China Visa

Transit Visa

"Visa requirements for transiting through Chinese airports"

Visa-Free Transit Stay in China

1a Visa Consulting Limited

China generally requires a visa for entry. Visa on arrival is not available in China — with the only exception being a stopover of up to 72 or 144 hours visa-free in certain Chinese cities, provided you enter through one of 19 designated airports and show a confirmed onward flight ticket to a third country.

The stopover must be en route to a third country such as East Asia, Southeast Asia, or Australia/New Zealand. This also applies if you transit through China on your way to or from Hong Kong. Similarly, on your return journey from any of these countries (or from Hong Kong) back to Europe, you can also take advantage of the visa-free transit arrangement if you have a confirmed onward flight to Europe from a designated airport in China.

When boarding your flight to China, present the onward flight ticket instead of a China visa. This must be a direct flight to your final destination. If another stopover in China is planned, the visa-free transit rule does not apply.

Applicable Transit Cities

Up to 144 hours (6 days): Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, and Guangzhou
Up to 72 hours (3 days): Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guilin, Harbin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenyang, Wuhan, Xi'an, Xiamen

The regulation is valid for nationals of 45 countries, which include all EU member states, as well as Russia, Ukraine, Iceland, and Switzerland. Outside Europe, eligible nationals are from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, plus Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Visa-Free Transit for Cruise Tourists

If you visit China on a cruise ship, whether you need a visa depends on which ports you visit. Hong Kong is considered separate due to its special status — not technically part of China for visa purposes. The most commonly visited Chinese port cities are Shanghai, Tianjin, Qingdao, Xiamen, and Sanya.

Visas are always mandatory for Sanya, Xiamen, and Qingdao — there are no exceptions for cruise tourists at these ports. If your cruise calls at both Shanghai and Tianjin, a visa is also required. However, if your ship docks only at Tianjin (and you leave by air from Beijing), or only at Shanghai (and you leave by air from Shanghai), you may stay for up to 144 hours without a visa. The same applies if you fly to Shanghai and board a cruise ship that sails directly to a foreign country (such as Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Korea).

Caution: Border officials at airports and ports may not yet be fully familiar with these relatively new cruise regulations, which could result in unexpected delays or rejection at immigration. To be absolutely certain your entry will proceed smoothly, contact your cruise line in advance to confirm whether you should apply for a China visa as a precaution. Major cruise operators like AIDA and COSTA advise their passengers to apply for a visa regardless of the visa-free rules.

If the visa-free entry regulation does not apply to your situation, we are happy to assist you in applying for a China tourist visa.

Apply for Chinese Visa