Eligible Countries

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Belarus and Norway.
The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
Australia and New Zealand.
South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

Documents Required

  • 1

    A valid passport issued by the 54 countries mentioned above.

  • 2

    A connecting ticket to a third country or region with a confirmed seat and date within 240 hours.

  • 3

    The arrival card for foreigners in transit that is filled out upon arrival in China.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which ports does the 240-hour visa-free transit policy cover?

Which ports does the 240-hour visa-free transit policy cover?
Where should I go for border inspection procedures when arriving at the port of Shanghai?

Where should I go for border inspection procedures when arriving at the port of Shanghai?
How is the duration of the 240-hour visa-free transit calculated?

How is the duration of the 240-hour visa-free transit calculated?
If I am a citizen of Australia and plan to book a Sydney-Shanghai-Melbourne ticket, will I be eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit?

If I am a citizen of Australia and plan to book a Sydney-Shanghai-Melbourne ticket, will I be eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit?
If I have a valid Chinese visa in my passport and am eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit, but I would like to save the visa for my next trip to China, will the border inspection station use my Chinese visa for entry this time?

If I have a valid Chinese visa in my passport and am eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit, but I would like to save the visa for my next trip to China, will the border inspection station use my Chinese visa for entry this time?
What should I do if I need to leave the allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers or cannot depart within 240 hours due to special circumstances?

What should I do if I need to leave the allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers or cannot depart within 240 hours due to special circumstances?
Will stay at a Shanghai hotel be a problem under the transit policy?

Will stay at a Shanghai hotel be a problem under the transit policy?

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Latest

China extends visa-free transit stays to 240 hours

To find out more about the exit-entry policies, you can follow the official website, WeChat or Weibo account of the "上海边检" (Shanghai Border Inspection).

You can also call +86-021-51105100 to consult with the Shanghai Exit-Entry Border Inspection General Station. For English-language service, call +86-12367.