. Flying from the United States to Shanghai and then on to Japan does. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as separate destinations for this policy, so a routing such as New York → Shenzhen → Hong Kong can qualify — if every other condition is also met.
Who qualifies
You generally need all of the following:
- An ordinary passport from one of the 57 eligible countries. Travel documents and emergency passports usually do not qualify.
- A confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, with a date, and a stay in China of no more than 240 hours.
- Entry through one of the 65 designated ports, and travel only within the permitted stay area for that port.
- A purpose such as tourism, business, a visit or a family reunion. Work, study and journalism still need the appropriate visa, in advance.
The 57-country list includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and — from 20 August 2026 — Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam. The full official list is on the NIA page linked in the sources. We do not reproduce it here in case it changes.
Ports and the Shenzhen catch
Nationwide, there are 65 designated ports. Not every crossing in a city is one of them. That matters most in Shenzhen, because the crossings visitors use from Hong Kong are not all treated the same.
For entry on the 240-hour transit in Shenzhen, the ports that count are:
- Bao’an International Airport
- Shekou port (the ferry from Hong Kong)
- High-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon
Luohu, Futian and Shenzhen Bay — the land crossings most people walk or ride across — cannot be used to enter on the 240-hour transit. Luohu and Futian can typically be used to leave China while you are already on that transit. For the full crossing-by-crossing table, see Hong Kong to Shenzhen: which border, which visa rule.
How the 240 hours are counted
The official wording is that you may stay in the permitted area for no more than 240 hours. In practice, immigration stamps a permitted stay in your passport when you are admitted. Read that stamp and leave on time. Do not assume you can “count from the next morning” unless an officer or the stamp says so — that method is used for the 30-day visa-free entry, which is a different rule.
If your onward flight is delayed and you would overrun the stamp, talk to the exit-entry authority; do not simply overstay.
How to use it, step by step
Check the list and the port
Confirm your country is still eligible, and that both your arrival port and your departure port are designated. Confirm the cities you want to visit sit inside the permitted stay area for that port.
Buy a real onward ticket
A confirmed seat and a date, to a third country or region. A vague “I’ll get a bus to Hong Kong later” is not the same thing. Keep the ticket where you can show it.
Tell the airline when you check in
Some airlines want to see the onward ticket before they will board you without a visa. Have it ready, on paper or on your phone.
At immigration, ask for the 240-hour transit
There is often a dedicated counter. Fill in the arrival card accurately. If you also hold a Chinese visa and do not want to use it this time, say so.
Stay inside the permitted area, and leave on time
The stamp is the rule that applies to you. Work, study and news reporting are still not allowed.
How this differs from 30-day visa-free entry
| 240-hour transit | 30-day visa-free entry | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A transit, onward to a third place | A short stay, no onward-to-a-third-place requirement |
| Who | 57 countries (includes the US) | 50 countries (does not include the US) |
| How long | Up to 240 hours | Up to 30 days, counted from the day after entry |
| Ports | 65 designated ports only | Ordinary open ports, for those who qualify |
| Current end date | A standing policy — still confirm | For most of the 50 countries, currently announced through 31 December 2026 |
If you qualify for the 30-day waiver, it is usually the simpler rule. If you don’t — and many US passport holders don’t — the 240-hour transit is the visa-free option most people mean. Details: 30-day visa-free entry.
For a passport-by-passport starting point, including the United States case, see do I need a visa for China in 2026 and can Americans visit without a visa. The arrival card is separate: official online filling is free.
Frequently asked questions
Can US citizens visit China without a visa?
US passports are not on China’s 30-day visa-free entry list. They are on the 240-hour visa-free transit list, if you have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, use a designated port, and meet the other conditions. Otherwise, apply for a visa. Confirm on the National Immigration Administration site before you book.
Does Hong Kong count as a third country for the 240-hour transit?
Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as separate destinations for this policy, so a routing such as New York → Shenzhen → Hong Kong can qualify if every other condition is also met. Confirm your exact ports.
Can I walk into Shenzhen from Hong Kong at Luohu on the 240-hour transit?
No. Luohu, Futian and Shenzhen Bay cannot be used to enter on this rule. Use Bao’an Airport, Shekou ferry port, or the high-speed train from West Kowloon.
How many countries does the 240-hour transit cover?
According to the National Immigration Administration, as of 20 August 2026 it covers 57 countries and 65 ports, after Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added. Check the current official list.
Is this the same as the 30-day visa-free policy?
No. The 30-day waiver covers 50 countries, does not require an onward ticket to a third place, and for most of those countries is currently announced through 31 December 2026. The two lists overlap but are not the same: the US is on the transit list only.