China’s decision to extend the maximum stay under its visa-free transit policy from 144 to 240 hours has proven a game-changer for business and leisure travel. A Ministry of Public Security briefing on 8 January revealed that 40.6 million foreigners entered the mainland during the first year of the upgraded scheme—up 27.2 percent year-on-year.([en.people.cn](https://en.people.cn/n3/2026/0108/c90000-20411781.html)) The programme now covers 55 countries and 65 air, rail and sea ports, giving carriers and corporate travel planners unprecedented routing flexibility.
Behind the headline figure is a 60.8 percent jump in travellers who actually used the waiver rather than a traditional visa. Airlines are responding by adding through-fares that combine an onward segment to a third country with a stop-over in Guangzhou, Beijing or Shanghai, allowing passengers to conduct meetings on the mainland before continuing to their final destination. For mobility managers, the uptick translates into shorter lead times and lower compliance costs because employees can bypass consulate appointments.
Local governments are racing to capture the windfall. Shanghai has introduced a “5+5 Fast Lane” that bundles the transit exemption with duty-free shopping vouchers, while Shenzhen’s Qianhai zone now lets eligible travellers register companies during their 10-day stay. Consulting firms report growing demand from European SMEs who fly in, register a wholly foreign-owned enterprise and depart within the visa-free window—turning what once took weeks into a single trip.
![China’s 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Scheme Drives 40.6 Million Inbound Arrivals]()
For travelers whose plans fall outside the transit window or who simply prefer the certainty of a traditional visa, VisaHQ offers an end-to-end solution. Through its China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/), the company provides real-time requirement checks, digital document uploads and secure courier service to and from the consulate, enabling both individuals and corporate mobility teams to obtain the right travel documents without the usual administrative burden.
Immigration attorneys nevertheless urge caution. Transit visitors must hold a confirmed ticket to a third country and cannot engage in remunerated work on the mainland. Over-stays—even by a few hours—trigger fines and could jeopardise future entries, so corporates should integrate flight-monitoring alerts into traveller tracking tools.
Looking ahead, policymakers hint the waiver could be extended to 72 hours for business trips that return to the point of origin, a move that would further blur the line between short-stay transit and true business visas. For now, however, the 240-hour window is reshaping regional itineraries and reinforcing China’s post-pandemic reopening narrative.
Behind the headline figure is a 60.8 percent jump in travellers who actually used the waiver rather than a traditional visa. Airlines are responding by adding through-fares that combine an onward segment to a third country with a stop-over in Guangzhou, Beijing or Shanghai, allowing passengers to conduct meetings on the mainland before continuing to their final destination. For mobility managers, the uptick translates into shorter lead times and lower compliance costs because employees can bypass consulate appointments.
Local governments are racing to capture the windfall. Shanghai has introduced a “5+5 Fast Lane” that bundles the transit exemption with duty-free shopping vouchers, while Shenzhen’s Qianhai zone now lets eligible travellers register companies during their 10-day stay. Consulting firms report growing demand from European SMEs who fly in, register a wholly foreign-owned enterprise and depart within the visa-free window—turning what once took weeks into a single trip.
For travelers whose plans fall outside the transit window or who simply prefer the certainty of a traditional visa, VisaHQ offers an end-to-end solution. Through its China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/), the company provides real-time requirement checks, digital document uploads and secure courier service to and from the consulate, enabling both individuals and corporate mobility teams to obtain the right travel documents without the usual administrative burden.
Immigration attorneys nevertheless urge caution. Transit visitors must hold a confirmed ticket to a third country and cannot engage in remunerated work on the mainland. Over-stays—even by a few hours—trigger fines and could jeopardise future entries, so corporates should integrate flight-monitoring alerts into traveller tracking tools.
Looking ahead, policymakers hint the waiver could be extended to 72 hours for business trips that return to the point of origin, a move that would further blur the line between short-stay transit and true business visas. For now, however, the 240-hour window is reshaping regional itineraries and reinforcing China’s post-pandemic reopening narrative.
