Do you need a visa to transit through Shanghai airport?

? Travelers of any foreign countries can get 24 visa free transit with connecting (air, ship, train) tickets to a third country (region). It allows travelers to transit in Shanghai without going through any immigration inspections. You can stay inside the airport or leave the airport to visit Shanghai within 24 hours.



In 2026, most international travelers do not need a visa to transit through Shanghai’s airports (Pudong PVG or Hongqiao SHA) for short layovers, thanks to several "Visa-Free Transit" (TWOV) policies. If you are staying within the international transit area and your connecting flight departs within 24 hours, no visa is required. For longer stays, citizens of 54 countries—including the U.S., UK, Canada, and most EU nations—can utilize the 144-hour (6-day) visa-free transit policy. This allows you to exit the airport and explore Shanghai and the neighboring Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces without a formal visa, provided you have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. In 2026, this policy was recently "upgraded" to allow for a 240-hour (10-day) stay for certain eligible travelers. To use this, you must apply for a "Temporary Entry Permit" at the immigration desk upon arrival. It is a "gold standard" requirement that your passport must have at least six months of validity and you must have a physical copy of your onward itinerary.

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You're allowed to have a 24 hours transit visa for free to get out of the airport during your layover in Shanghai. You will just need to show them that you have another plane booked to get a visa for Shanghai layover, otherwise they won't let you out.

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As long as you have a connecting ticket to a third country or region within 144 hours, you can enjoy the visa-free transit, regardless of whether you enter China by plane, train or ferry via the airports, railway stations or cruise terminals in Shanghai, Nanjing Lukou Airport in Jiangsu or Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport in ...

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As of November 2023, Chinese passport holders can travel visa free to 46 countries and territories:
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Approved by the State Council, citizens with passports from 53 countries holding valid international travel documents and onward flight tickets with a confirmed seat to a third country (region) within 72 hours or 144 hours after arrival are allowed to transit via some Chinese airports without applying for Chinese visas ...

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