Since the NIA notice of 19 December 2024, visa-free transit stays are up to 240 hours (10 days), up from the earlier 72 and 144 hours. The NIA page of 20 August 2026 lists 57 countries and 65 ports in 24 provinces, with Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang among the provinces. You need an ordinary passport and an onward ticket to a third country or region.
LiveEntry rules change. See the visa-free entry rules, checked 9 November 2026 →
What changed from 144 hours?
An NIA page of 3 July 2024 says Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang had jointly applied a 144-hour visa-free transit policy, with stays of up to 144 hours in the three places. The listed ports included Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Port and Shanghai Railway Station, Nanjing Lukou, Lianyungang, Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Ningbo Lishe, Wenzhou and Zhoushan.
On 19 December 2024 the NIA announced that stays under the transit policy extend from the previous 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours, that ports rise from 39 to 60 and that provinces rise from 19 to 24. Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang were already among the original 19. Older guides that say 144 hours describe the earlier rule.
How many countries are covered?
The NIA page of 3 November 2025 lists 55 countries and 65 ports. The page dated 20 August 2026 lists 57 countries and 65 ports in 24 provinces, adding Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam. Both include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Mexico. Neither lists India or Nigeria.
| Source | Date | Countries | Ports |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIA, relaxation notice | 19 Dec 2024 | 54 | 60 |
| NIA, 10 new measures | 3 Nov 2025 | 55 | 65 |
| NIA, visa-free transit policies | 20 Aug 2026 | 57 | 65 |
What are the conditions?
- An ordinary passport and an onward ticket with confirmed seats and departure dates to a third country or region, departing within 240 hours.
- A travel document valid for at least 3 months, per the November 2025 notice.
- The count starts at 0:00 on the day after entry.
- Stay within the permitted areas. Tourism, business, visits and family visits are allowed; work, study and news reporting need prior approval and a visa.
- Fill in the arrival card for temporary entry, which can be done online.
The permitted-area map and the full 65-port list are images on the NIA pages, and our reader could not read them. We therefore do not name every Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang port, and we do not say exactly which cities you may visit. We confirm the stay area with you before we plan a day trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou.
What about the 24-hour rule?
The 20 August 2026 page also says travellers of all other nationalities may transit for up to 24 hours without a visa, while staying within the port’s restricted area, with onward international tickets and confirmed seats. Leaving the restricted area needs a temporary entry permit from the port’s immigration authority.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Shanghai 144-hour visa-free policy still in force?
The NIA announced on 19 December 2024 that transit stays extend from the previous 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours. The 144-hour page is dated 3 July 2024.
How many days can you stay under visa-free transit in China?
Up to 10 days (240 hours) in the permitted areas, per the NIA page of 20 August 2026.
Which countries qualify for 240-hour transit?
57 countries on the 20 August 2026 NIA page, including the United States, UK, Canada, Australia and Mexico. India and Nigeria are not on the lists we read.
Do I need a ticket out of China?
Yes, an onward ticket with confirmed seats and dates to a third country or region.
Can I use 240-hour transit to visit Suzhou and Hangzhou?
Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are among the 24 provinces. The permitted-area map is an image we could not read, so we confirm the stay area before planning.
Do I need to fill in an arrival card for transit?
The November 2025 notice says yes, for temporary entry, and that it can be filled in online.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked on 9 November 2026 against these sources, from official pages where they exist and from the Wikipedia articles named in the list. Hours, prices and access change; we confirm them again before every trip.
- National Immigration Administration: Visa-Free Transit Policies, page dated 20 Aug 2026 (read 2026-11-09)
- National Immigration Administration: Announcement on implementing 10 new measures, 3 Nov 2025 (read 2026-11-09)
- National Immigration Administration: China’s Visa-Free Transit Policy Fully Relaxed and Optimized, 19 Dec 2024 (read 2026-11-09)
- National Immigration Administration: Visa-Free Transit Policies for Foreign Nationals, 3 Jul 2024 (read 2026-11-09)
