China Adds 2 More Countries to 240-hour Visa-Free Transit Program

The National Immigration Administration (NIA) issued an announcement today, stating that effective August 20, 2026, nationals of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam will be eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy and the 30-day visa-free entry policy for Hainan, making travel to China more convenient. Accordingly, the number of countries eligible for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy will rise to 57, and the number of countries eligible for the 30-day visa-free entry policy for Hainan will increase to 61.

Nationals of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam holding ordinary passports and interline passenger tickets with confirmed dates and itineraries bound for a third country or region may enter China visa-free through any of the 65 open ports of entry, including those in Beijing and Shanghai, and stay within the designated areas for no more than 240 hours. Nationals of the two countries holding ordinary passports may enter Hainan Province via its open ports of entry and stay within the administrative regions of Hainan Province for no more than 30 days. Under the above two visa-free policies, eligible travelers may engage in short-term activities in China such as tourism, business, visits and family visits. Activities requiring prior approval, such as work, study and news reporting, still require travelers to obtain the appropriate visa before coming to China.

Source: NIA