visaessential

144-Hour Visa-Free Transit

144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Explained

This is one of the best-kept travel secrets for visiting China. Citizens of 54 countries can stay for up to 144 hours (6 days) without a visa.

How It Works

  1. You must be transiting through China to a third country/region
  2. Your next destination must be different from your origin
  3. You enter and exit through designated ports in the same region
  4. You stay within the permitted area (varies by entry city)

Eligible Entry Points

  • Shanghai — also covers Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces
  • Beijing — also covers Tianjin and Hebei
  • Guangzhou/Shenzhen — Guangdong province
  • Chengdu — Sichuan province
  • Xi'an, Kunming, Hangzhou and more

What You Need

  • A valid passport from one of the 54 eligible countries
  • A confirmed ticket to your third country within 144 hours
  • Fill out an arrival card declaring transit-without-visa

Important Rules

  • Do NOT overstay — the 144-hour clock starts at midnight after arrival
  • You cannot leave the permitted region (e.g., can't go from Shanghai zone to Beijing)
  • No extension is possible — plan accordingly

Pro Tip

144 hours is enough for an amazing trip. You can comfortably explore one city and its surroundings — Shanghai + Suzhou + Hangzhou is a classic combination.