Xi’an 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide: Eligibility, Rules & FAQs

The previous 144-hour Visa-free Transit Policy in China has been updated to a 240-hour visa-free transit. Travelers from 57 countries are eligible for a 240-hour (10 days) visa-free transit via Xi’an Xianyang International Airport and travel outside Xi’an during the 240-hour visa-free transit in other cities and provinces if meeting the visa-free transit requirements in Xi’an.

For eligible travelers entering China through Xi’an, your itinerary during the 240-hour visa-free transit can cover the entire Shaanxi Province, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and other cities permitted by the visa-free transit policy, before you depart from China at another port that applies the visa-free transit policy. There are four requirements for the visa-free transit policy: nationality, flight destination in a third country/region, the entry/departure ports, and the regions you stay during the transit.

Content Preview

• What is the 240-hour Visa-free Transit in Xi’an?
• Who is Eligible for the Xi’an 240-hour Visa-Free Transit?
• Is My Flight Eligible for the 240-hour Visa-Free Transit?
• Can I Travel to Other Cities in China During the 240-hour Visa-free Transit?
• How to Apply for the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Xi’an?
• How to Get from Xi’an Airport to City Center?
• Xi’an Travel During the Visa-Free Transit – Itinerary Guide
• Xi’an 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit FAQ

What is the 240-hour Visa-free Transit in Xi’an?

Simply speaking, a traveler who is eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit in China can have a visa-free entry to China through designated ports like Xi’an and stay in permitted regions for up to 240 hours when they travel to a third country or region via China.

This policy applies to short-term trips for travel, business, and visits to families and friends. For other purposes that require approval, like work, study, and interviews, a visa is still compulsory.

Note: The visa-free transit in Xi’an is different from the visa-free entry. The key to the visa-free transit is “transit”, which means your itinerary in China is just a transit point between two other countries or regions.

Who is Eligible for the Xi’an 240-hour Visa-Free Transit?

To make sure you are eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, check the following requirements (all five requirements need to be met for the visa-free transit):

• You hold valid international travel documents issued by countries eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy.
• You are traveling from a country or region to China and then transiting to a third country or region.
• You hold valid proof of a trip to a third country or region before the  240-hour visa-free transit ends.
• You enter and depart from designated ports permitted by the 240-hour visa-free transit policy.
• You stay only in the permitted regions during the transit.

By August 20^th, 2026, 57 countries have been designated as 240-hour visa-free countries:

Europe (40 countries): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway;

America (6 countries): United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico;

Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand;

Asia (9 countries): Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, UAE, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam

With Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam joining the list on August 20^th, 2026, the number of 240-hour visa-free countries has been increased to 57.

Is My Flight Eligible for the 240-hour Visa-Free Transit?

To help answer the question, remember a simple rule:

Your flight route meets the requirements of:

Country/Region A → the mainland of China → Country/Region B

A and B in this context refer respectively to the stop before you enter the mainland of China, and the next stop right after you leave the mainland of China, rather than the nationality on your visa or the stops of your departure/arrival printed on your flight tickets.

Flight Routes Eligible for the 240-hour Visa-Free Transit (Examples)

✅US→ Xi’an → Japan

✅UK → Xi’an → Hong Kong

✅Korea → Xi’an → Singapore

✅Australia → Xi’an → Beijing → Shanghai → Japan

✅US → Xi’an → Chengdu → Hong Kong

Flight Routes Not Eligible for the 240-hour Visa-Free Transit (Examples)

❌US → Xi’an → US

❌️Japan → Xi’an → Japan

❌UK → Xi’an → other cities in the UK

Do Hong Kong and Macau count as a third region?

Yes. That’s why US → Xi’an → Hong Kong or Japan → Xi’an → Macau meets the third region requirements of the visa-free transit policy.

Can I Travel to Other Cities in China During the 240-hour Visa-free Transit?

Yes, and this is one of the major advantages of the new 240-hour visa-free transit policy.

The entire Shaanxi Province falls within the permitted region, so you can travel to other cities/attractions besides Xi’an and outside Xi’an:

• Mount Hua;
• Famen Temple;
• Hanzhong;
• Yan’an
• Mount Taibai

…

Also, the 240-hour visa-free transit allows tourists to travel between 24 provincial regions eligible for the visa-free transit policy.

That means you don’t have to stay in Xi’an for your 10-day transit itinerary in China. Your itinerary may include:

Xi’an → Luoyang → Beijing;

Xi’an → Chengdu → Chongqing

Xi’an → Beijing → Shanghai

But please also be aware that the 240-hour visa-free transit doesn’t apply everywhere in China. In some provinces, only specific cities are designated as permitted regions. Therefore, please check in advance if the destination on your 10-day China transit itinerary is included in the latest policy before planning a cross-province travel route for your China tour.

Can I Leave China from a Different City after Entering Through Xi’an？

Yes. The visa-free transit requirements don’t restrict your entry/departure to the same port. So after entering through Xi’an, you can depart from an eligible port in another city, such as Beijing or Shanghai, as long as the port is covered by the 240-hour visa-free transit policy. The 240-hour visa-free transit policy has now covered 65 ports in China.

How to Apply for the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Xi’an?

You don’t need to apply for Xi’an’s 240-hour visa-free transit to China embassy or consulate.

Travelers eligible for the visa-free transit can complete required entry procedures after arriving at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport.

Please prepare the documents below before departure:

• A valid passport (for no less than three months) issued by a 240-hour visa-free transit country;
• A confirmed connecting flight ticket to a third country/region;
• A completed Foreigner Arrival Card (you can fill it on the official website of the National Immigration Administration before your departure; or you can fill a physical card after you arrive at the airport);
• A valid visa for your next destination (if required by your next destination);
• The name, address, and booking details of the hotel where you stay during the visa-free transit in China

Upon arrival at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, follow the instruction signs to the corresponding border inspection or temporary entry procedure area, submit your documents for official review, and enter after approval.

It’s recommended to inform the airline staff when checking in at your departure airport that you will use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit, and have your subsequent international flight tickets ready for verification.

T5 at Xi’an Airport also has a comprehensive service platform for inbound passengers, which provides services such as entry assistance, tourism consultation, and currency exchange.

How to Get from Xi’an Airport to City Center?

After completing all the visa-free entry procedures at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, you may need 1 to 1.5 hours (depending on transportation and traffic) to travel from Xi’an airport to the city center.

We recommend hiring private transfers, which are usually more convenient.

Some of the practical options include:

Means of Transportation	Suitable For
Metro Lines (No.14 + City Loop)	limited budget; small luggage
Taxi/rideshare	group of 2-3 people; bulky luggage
Airport Transfer Bus	when your hotel is close to the stop
Private Transfer	first-time travelers to Xi’an; family tour; red-eye flight passengers

International passengers arriving at T5 can take Metro Line No.14 at T5 Station, then transfer to Line No.2 at Xi’an North Station if you need to travel to Bell Tower, Yongning Gate, and other attractions near the city center.

Xi’an Travel During the Visa-Free Transit – Itinerary Guide

When you are on the 240-hour visa-free transit, you don’t necessarily have to plan a 10-day itinerary. It would be much easier to design your travel route based on your flight transfer schedule.

10-12 Hours: A Quick Tour around Xi’an City

If you still have sufficient time after properly arranging the entry procedures, round-trip to the airport, and check-in, you may consider a quick Xi’an tour around:

The Old City Wall + Bell Tower + The Muslim Quarter

However, the Terracotta Army is not recommended to travelers who spend only 10 to 12 hours on the transfer, because the attraction is distant from the airport and the city center, and traffic would eat up most of your time.

1 Day: Classic Xi’an Tour

Terracotta Army + Xi’an City Wall + The Muslim Quarter

This route is suitable for those who travel to Xi’an for the first-time and want to cover the key attractions.

2-3 Days: In-Depth Xi’an Tour

Day 1: Terracotta Army + Giant Wild Goose Pagoda + The Grand Tang Mall

Day 2: The Old City Wall + Bell Tower + The Muslim Quarter + Dongda Mosque

Day 3: Xi’an Museum + Small Wild Goose Pagoda

5-6 Days: Xi’an + Surrounding Cities

You can choose either:

• Xi’an + Mount Hua + Luoyang

Or:

• Xi’an + Chengdu

The routes take you to a closer look at ancient Chinese history, with fascinating natural scenery and a panda-watching experience.

8-10 Days: Classic China Itinerary during the Visa-Free Transit

For tourists visiting China for the first time, if you want to make Xi’an one of the stops in your China tour itinerary, the most recommended route is: Beijing→Xi’an →Shanghai.

If you enter China through Xi’an, we recommend Xi’an→Chengdu→Shanghai or Xi’an→Beijing→Shanghai.

You may try to avoid overpacking the 240 hours when you are planning your 10-day China transit itinerary, since you may not be able to depart as scheduled if unexpected conditions like international flight cancellations, domestic flight adjustments, or traffic delays occur. So it’s best to allow sufficient buffer time for your international departure flight.

Xi’an 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit FAQ

Does 240 hours equal 10 days?

The starting point of your 240-hour visa-free transit is 00:00 on the day after your entry. It will not start counting down from the moment your flight lands. For example, if you enter China on September 1^st, then the visa-free transit starts from 00:00 on September 2^nd. The actual latest departure time should still be based on the information approved by the border inspection authorities when processing entry procedures.

Do I need to apply for a China visa in advance?

NO, if you meet the 240-hour visa-free transit requirements for your nationality, flight destinations, entry/departure ports, and permitted stay regions.

Can I depart from Shanghai instead of returning to Xi’an airport?

Yes, as long as the departure port in Shanghai is eligible for the visa-free transit policy.

Do I need a connecting flight ticket? Yes. You are required to travel to a third country or region from China within a specified time, and you must hold a valid connecting flight ticket with a confirmed departure date and seat printed on it as proof.

Do I need to register when I check in at the hotel?

When checking into a hotel, the hotel usually helps you with the accommodation registration. If you stay in a friend’s house or a private residence or other non-hotel residence, you should complete the accommodation registration in a local public security organ within the specified time.

You may be able to complete the registration online in some cities, but the specific details shall be subject to local regulations.