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Entry & transit
Can this route use Shanghai’s 240-hour transit policy?
A conservative first check for a simple international journey through Shanghai—not a legal decision or border guarantee.
Last reviewed 18 July 2026
Policy status
Official policy comes first.
Shanghai Ready summarizes the policy published by China’s National Immigration Administration for planning convenience. The official policy and the immigration authority’s decision always prevail.
Policy baseline last checked 18 July 2026
Basic-condition check
Choose, don’t type.
Country and policy-region selections are standardized to avoid treating two spellings—or two cities in one country—as different places.
What the policy asks
Six checks before relying on a route.
- 01
An eligible passport nationality
The current National Immigration Administration list contains 55 countries.
- 02
A valid international travel document
The official condition states at least three months of validity.
- 03
Onward travel to a third place
Your immediate origin and onward country or region must be different. Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are treated as distinct regions for this route check.
- 04
A supported Shanghai gateway
This simple checker only covers Pudong airport, Hongqiao airport, and Shanghai Port. Other ports or domestic connections need official review.
- 05
A fixed ticket and permission to continue
Carry a confirmed date and seat, plus proof that you meet the onward destination’s entry requirements.
- 06
Departure within the policy window
The 240 hours start at 00:00 on the day after entry—not at touchdown.
Shanghai entry ports
Three official gateways.
Pudong International Airport, Hongqiao International Airport, and Shanghai Port are named in the current policy.
For an unusual route or uncertain document, call China Immigration Service on 12367.
Open the official announcementCommon questions
Quick answers
Is this a visa application?
No. The tool only compares your entries with a small set of published basic conditions. Immigration officers at the entry port decide whether to grant temporary entry.
Does Japan → Shanghai → Japan work?
Not under the third-country-or-region condition used by this checker, because the immediate origin and onward destination are the same.
Does Japan → Shanghai → Hong Kong work?
Hong Kong SAR is treated as a different policy region for this simple route comparison. All passport, ticket, onward-entry, port, timing, and individual conditions still need to be met.
What if my nationality is under Others?
If your country is not named in the 55-country selector, it is likely not on this policy list. Compare it with the visible list and the official announcement; do not treat the checker as the final authority.
What if I also have another visa-free option?
The official policy says mutual or unilateral visa-exemption rules may prevail. Check the immigration authority or your carrier for the route-specific answer.
Source & review record
What this guide is based on
Current — checked against the cited sources
Last reviewed 18 July 2026
Official sources
National Immigration Administration — current Chinese announcementNational Immigration Administration — English policy readingField notes to verify
- Complex domestic connections, mixed ports, unusual documents, and individual circumstances require confirmation with immigration or the carrier.
Related guides
General planning guidance only. This is not an immigration or legal decision. National policy, carrier document checks, and immigration officers at the port prevail.
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