China Expands 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit to 57 Countries (Updates for 2026)
China has significantly expanded its 240-hour visa-free transit program, now including 57 countries. From August 20, 2026, new additions to the scheme will include Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam. This allows eligible international travelers to stay in specific designated areas of China for up to 10 days (240 hours) without needing a visa.
Important Note for Indian Travelers: India is currently not on the list of eligible countries for this program. Therefore, Indian passport holders transiting through China will generally still require a valid Chinese visa, as they cannot utilize this 10-day visa-free exemption.
Understanding China’s 10-Day Visa-Free Transit Rules and Requirements
To qualify for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit, eligible foreign nationals must meet specific criteria:
- Possess an ordinary passport.
- Hold a confirmed, dated onward ticket to a third country or region.
- Enter through one of the 65 designated ports across 24 provinces, regions, and municipalities, including major international gateways such as Beijing and Shanghai.
Permitted activities under this transit scheme include short-term tourism, business meetings, and visiting friends or relatives. However, activities such as work, study, or news reporting are strictly prohibited and require a separate, appropriate Chinese visa or prior authorization.
For Indian travelers connecting through China, it’s crucial to remember that this policy does not apply. Passengers from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru using China as a transit point will need to secure a Chinese transit visa.
Complete List of 57 Countries Eligible for China’s 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit
Here is the full breakdown of countries whose citizens can benefit from China’s extended 10-day visa-free transit scheme:
Europe (40 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
- Monaco
- Russia
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- Cyprus
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Ukraine
- Serbia
- Croatia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Albania
- Belarus
- Norway
Americas (6 Countries):
- United States
- Canada
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Argentina
- Chile
Oceania (2 Countries):
- Australia
- New Zealand
Asia (9 Countries):
- South Korea
- Japan
- Singapore
- Brunei
- United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
- Indonesia
- Vietnam
- Kyrgyzstan
This expansion aligns with a wider global trend where countries are increasingly using longer transit exemptions to encourage short-stay visitors from connecting passengers. India, however, remains outside this particular arrangement.
Key Updates: China’s Visa-Free Transit Changes Since 2024
China initially introduced the expanded 240-hour (10-day) transit period in December 2024. This significant update replaced the earlier 72-hour and 144-hour options and incorporated more eligible ports and transit areas.
The program has continued to evolve since its inception:
- 2025: Indonesia was added to the list of eligible countries.
- August 20, 2026: Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam are scheduled to join the program.
These latest additions will increase the total number of eligible countries from 55 to 57 and expand the number of participating transit ports to 65.
Travelobiz Insight: Implications of China’s Visa-Free Transit Policy
While this expanded 240-hour visa-free transit scheme offers considerable convenience for travelers from the 57 eligible nations, it currently provides no direct benefit for Indian passport holders. Indian citizens transiting through China will still need to apply for an appropriate Chinese transit visa when this exemption does not apply to their specific travel route or nationality.
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