Do you need a transit visa for China (mainland)?
China offers 24-hour visa-free transit nationwide, and 72/144-hour visa-free transit in many cities for ~54 nationalities with an onward ticket.
Staying airside (not leaving the airport)
If you stay in the international transit area and don't clear immigration, you generally don't need a visa. To leave the secure area you use one of the transit schemes below.
Leaving the airport during your layover
China runs generous visa-free transit programmes that let eligible travelers leave the airport during a layover.
Key transit schemes & facts
- 24-hour visa-free transit: available nationwide to most nationalities, with an onward ticket to a third country/region.
- 72-hour and 144-hour visa-free transit: available at many major cities and provinces for citizens of around 54 countries, travelling between two different countries/regions.
- You must arrive and depart from eligible ports and have a confirmed onward ticket within the time window.
- Hong Kong and Macao have separate entry rules from mainland China.
Official source
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a transit visa to connect through China (mainland)?
China offers 24-hour visa-free transit nationwide, and 72/144-hour visa-free transit in many cities for ~54 nationalities with an onward ticket.
Can you transit airside through China (mainland) without a visa?
If you stay in the international transit area and don't clear immigration, you generally don't need a visa. To leave the secure area you use one of the transit schemes below.
What if you want to leave the airport during a layover in China (mainland)?
China runs generous visa-free transit programmes that let eligible travelers leave the airport during a layover.
Check the visa you'll need at your destination
Beyond transit, you'll need to know the visa rules for where you're actually going.
Open the visa checker →