Start with the route, not the paperwork
If this is your first trip to China, the simplest decision path is: check whether your passport qualifies for ordinary visa-free entry, then check whether your route fits 240-hour transit, and only then plan a regular visa application.
Path 1: ordinary visa-free entry
If your passport already qualifies for visa-free entry, your next step is to confirm stay length, trip purpose, and the basic documents you should carry.
Read the China Visa-Free Guide
Path 2: 240-hour transit
If you are entering China on the way to a third country or region, the 240-hour transit route may be the best fit. The key question is whether your ticket sequence actually counts as transit.
Read the 240-hour transit guide
Path 3: regular visa
If neither of the two options above fits your trip, plan around a regular visa application. Do not book a non-refundable route until you know which path you will use.
Read the full visa decision article
What to prepare either way
- Your passport and flight confirmations
- Hotel bookings or your first address in China
- A simple day-by-day route you can explain at the border if asked
- A payment and connectivity setup plan before arrival
Next step
Once your entry route is clear, move to payments and connectivity so you can land with working apps, backup payment options, and a SIM or eSIM plan.