Question

Asked by Samuel from united states | Mar. 31, 2025 16:01

About:240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

240hr transit visa question

Hi,

I’m an American and have some questions about eligible itineraries for the 240hr transit visa.

If I’ve gone to a different Asian country in the days before going to China, can I go directly from China back to the US?

Due to a bureaucratic mixup that was not my fault, I was recently refused entry from Portugal, and my tourist visa will be valid for travel again to the Schengen area only starting at the beginning of June. Will this situation disqualify me from the 240hr transit visa?

Thanks

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Answers (3)

Answered by Borut | Mar. 31, 2025 23:26

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Chinese authorities do not care about the issues you are experiencing with a Schengen visa because it does not have anything to do with them. If I have properly understood you are currently or you will be soon is some Asian countries and you would like to visit China using 240 hours visa free transit. Also, you plan to fly from China directly on a nonstop flight to US. The short answer is, yes, you can do that. For example, if you have an itinerary: Thailand - mainland China - US this is definitely eligible for 240 hour visa free transit and you do not need any kind of visa. You can stay, explore and travel within different places within mainland China freely, but you should always have in mind that detail of the rule that says that the immediate points before and after mainland China have to be in two different countries or eligible territories (eligible territories are Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau). So, even an itinerary Hong Kong - mainland China - US is valid for 240 hour visa free transit. It is important that your flight out of China does not have any landing in the country from where you have arrived in China. I hope the situation with this scheme is now cleared and you can start with your plans to visit China. I wish you a pleasant stay in China.

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Answered by Samuel | Apr. 01, 2025 17:37

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This is Samuel again, thank you so much for your quick replies, it really helps.

I want to make sure I understand: so for the 240hr transit visa, if I go to Thailand before going to China, then I can go go directly back to the US, even though it is my home country and country of residence?

My exact itinerary would be the following:

Starting from Seattle, WA, USA
1 night in Vancouver Canada
Fly to Thailand with a layover in Hong Kong
Stay 4 nights in Thailand
Fly to Chengdu China with a layover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Stay in Chengdu 7 nights
Fly to Seattle, WA, USA, with a layover in Beijing

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Answered by Borut | Apr. 01, 2025 23:21

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Samuel, I confirm with absolute certainty that your itinerary is eligible for 240 hour visa free transit and you do not need any kind of visa. You can really proceed with your travel plans with absolute peace of mind. As you can see, the immediate points before and after mainland China in your case are in two different countries (Malaysia and US) and that is the way how 240 hour visa free transit function. This visa free transit scheme does not care whether your immediate points are your home country or any other country. It is important that the immediate points before and after are in two different countries or eligible territories and that is the detail that makes you eligible for this visa free transit scheme. You can proceed with your travel plans and I wish you a pleasant stay in China.

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