China Expands 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: 76 Countries for Visa-Free Entry, 55 Nations Enjoy 10-Day Transit Convenience
China Expands 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: 76 Countries for Visa-Free Entry, 55 Nations Enjoy 10-Day Transit Convenience
News Category
Policy & Visa Updates
Executive Summary
China continues to upgrade its visa facilitation policies: unilateral visa-free entry now covers 76 countries, the 240-hour transit visa exemption applies to 55 nations at 65 ports, and visa-free foreign entries exceeded 30.08 million in 2025, surging 49.5% year-on-year. Nine government departments jointly released measures to boost inbound consumption, and Indonesia has been newly added to the transit visa-free list.
Policy Highlights
Visa-Free Entry Covers 76 Countries
To date, China has implemented unilateral visa-free entry for 76 countries, spanning major source markets across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Visa-free stays typically range from 15 to 30 days, covering tourism, business, and family visits.
240-Hour Transit Visa Exemption Covers 55 Countries
The 240-hour (10-day) transit visa exemption applies to citizens of 55 countries, with entry available at 65 ports across 24 provinces nationwide. Compared with the previous 72/144-hour policy, the most significant breakthrough is the allowance for cross-region travel. Travelers are no longer confined to the city of their entry port and can freely visit multiple destinations within the same visa-free transit zone.
Indonesia Newly Added to the List
Indonesian citizens became eligible for the 240-hour transit visa exemption starting June 2025, making Indonesia the 55th qualifying country. As the most populous nation in Southeast Asia, Indonesia's inclusion will further expand China's inbound tourism source market from the region.
Key Data
| Metric | Value | YoY Change |
| Unilateral visa-free countries | 76 | — |
| Transit visa-exempt countries | 55 | — |
| Transit visa-free ports | 65 | — |
| Visa-free foreign entries (2025) | 30.08 million | +49.5% |
| Total inbound crossings (2025) | 82 million | +26.4% |
| Inbound arrivals since transit program launch | 40.6 million | +27.2% |
Nine Departments Jointly Promote Consumption
In March 2026, nine government departments including the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism jointly released measures to boost foreign visitor spending across six sectors:
1. Tourism Consumption: Expanding visa-free coverage and streamlining transit visa-free procedures
2. Business Activities: Simplifying exhibition visas and optimizing business reception services
3. Sports Events: Attracting international event spectator tourism
4. Cultural Entertainment: Enriching performing arts and intangible cultural heritage experiences
5. Health Services: Developing traditional Chinese medicine wellness and health tourism
6. Education and Training: Expanding short-term study tours and language learning programs
Practical Impact on Inbound Tourism
Guangdong: Natural First Stop for Proximity
Guangdong operates multiple transit visa-free ports including Guangzhou Baiyun and Shenzhen Bao'an International Airports. Geographically adjacent to Southeast Asia, it serves as the natural first stop for travelers from newly added visa-free countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. OTA bookings during the 2026 New Year holiday surged 76.3% year-on-year, with spending up 102.4%.
Zhejiang: Yangtze River Delta Integration
The integrated Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang transit visa-free zone allows travelers to enter via Shanghai and visit Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Wuzhen. Ten days provides ample time to cover the core Jiangnan destinations.
Hunan: Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Zone
Hunan welcomed 2.4065 million inbound visitors in 2025, up 19.08%. The launch of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Zone creates a synergistic effect with the transit visa-free policy, attracting more international visitors to Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang Ancient Town, and surrounding destinations.
Yunnan: Direct Southeast Asia Connection
Yunnan borders multiple Southeast Asian countries, and Kunming Changshui Airport serves as a transit visa-free port. Southeast Asian travelers can conveniently enter to experience Dian culture, Pu'er tea mountains, and ethnic minority traditions.
Outlook
As visa-free country coverage continues to expand and transit visa-free zones become further interconnected, China's "low-barrier experience" strategy for inbound tourism is proving effective. For travel service providers, the key lies in converting policy dividends into bookable standardized products, especially premium multi-stop itineraries within the 10-day window.
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> Published: 2026-05-12
> Data Sources: Xinhua, National Bureau of Statistics, National Immigration Administration, China Consular Affairs
> Brand: ChinaTravelPlus
> Website: chinatravelplus.com
> Slogan: More Than Travel. It's the Plus That Matters.
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