Question

Asked by Milan C from usa | Nov. 11, 2025 13:09

About:240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Visa free stay in Shanghai

Hello,

I wanted to check if I’m eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit or if I should apply for another type of visa. I am an USA passport holder.

Here’s my travel plan:

I’ll arrive in Shanghai from Vienna on November 24, 2025 in the afternoon and stay one night (I’ll have a hotel booked).
The next day, I’ll fly from Shanghai to Seoul, South Korea, where I’ll stay for six days.
Then I’ll return to Shanghai from Seoul on December 1, 2025 in the morning, stay one night, and fly back to Vienna the following day.

Would I be able to enter visa-free both times under the 240-hour policy, or would I need to apply for a visa instead?

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Answers (2)

Answered by Borut | Nov. 12, 2025 00:10

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Your itinerary is eligible for 24/240 hour visa free transit and you definitely do not need a visa of any kind. Whether you will be eligible for 24 or 240 hour visa free transit depends on the length of your layover calculated from your scheduled arrival time until your scheduled departure time. If that time is shorter than 24 hours, you will be eligible for 24 and if it is longer than 240 hours, you will be eligible for 240 hour visa free transit. In both case, no visa is needed. Here is what will you do upon landing in Shanghai:

- When you land in Shanghai you will fill out arrival card (you will find it at the airport) and you will tick the box - transit on it.
- You will after that proceed to fingerprinting machine where you will perform fingerprinting.
- You will approach 24/240 hour visa free transit counter where you will apply for a temporary entry permit (this is not a visa, but just a permit that allows you to exit the airport (transit area) during your transit time). Here you will present your flight tickets (have them as printouts), arrival card, fingerprinting receipt and your hotel booking. This is all free of any charge.
- After a short check, you will be granted a temporary entry permit and you will head to the immigration and then to the city to enjoy your time on your own.

Have a wonderful journey.

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Answered by Milan C | Nov. 15, 2025 07:53

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Thank you so much! Appreciate that!

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