China’s year-old 240-hour visa-free transit policy is paying visible dividends. New figures released on 19 December by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) show that 40.6 million foreign nationals entered China during the past twelve months, a surge of 27.2 percent year-on-year. More tellingly, use of the transit scheme— which allows travellers from 55 countries to spend up to ten days in China without a visa when en-route to a third destination—grew 60.8 percent compared with the period before the policy was unified and lengthened.
The programme replaced the patchwork 72-hour and 144-hour transit options on 17 December 2024, giving long-haul passengers more time to conduct meetings, visit factories or explore China’s tourism hubs. It now covers 65 ports in 24 provincial-level regions, after Guangzhou’s Pazhou Ferry Terminal, Hengqin, Zhongshan Port, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and West Kowloon Station were added in November. Indonesia became the latest nationality to benefit in June 2025.
![China’s 240-hour visa-free transit drives record 40.6 million foreign arrivals]()
For travellers wondering whether their itinerary or passport meets the requirements, VisaHQ offers a convenient one-stop resource. Its China page (https://www.visahq.com/china/) breaks down the 240-hour transit rules, lists eligible ports and nationalities, and can arrange full visas when a waiver won’t suffice—helping visitors avoid costly mistakes before they board.
Beijing remains the biggest winner, receiving 3.4 million arrivals under the policy—55 percent of the capital’s total foreign footfall. Hoteliers in Shanghai and Shenzhen report double-digit occupancy growth driven by transit visitors who now tack on a short stay instead of connecting immediately. International airlines are also re-timing flights to maximise the 240-hour window; Lufthansa recently pushed its Frankfurt-Shanghai departure two hours earlier so Europe-bound passengers can squeeze in six full days on the mainland without a visa.
For multinationals, the extension removes one of the remaining frictions to bringing in short-term specialists and clients. Companies no longer have to budget three-figure visa fees or factor in consulate lead-times, making China more competitive for regional conferences and last-minute service calls. Travel managers, however, should verify that employees stay within permitted cities and depart on time—overstays still attract fines and possible entry bans. With inbound numbers finally edging toward pre-pandemic levels, the NIA hinted that additional nationalities could be added in 2026 as China courts foreign investment.
The programme replaced the patchwork 72-hour and 144-hour transit options on 17 December 2024, giving long-haul passengers more time to conduct meetings, visit factories or explore China’s tourism hubs. It now covers 65 ports in 24 provincial-level regions, after Guangzhou’s Pazhou Ferry Terminal, Hengqin, Zhongshan Port, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and West Kowloon Station were added in November. Indonesia became the latest nationality to benefit in June 2025.
For travellers wondering whether their itinerary or passport meets the requirements, VisaHQ offers a convenient one-stop resource. Its China page (https://www.visahq.com/china/) breaks down the 240-hour transit rules, lists eligible ports and nationalities, and can arrange full visas when a waiver won’t suffice—helping visitors avoid costly mistakes before they board.
Beijing remains the biggest winner, receiving 3.4 million arrivals under the policy—55 percent of the capital’s total foreign footfall. Hoteliers in Shanghai and Shenzhen report double-digit occupancy growth driven by transit visitors who now tack on a short stay instead of connecting immediately. International airlines are also re-timing flights to maximise the 240-hour window; Lufthansa recently pushed its Frankfurt-Shanghai departure two hours earlier so Europe-bound passengers can squeeze in six full days on the mainland without a visa.
For multinationals, the extension removes one of the remaining frictions to bringing in short-term specialists and clients. Companies no longer have to budget three-figure visa fees or factor in consulate lead-times, making China more competitive for regional conferences and last-minute service calls. Travel managers, however, should verify that employees stay within permitted cities and depart on time—overstays still attract fines and possible entry bans. With inbound numbers finally edging toward pre-pandemic levels, the NIA hinted that additional nationalities could be added in 2026 as China courts foreign investment.
