Visa · Transit policy

China 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Everything You Need to Know

If you're transiting through certain Chinese cities, you may be able to leave the airport and stay for up to 144 hours (6 days) without applying for a visa in advance. Eligibility depends on your nationality, your route, and which port you enter through. This guide covers the rules in plain English, common mistakes, and how to plan a proper trip around the policy.

At a Glance

  • Duration: Up to 144 hours (6 days), counted from the moment you pass immigration on arrival.
  • Route rule: Must be a true transit—fly in from Country A and out to a different Country B. Returning to your origin country doesn't count.
  • Stay area: You can only travel within the designated region tied to your entry port (e.g. if you land at Beijing Capital, you can visit Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei—not Shanghai).
  • Documents: Valid passport, onward ticket, and usually hotel booking or itinerary. Passport validity typically 6 months beyond departure.
  • Not a visa: You get a transit permit stamp—not a visa. It cannot be extended and does not allow you to travel outside the designated zone.

Who qualifies?

The 144-hour (and 240-hour in some regions) visa-free transit applies to nationals of a large and growing list of countries. As of early 2026, citizens of most European countries, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, UAE, and many others are eligible. China has also added a unilateral 15-day visa-free policy for some nationalities that goes beyond the transit scheme. Check the National Immigration Administration of China website or your country's embassy for the exact current list—it changes.

Key rule: you must exit to a different country

Your onward flight must go to a different country or territory from where you started. Example: US → Shanghai → Japan ✓. US → Shanghai → US ✗. US → Shanghai → Hong Kong ✓ (Hong Kong is a separate customs territory). US → Shanghai → Beijing (domestic) ✗ — domestic flights don't count as international transit. Immigration will check your onward ticket; if you don't have one or it returns to your origin, you will be denied the transit permit and may be held for the next available outbound flight.

Eligible ports and their regions

Each entry port is linked to a specific travel zone. You must stay within that zone and depart from it. Crossing into another zone voids your transit permit and is a visa violation.

Beijing region

Enter at: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX).
Travel zone: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province.
Day trips to: Tianjin (30 min by bullet train), Chengde or Shijiazhuang (within Hebei). You can take the train to Tianjin and back in a day and still be within the zone.

Shanghai region

Enter at: Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) or Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA).
Travel zone: Shanghai, Jiangsu province, Zhejiang province.
Day trips to: Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing (all within Jiangsu/Zhejiang, all under 2 hours by train). Great for 6-day itineraries.

Guangzhou / Shenzhen / Zhuhai region

Enter at: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN), Shenzhen Bao'an Airport (SZX), or others.
Travel zone: Guangdong province.
Day trips between Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai by high-speed rail or ferry. Great base for Pearl River Delta exploration.

Other major ports

Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an, Kunming, Qingdao, Xiamen, and others also offer 144-hour transit, each with their own zone. Chengdu covers Sichuan province; Xi'an covers Shaanxi. Always confirm the exact zone list for your entry port on the official immigration site before booking.

At the airport: what to expect at immigration

When you land, follow signs to "Transit without Visa" or join the general immigration queue for non-Chinese passport holders. Have these ready:

  • Your passport: Valid, with at least 6 months remaining (sometimes 3—check before you go).
  • Onward ticket: Printed or clearly visible on phone. Must show departure to a third country within 144 hours.
  • Hotel booking: Often asked for. Have at least your first night's booking confirmed.
  • Arrival card: Fill in on the plane or at the kiosk. Mark purpose of visit as "Transit."
  • Simple itinerary: Be ready to say where you're going in China and when you're leaving. A one-sentence answer is fine.

What if immigration asks questions?

Stay calm. Common questions: "Where are you going in China?" "When is your next flight?" "Do you have a hotel booking?" Answer simply and honestly. If your documents are in order, the transit permit is stamped into your passport and you're free to go. The whole process usually takes 10–30 minutes, longer at busy airports.

Planning your stay: what fits in 144 hours

144 hours = 6 days. That's a solid chunk of time. The key constraint is staying in the designated zone. A few popular plans:

Beijing zone (6 days)

  • Day 1: Arrive; Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City
  • Day 2: Great Wall (Badaling or Mutianyu)
  • Day 3: Summer Palace + hutongs
  • Day 4: Temple of Heaven + 798 Art District
  • Day 5: Day trip to Tianjin by bullet train
  • Day 6: Morning free; depart to third country

Shanghai zone (6 days)

  • Day 1: Arrive; the Bund and Nanjing Road at night
  • Day 2: Pudong skyline + French Concession
  • Day 3: Yu Garden + Xintiandi
  • Day 4: Day trip to Suzhou (25 min by train)
  • Day 5: Day trip to Hangzhou (1 h by train)
  • Day 6: Morning shopping; depart from Pudong or Hongqiao

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

  • Booking return flights: Your onward flight must go to a different country. A return to the same country you flew from will get your transit permit denied.
  • Crossing zone boundaries: Taking a bullet train from Shanghai to Beijing might seem easy—but it puts you in the Beijing zone without a visa. Stay in your designated zone or you risk detention and deportation on exit.
  • Overstaying: 144 hours is counted from the moment you pass immigration, not from midnight or your flight landing time. Track your hours carefully.
  • No onward ticket: Boarding your inbound flight without an onward ticket to a third country may cause issues at check-in. Book the onward ticket first.
  • Relying on this guide alone: Policies change. Always verify the current nationality list and port list on official channels before you book.

Not an official government website. Always confirm requirements with your airline, the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country, and the National Immigration Administration of China before you travel.