Is China visa free transit 144 hours?

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 ...



Yes, China offers a 144-hour visa-free transit policy, but it is strictly limited to citizens of 54 specific countries and applies only to certain ports of entry. As of 2026, travelers from the U.S., Canada, UK, most of the EU, Australia, and Singapore can stay in China for up to 6 days without a visa if they are transiting to a third country. For example, a trip from London to Shanghai to Tokyo qualifies, but London to Shanghai and back to London does not. To utilize this, you must have a confirmed onward ticket and enter through a designated port like Beijing (PEK/PKX), Shanghai (PVG/SHA), or Guangzhou (CAN). Furthermore, the 144-hour transit has been further expanded in 2026; many regions now offer a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit for the same group of 54 countries in areas like the "Yangtze River Delta" (Shanghai/Jiangsu/Zhejiang) and the "Jing-Jin-Ji" region (Beijing/Tianjin/Hebei). You must stay within the specific geographic region you entered. Always double-check the "Visit China" digital portal before departure, as some nationalities also benefit from a "Unilateral Visa-Free" policy that allows for a 30-day stay without any transit requirement.

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Actually, the 144-hour visa-free transit policy has gradually been resumed since January, when China downgrade COVID-19 from Class A management to Class B management. For example, Shanghai Port welcomed its first 144-hour visa-free transit passenger on January 10, 2023.

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Beijing Transit Lounge Foreigners that hold a valid ticket to depart Mainland China within 24 hours may apply for a 24-hour transit permit. To apply, please take your completed Foreigner Arrival Card, passport, boarding pass for your onward flight and travel itinerary to the immigration counter.

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24/72/144-hour China visa-free transit. China allows eligible travelers from certain countries to enter and stay in certain areas of China for 24, 72, and 144-hour periods without prior application for a visa when transiting to a third country.

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In most, not all, countries if you are transitting you remain airside and do not pass immigration. Therefor, you do not need a visa. In the US, however, if you are transitting and change planes, you have to clear customs and immigration, collect your baggage and check in again.

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The government has a TWOV 24-hour policy that grants passengers visa-free access for a day, and this rule applies to almost all ports of entry. However, if you plan to stay for more than 24 hours, you may need to apply for a 72 or 144 hour Transit visa.

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An airport transit visa is generally required if you travel internationally and if you need to transit through a country. Even if you do not intend to leave the airport, you may need an airport transit visa.

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A person can apply for C-1 status if their basis for entering the U.S. is “immediate and continuous transit through the U.S.”. This allows any C-1 visa holder a maximum of 29 days in the United States.

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If your layover in Shanghai is less than 6 hours or totally at night, it would be better stay at the airport. Otherwise, after getting the 144-hour visa free transit, you may leave Shanghai airport to visit the city.

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