Visa & Entry
China visa rules updated in 2024-2025. The 240-hour (10-day) transit visa-free policy now covers 54 countries through 60 ports. Single-entry L visas, 144-hour transit eligibility, what counts as a valid onward ticket, and registration with local police within 24 hours of arrival. What documents you actually need at the consulate.
17 answers
Which reputable visa agencies are recommended for processing China visas through the San Francisco Consulate?
Apply through the official CVASC SF — private agencies cannot bypass the mandatory in-person fingerprint step required for ages 14–70.
Do UK citizens need a visa when transiting through Beijing and Shanghai with a stop in Vietnam?
UK passport holders enter China visa-free for 30 days from 17 February 2026 to 31 December 2026, no third-country onward ticket required.
What steps should I take if my elderly parents are stuck at Guangzhou Airport due to a transit visa issue and we lose contact?
Call the airline first; ground staff have the only direct channel to the immigration officer holding your parents.
How are recent work permit changes affecting foreigners seeking employment in China?
Beijing Category A salary floor is ¥71,622 monthly and Category B is ¥47,748, enforced through the work permit portal since February 2026.
I'm a US citizen planning about 9 days in China (Beijing and Shanghai). My flights connect through South Korea both on the way in and on the way out, and then I fly back to the US. Does the 240-hour visa-free transit apply, or do my two transit points have to be in different countries?
You must arrive from one country and depart to a different country or region; returning to your origin counts as a round trip, which the transit rule excludes.