Quỳnh Nguyễn · reviewed on
China's 240-hour visa-free transit lets nationals of 57 countries stay up to 10 days without a visa if they fly on to a third country or region. Since 20 August 2026, Vietnam is on the list. You must enter through one of 65 designated ports, hold a confirmed onward ticket and stay within the permitted areas of 24 provincial-level regions. A Vietnam - China - Vietnam round trip does not qualify.
⚠️ Verify before you go: the National Immigration Administration (NIA) changes this policy often; checked on 1 October 2026. The airline and border police make the final call.
240-hour transit at a glance
| Item | Rule (as of 1 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Eligible countries | 57, incl. US, UK, Canada, Australia, most of Europe and Vietnam (Announcement No. 4 of 2026) |
| Maximum stay | 240 hours, counted from 0:00 the day after entry |
| Entry points | 65 ports in 24 provinces and municipalities |
| Passport | Ordinary, valid at least 3 months |
| Ticket | Confirmed seat and date to a third country or region |
| Allowed | Tourism, business, visits, family visits |
| Not allowed | Work, study, journalism |
| Extra for Vietnamese | 30-day visa-free entry limited to Hainan |
What counts as a "third country"?
The pattern is A → mainland China → C, where A and C differ. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as separate regions. For a traveller starting in Vietnam, C must be somewhere other than Vietnam: Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and so on.
You must also meet the entry requirements of your next destination: Vietnamese passports need visas for Japan and Korea. The announcement mentions "interline" tickets, while the NIA policy page says "onward tickets with confirmed seats and departure dates". Separately booked but confirmed tickets are usually accepted, but confirm with your airline.
Other passports: French ordinary passports get 30 days visa-free until 31 December 2026 per France Diplomatie, no onward ticket needed. Check whether your nationality has a similar exemption.
Valid and invalid itineraries (Vietnamese passport)
| Itinerary | Result | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi → Shanghai Pudong → Tokyo | Valid | Third country, eligible port (Japanese visa needed) |
| Hanoi → Beijing → Hanoi | Not valid | Returns to the origin country |
| Ho Chi Minh City → Shanghai, train to Beijing → Seoul | Valid | Cross-province travel inside permitted areas |
| Da Nang → Guangzhou → Hong Kong → Da Nang | Valid if you can enter Hong Kong | Exit to a third region; Guangdong allows exit at all its open ports |
| Hanoi → Chengdu, side trip to Jiuzhaigou → Bangkok | Not valid | Jiuzhaigou is outside Sichuan's 11 permitted cities |
| Lao Cai → Hekou → Kunming → Bangkok | Not valid | Hekou is not a 240-hour port |
| Hanoi → Haikou → Hanoi, two weeks | Valid (Hainan 30-day rule) | Not transit; you must stay in Hainan |
When do the 240 hours start?
According to the NIA notice, the stay is calculated from 0:00 on the day after entry. Land in Shanghai at 3 pm on 1 November, the clock starts at 0:00 on 2 November, and you must be out of China before 0:00 on 12 November. I always leave half a day of buffer: a cancelled flight is not an excuse border police accept.
Which ports and areas are covered?
The NIA table fully covers Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shaanxi (Xi'an), Chongqing and Hunan (Zhangjiajie). Partial coverage:
- Sichuan: 11 cities including Chengdu, Leshan and Ya'an; Jiuzhaigou is out.
- Yunnan: Kunming, Lijiang and Mohan ports; 9 prefectures, Shangri-La is out.
- Guangxi: Nanning, Guilin and Beihai; 12 cities.
For Vietnamese travellers the key point is that no land crossing with Vietnam is on the list: not Hekou (Lao Cai), Youyiguan (Lang Son) or Dongxing (Mong Cai). In practice you fly in.
The Hainan 30-day option
The same 20 August 2026 announcement lets Vietnamese ordinary passport holders enter Hainan through its open ports and stay up to 30 days within the province, with no third-country ticket. Hanoi - Sanya - Hanoi works; flying on to Beijing under this rule does not.
At the airport
- Check-in: say you are using the "240-hour visa-free transit" and show your onward ticket. Airlines can refuse boarding if unsure.
- Arrival: present your passport, the arrival card (online since 20 November 2025) and onward ticket; officers grant temporary entry. Then stay inside the permitted areas.
Transit or tourist visa?
If your trip already combines China with Japan, Korea or Hong Kong, transit saves the visa fee (45 USD plus 725,000 VND, single entry). For a round trip, see our China visa guide 2026. I check every stop against the permitted areas; our 10-day itinerary fits, with or without a Vietnamese-speaking guide.
Sources
- National Immigration Administration, Announcement No. 4 of 2026, 20 Aug 2026
- NIA, Visa-Free Transit Policies: 57 countries, 65 ports, 20 Aug 2026
- NIA, Notice on conditions and 240-hour calculation
- Shanghai Government, 240-hour visa-free transit policy
- France Diplomatie, Chine : entrée et séjour
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center Da Nang, Schedule of fees
Frequently asked questions
How does the 240 hour visa free transit in China work?
Nationals of 57 countries, including Vietnam since 20 August 2026, can enter mainland China without a visa through one of 65 designated ports and stay up to 240 hours (10 days), provided they hold an ordinary passport and a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. They must stay within the permitted areas of 24 provincial-level regions.
What documents do I need for China visa free transit?
You need an ordinary passport valid for at least 3 months, an onward ticket with a confirmed seat and departure date to a third country or region within 240 hours, any visa required by that next destination, and the arrival card for temporary-entry foreigners, which can be filled in online since 20 November 2025. Tell the airline at check-in.
Can I travel to multiple cities in China on the 240 hour visa free transit?
Yes. Since the policy now covers 24 provincial-level regions, you can enter in Shanghai, take the train to Beijing and fly out from there, as long as every place you visit is inside the permitted areas. Some provinces are only partly covered: Sichuan allows 11 cities, Yunnan 9 prefectures and Guangxi 12 cities.
When do the 240 hours start counting?
The clock starts at 0:00 on the day after you enter China, not when you land. If you arrive in Shanghai at 3 pm on 1 November, the 240 hours run from 0:00 on 2 November, so you must leave China before midnight at the end of 11 November.
Can Vietnamese citizens use the 240-hour transit for a Hanoi - China - Hanoi trip?
No. The policy requires onward travel to a third country or region, so returning to Vietnam does not count as transit. A simple round trip from Vietnam needs a tourist L visa, which costs 45 USD for a single entry plus a visa centre service fee of 725,000 VND at the standard rate. Hanoi - Shanghai - Tokyo would qualify.
