China's Entry & Exit Information 2026

• China's customs channels are divided into two types: the red channel (also called the tax channel) and the green channel (also called a free channel).

• Foreign travelers usually enter China through the Red Channel. They must declare first to Customs after filling in the passenger baggage declaration form and can enter after registration at customs.
• The completed customs declaration form must be presented again when leaving China. The form must be filled in truthfully and accurately, and those who provide false information or fail to declare items will be subject to legal action by customs once identified.
• The items exceeding the maximum limit listed in the document table should be processed according to other relevant provisions.

• Foreign personnel who have been granted a diplomatic visa-passport or courtesy visa-passport by the Chinese authorities or granted free-of-examination courtesy can choose the green channel. But they have to show their credentials to the customs and the declaration document table filled out according to the requirements.

Foreigners entering China must truthfully fill in health declaration forms as requested by border quarantine departments. Failure to report infectious diseases may result in punishment for evading quarantine and prevention from entering China upon identification. Those who have entered China without reporting an infectious disease may be ordered to leave in advance.

The following individuals are not allowed to enter China:

A. Those who have been deported from China are under the regulated age.

B. Those who are considered possible terrorists or may undertake violence and subversive activities after entering.

C. Those who are suspected of possible smuggling, drug trafficking, and prostitution activities.

D. Those who have mental illnesses or have leprosy, AIDS, venereal diseases, open tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases.

E. Those who cannot afford what is needed in China.

F. Those who are considered to possibly engage in activities that endanger the security and interests of China after entering.

Foreign tourists must leave China within the allowed time limit of their visa from the allocated port. They must present effective passports or other effective certificates to the port border checkpoint.

A. Defendants in a criminal case or criminal suspects identified by the people's procuratorates, public security organs, or the court.

B. Individuals are not allowed to leave the country due to unsettled civil cases, according to the People's Court notice.

C. Others whose behaviors have violated China's laws and have been identified by competent authorities as needing pursuit.

The border authorities have the right to prevent the following individuals from leaving China:

A. Those who hold invalid certificates.

B. Those who have forged, defaced, or altered other people's passports or certificates.

C. Those who refuse to be inspected.

1. You must be a citizen of one of the 55 countries. For example, if you are a US citizen currently living in Madagascar, you can still qualify if you hold a valid US passport for more than 3 months.

2. The places you visit from China must be a third country or region. For example, your itinerary can be USA - Beijing - Shanghai - UK.

3. You must depart China within 240 hours (10 days) after your arrival. Time starts from the day after you arrive.

4. You must hold an onward ticket with a confirmed departure time and seat to a third country or region.

5. You must enter China through one of the 60 eligible ports. The exit port can be different from the entry port. For example, you can enter Beijing and exit in Shanghai.

6. You can only travel between provinces within the allowed 24 regions. This policy does not cover autonomous regions and provinces such as Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Qinghai, Gansu, and Jilin.

Countries Qualified for the 240-Hour Visa-Free TransitCountries Qualified for the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Citizens from 55 countries are eligible for a 240-hour transit without a visa (10-day TWOV) in China. However, if you have a record of violating Chinese laws, you may not be permitted to enter China for any purpose, even if you are from one of these countries.

• Americas (6 countries): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
• 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
• Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand
• Asia (7 countries): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia

The 240-hour visa-free transit requires that the country you go to from China be a third country or a third region. A third country refers to any country other than your departure country and China. In other words, the country you were in before entering China and the country you go to from China cannot be the same, nor can they be two cities within the same country. Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are considered third regions.

For example, your tour route can be:

√ US - Beijing - Hong Kong

√ US - Beijing - Xi'an - Shanghai - Japan

√ Hong Kong - Guilin - Zhangjiajie - Guangzhou - Qatar

√ Germany - Shanghai - Beijing - Guilin - Hong Kong

√ UK - Xi'an - Zhangjiajie - Guilin - Shanghai - South Korea

The most recommended route to fully utilize the 240-hour visa-free transit:

• 10-Day Cultural and Natural Wonders of China: Beijing-Xi’an-Zhangjiajie-Shanghai
• 11-Day Glories of China tour: Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Yangshuo - Shanghai

But your itinerary cannot be:

× Japan - Guangzhou - Shanghai - Japan

× New York - Beijing - Shanghai - San Francisco

× UK - Hong Kong - Beijing - Shanghai - Hong Kong - UK

• A passport that is valid for more than 3 months from the date of your arrival.
• A confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, such as an airplane, train, or ship ticket, with a seat and departure date already set.
• Arrival card and departure card.

Your maximum stay is limited to 240 hours (10 days) from midnight the day after you arrive in China. In fact, including the day you arrive, you can stay for a total of 11 days.

For instance, if you arrive in Beijing at 4:00 PM on June 1, then your 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit will begin counting from 0:00 on June 2. You just need to leave before midnight on June 11.

1. Choose one of the eligible entry ports.

2. Inform your carrier agent that you wish to use a 240-hour visa-free transit at check-in.

3. After landing, follow the signs to find the border inspection area.

4. Fill in and submit the Arrival Card.

5. Pass through the 240-hour visa-free transit inspection channel.

6. Present your passport, ticket, and arrival card to the staff, and answer their questions truthfully.

7. Claim luggage and go through customs.