240-hour Transit Visa Exemption for China

The 240 hours are calculated from 0:00 AM on the day following entry until 24:00 PM on the day of exit. For example: if you enter on December 1st, the 10-day visa-free period is from 0:00 AM on December 2nd to 24:00 PM on December 11th, and you must exit before 24:00 PM on December 11th.

Yes, you can travel freely within the provinces covered by the visa-free policy within 10 days.

No, according to policy regulations, foreigners entering from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan are not eligible for the 240-hour transit visa exemption policy. You need to apply for the corresponding visa in advance.

No, you must have a confirmed onward ticket with a fixed date and seat in advance.

Allowed, it supports entry and exit from different ports.

There are dedicated counters at designated ports (e.g., Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 3). You need to fill out the "Temporary Entry Card for Foreigners" on site, submit your passport + onward ticket, and after border inspection approval, the permit will be issued.

Allowed. For example, USA → Guangzhou → Hong Kong West Kowloon, you can apply for visa-free entry with a high-speed rail ticket; Canada → Zhuhai → Macau, the same applies with a ferry ticket.

Allowed. For example, high-speed rail tickets from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, ferry tickets from Zhuhai to Macau, and other cross-border land, sea, and air intermodal tickets all meet the requirements.

Immediately report to the public security organ in your place of stay, apply for a stay permit at the exit-entry administration department with the "Passport Loss Report," and contact your country's embassy or consulate to reapply for travel documents.

If you are a citizen of a mutually visa-exempt country like Singapore, it is recommended to directly use the 30-day visa exemption (more flexible); if only transiting, choose the 240-hour visa exemption (no visa fee required).

A fine of 500 yuan per day will be imposed, up to 10 days of detention and ordered to leave the country within a limited period, and you will not be allowed to apply for transit visa exemption within 5 years.

Search for the "National Immigration Administration" mini-program on WeChat, or call the 12367 hotline (supports 8 languages including English, Japanese, and Korean).

Including commercial filming, online live streaming for profit, temporary teaching, etc., even if no labor contract is signed, it may still be deemed illegal.

Terminal 3 has a "Transit Visa Exemption Fast Lane" with English, Japanese, and Korean speaking specialists, shortening processing time to within 15 minutes. Note that between 22:00 and 6:00 daily, you need to go to the 24-hour emergency window for processing.

It provides "Air-Rail Intermodal" services, where you can complete transit procedures directly in the satellite terminal with a high-speed rail ticket. For example: a combined ticket from Paris → Shanghai → Hangzhou East Station allows you to complete all procedures within the isolation area.

Commercial photography requires a work visa, but personal travel photography is allowed. Drone aerial photography is strictly prohibited in no-fly zones (e.g., within 500 meters of military facilities), with offenders facing fines of up to 20,000 yuan.

One free change is allowed and must be completed before the 7th day of the stay period. For example, if the original D10 Hong Kong flight is changed to D11, you need to file with the border inspection station at the port of entry with the new ticket before D7.

Tickets for international services such as the China-Laos Railway (Kunming → Vientiane) and China-Vietnam Railway (Nanning → Hanoi) are recognized. Both paper tickets and electronic ticket numbers need to be provided for verification.

Submit your passport front page + e-ticket in the "Immigration Bureau" mini-program. The AI system generates a "Transit Pre-approval Code" in 10 minutes, which can reduce processing time at the port by 50%.

Avoid taking photos with a "V" gesture in front of government agencies or photographing people in ethnic minority costumes without permission. Be aware of dress code requirements in religious venues (e.g., no shorts in temples).

You can register for emergency treatment at hospitals above Level II with your passport. Beijing Xiehe / Shanghai Ruijin and 53 other foreign-related hospitals are recommended. Keep medical receipts to apply for an extension of stay.

You need to provide a hospital diagnosis certificate and apply to the exit-entry administration department of the municipal public security bureau in your place of stay 3 working days before the expiry of your stay period. The extension can be up to 30 days.