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CHINA VISA & ENTRY GUIDE

Reviewed 6 Nov 2026

China visa-free entry.
Know your route to Shenzhen.

A practical starting point for international visitors: short-visit entry, 240-hour transit, and the Shenzhen arrival details to check before you book.

START WITH YOUR PASSPORT AND ITINERARY

Two different entry arrangements.

Visa-free entry means an exemption from a visa requirement under specific rules. It is not a free visa issued by us.

SHORT VISITS

Up to 30 days

For eligible ordinary-passport holders under China’s unilateral short-visit policy. [2]

  • Includes nationalities such as the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France and Germany.
  • Listed purposes include business, tourism, family or friends visits, exchanges and transit.
  • A qualifying visit does not need the third-destination route required by transit entry.
Check the official nationality list

Bilateral visa-waiver agreements may have different terms. Check the policy and validity dates for your own passport. [5]

TRANSIT VIA CHINA

Up to 240 hours / 10 days

For ordinary-passport holders from 57 listed countries travelling onwards to a third country or region. [1]

  • Hold an onward ticket with a confirmed departure date and seat.
  • Use an eligible entry port and stay within the permitted areas.
  • NIA currently lists 65 entry ports across 24 provincial-level regions.
Check the transit list and permitted areas

Tourism, business and visits are among the listed activities. Work, study and news reporting require the appropriate prior arrangements. [1]

THE TRANSIT ROUTE PATTERN

Country or region A Mainland China B

A and B must differ. For example, Tokyo → Shenzhen → Singapore follows that pattern; Tokyo → Shenzhen → Tokyo does not. This illustrates the route only, not an entry approval. [1]

LOCAL ARRIVAL NOTES

Coming to Shenzhen.

For 240-hour transit, check the actual immigration entry port, not just the destination on your ticket.

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport

Bao’an Airport is listed by the Shenzhen Municipal Port Office as a transit entry port. [4]

AIR

Shekou passenger port

The local official list also includes Shekou Port for passenger arrivals. [4]

FERRY

Hong Kong West Kowloon Station

NIA added the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed railway’s West Kowloon Station port from 5 November 2025. This is the listed entry point for that rail route. [3]

RAIL

An entry-port list is not the same as an exit-port list. Confirm both crossings for your route; do not assume every Shenzhen land crossing can grant 240-hour transit entry. [1][4]

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Four things to have clear.

  1. 01

    Your passport and travel date

    Check nationality, passport type and policy validity for your dates. NIA’s transit guidance requires at least three months’ travel-document validity. [2][5][3]

  2. 02

    Your onward route

    For transit, have the confirmed onward booking ready and check entry requirements at the next destination. [3]

  3. 03

    Your purpose and supporting details

    Keep accommodation bookings and documents supporting the actual purpose of your visit available for immigration checks. [5]

  4. 04

    Your arrival information

    Check the required arrival card. NIA provides an online channel; completing it does not itself grant entry. [3]

    Open the NIA arrival-card portal

Policies can change. Recheck the official guidance before departure. Admission and permitted stay are decided by immigration authorities.

COMMON QUESTIONS

A few useful distinctions.

What about a US passport?

The United States is on the NIA’s 240-hour transit list, but not on the unilateral 30-day list linked here. A US traveller must still meet the transit-route and other entry conditions, or arrange an appropriate visa. [1][2]

Can I go Hong Kong → Shenzhen → Hong Kong?

That route returns to the same region; it does not match the third-country-or-region pattern required for 240-hour transit. Check whether your passport qualifies under a separate visa-free arrangement or whether you need a visa. [1]

When does the permitted stay start?

NIA guidance counts 240-hour transit from midnight after the entry date. The short-visit FAQ similarly starts its 30 calendar days on the following day. Follow the deadline recorded by immigration for your own entry. [3][5]

Does In China Health arrange visas?

We coordinate hospital visits, bilingual accompaniment and practical local arrangements. We do not issue visas or decide admission. Confirm your entry arrangements with the relevant authorities; we can then coordinate around your confirmed dates.

READ THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS

Official sources.

Open the original policy and local guidance below. Links checked on 6 Nov 2026; publication dates are shown separately.

  1. 01

    National Immigration Administration

    Visa-Free Transit Policies

    Current 57-country list, 65 entry ports, permitted areas and transit conditions.

    Published 20 Aug 2026 · English

  2. 02

    National Immigration Administration

    Countries covered by unilateral visa exemption

    Ordinary-passport nationalities and the 30-day short-visit arrangement. Bilateral agreements are separate.

    Published 17 Feb 2026 · English

  3. 03

    National Immigration Administration

    2025 announcement: additional ports and arrival cards

    Section VI adds West Kowloon; Appendix 1 explains passport validity and the stay clock. Country totals were updated by source 6.

    Published 3 Nov 2025 · English

  4. 04

    Shenzhen Municipal Port Office

    Local FAQ: ports for visa-free transit

    Local listing of Bao’an Airport and Shekou. Its older national total predates the later NIA port update in source 3.

    Published 29 Apr 2025 · Chinese

  5. 05

    Chinese Embassy in Switzerland

    FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China

    National short-visit policy: purposes, documents, entry checks, policy validity dates and permitted stay.

    Published 19 Aug 2026 · English / Chinese

  6. 06

    National Immigration Administration

    Original Announcement No. 4 of 2026

    Original notice adding Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam, bringing transit eligibility to 57 countries.

    Published 20 Aug 2026 · Chinese

ONCE YOUR ENTRY ARRANGEMENTS ARE CLEAR

Let’s plan your Shenzhen visit.

Talk to us about hospital coordination, bilingual accompaniment and practical local support.

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