Q1035. How does China 144-hour visa-free transit work?
Answered by the NYC Visa & Translation team
China’s former 144-hour visa-free transit scheme has been expanded into a 240-hour arrangement for eligible travelers at designated ports, so older guides may be outdated. The basic transit pattern is country or region A → mainland China → a different country or region B, with confirmed onward travel and compliance with permitted travel areas. A return routing from Thailand through China directly back to Thailand does not meet that third-destination transit pattern. Thai ordinary-passport holders may instead qualify under the separate China–Thailand visa-exemption arrangement. Check China’s National Immigration Administration and the Chinese Embassy in Thailand for current eligibility, permitted ports, stay calculations, and any restrictions relevant to your exact itinerary.
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