If you hold a passport from one of the 57 eligible countries, arrive at Xiamen Gaoqi airport or a Xiamen passenger seaport, and hold a confirmed ticket onward to a third country or region within 240 hours, you can enter without a visa. You may travel anywhere in Fujian Province and in the other areas covered by the policy.
The rule in brief
| Length of stay | Up to 240 hours (10 days) |
| Eligible countries | 57, since 20 August 2026 |
| Eligible ports nationwide | 65 ports in 24 provinces |
| Xiamen ports | Gaoqi International Airport; Wutong Passenger Terminal; International Cruise Center |
| Where you may go from Xiamen | All of Fujian Province, plus the permitted areas of the other provinces in the scheme |
| Ticket required | Confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, with date and seat |
| Passport validity | At least 3 months remaining |
| Clock starts | 00:00 on the day after entry |
| Allowed | Tourism, business, visiting family and friends |
| Not allowed | Work, study, news reporting (these need a visa) |
Who qualifies
China's National Immigration Administration lists 57 eligible countries: 40 in Europe, 6 in the Americas, 2 in Oceania and 9 in Asia. The Americas group includes the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile. The Asian group includes Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, the UAE, Qatar and Indonesia, with Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam added on 20 August 2026.
The number has changed three times since the policy began in December 2024, and many travel websites still show 54 or 55. Check the official list rather than a blog, including this one.
What “transit” means here
This is where applications fail. You have to be passing through. The place you flew in from and the place you fly out to must be different countries or regions.
- Qualifies: Singapore → Xiamen → Tokyo. London → Xiamen → Bangkok.
- Does not qualify: Singapore → Xiamen → Singapore. That is a return trip, not a transit.
The onward ticket must be confirmed, with a fixed date and seat, and it must leave within the 240 hours. You need to hold it before you arrive. If you do not have one at the border, the transit entry cannot be processed.
Published guidance uses the wording “third country or region.” If your onward leg is to Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan, confirm with your airline before booking that it will be accepted for your routing.
Which Xiamen ports count
The Fujian provincial government names three Xiamen ports under the policy:
- Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN). International flights use Terminal 3.
- Wutong Passenger Terminal. A seaport on the north-east of the island.
- Xiamen International Cruise Center. The cruise home port on the west of the island.
Three other Fujian airports are also eligible: Fuzhou Changle, Quanzhou Jinjiang and Wuyishan. The policy is described as allowing you to leave from any eligible port, not only the one you entered by. Confirm this for your own routing.
Where you can go
If you enter through Xiamen, your permitted area is the whole of Fujian Province. Until December 2024 it was Xiamen city only, which made trips to the Tulou awkward. Now the province is open, and that covers:
- Xiamen and Gulangyu
- The Fujian Tulou in Nanjing and Yongding counties
- Quanzhou, under half an hour away by high-speed train
- Fuzhou, about an hour by high-speed train
- Wuyishan in the north of the province
You may also travel onward into the permitted areas of the other 23 provinces in the scheme. Some provinces open only certain cities, so check the official table before you plan a multi-province route.
How many days that really gives you
The clock starts at midnight after your arrival, so a morning landing gives you most of an extra day. In practice you have nine or ten usable days. Xiamen itself needs two or three. Our guide to how many days to spend in Xiamen shows how to use the rest.
What to have ready at the border
- Your passport, with at least three months' validity left.
- Your confirmed onward ticket, printed or easy to show offline.
- Your accommodation details for the first night.
- The arrival card, filled in. Look for the lane or counter marked for visa-free transit.
The airline will usually check the onward ticket at your departure airport. Have it ready there too, because check-in staff can refuse boarding if they are not satisfied you will be admitted.
Two other ways to enter without a visa
30-day unilateral visa-free entry
This is a separate policy for ordinary passport holders of a list of countries, mostly in Europe, plus others including Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. It allows stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business and family visits, with no onward ticket to a third country required. Canada and the United Kingdom were added in February 2026. For most countries on the list it currently runs to 31 December 2026. We have not seen an extension into 2027 announced, so check again if you are travelling next year. The United States is not on this list; US travellers normally use the 240-hour transit.
Cruise tour groups
Since May 2024, foreign tour groups of two or more people who arrive by cruise ship and are received by a travel agency registered in China can enter visa-free at 13 cruise ports, including Xiamen, for up to 15 days. The group must leave on the same ship. This applies to all nationalities.
Common mistakes
- Booking a return ticket to the country you came from. That is not a transit.
- An onward ticket with no confirmed seat or date. Open or standby tickets are not accepted.
- Counting ten calendar days loosely. Work out your departure time against the 240-hour limit, and leave a margin for delays.
- Planning to work or study. Both need a proper visa.
- Relying on an old article. The country count, the ports and the stay areas have all changed since 2024.
Quick answers
Can I use the 240-hour visa-free transit in Xiamen?
Yes. Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and Xiamen's passenger seaports (Wutong Passenger Terminal and the International Cruise Center) are eligible ports of entry, according to the Fujian provincial government.
How many countries are eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit?
57 countries since 20 August 2026, when Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added, according to China's National Immigration Administration. Many websites still say 54 or 55, which is out of date.
Where can I travel if I enter through Xiamen?
Anywhere in Fujian Province, and across the permitted areas of the other provinces covered by the policy. Before December 2024 the stay area for Xiamen entry was limited to Xiamen city.
Does a return ticket to my home country qualify?
No. The policy is for transit: you need a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, different from the one you arrived from, departing within 240 hours.
When does the 240 hours start?
From 00:00 on the day after you enter, according to Chinese consular guidance.
Is this the same as the 30-day visa-free entry?
No. The 30-day unilateral visa-free entry is a separate policy for ordinary passport holders of a list of countries and does not require an onward ticket to a third country. For most of that list it currently runs to 31 December 2026.
Keep planning
Sources we checked
- National Immigration Administration: 240-hour visa-free transit policy (Chinese)
- Xinhua: 240-hour transit policy extended to 57 countries, 20 August 2026 (Chinese)
- Fujian Provincial Government: Fujian ports and stay area under the 240-hour policy (Chinese)
- Chinese Consulate-General in Montreal: transit visa-free FAQ
- State Council: extension of unilateral 30-day visa-free entry
- National Immigration Administration: visa-free entry for cruise tour groups (Chinese)
Last checked: October 2026. Tickets, ferries, opening hours and entry rules change; we confirm the current arrangement for your dates before you travel.
Planning a transit stay in Xiamen?
Send us your flight or ship details and how many days you have. We will check the current arrangements and suggest a private route that fits inside your permitted stay.