Key practical points:
• Available to nationals of a specific list of countries through designated airports and ports.
• Core condition: a confirmed onward ticket to a third country.
• The window varies: 24, 72 or 144 hours depending on the city/region; for 144-hour it usually counts from midnight after arrival.
• Movement is normally limited to the permitted city or region only.
• Accommodation registration within 24 hours still applies; hotels handle it.
• Overstaying the transit window is treated as illegal stay.
🛂 Visa & residence
Visa-Free Transit Policy (24/72/144-hour) · Yalla China
过境免签政策（24/72/144小时）/ Visa-free transit policy (24/72/144-hour)
📝 Overview
A policy letting nationals of listed countries transit through China and stay for a short window without a visa while travelling to a third country.
This is general information only, not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a licensed lawyer.
📜 The law text / key provisions
💬 Practical reading
💬 This is a general reading/opinion for orientation — not the official legal text nor legal advice.
If you are passing through China on your way to a third country, this policy saves you a full visa, but watch three things: a confirmed third-country ticket, a city/port that offers the window you need, and the geographic limits of the allowed zone. Check the official list before you fly, as it changes. General orientation, not legal advice.
📎 Official source
National Immigration Administration / nia.gov.cn
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026