Policy
Transit visa waiver extended to 240 hours (10 days)
From 17 December 2024, the transit waiver jumped from 144 to 240 hours — 10 days — and Xi'an is fully in scope, making visa-free trips genuinely possible.
On 17 December 2024, China's transit visa-free policy was extended from 144 to 240 hours (10 days), and the list of eligible ports grew to cover 60+ entry points across 24 provinces. Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) is one of them, and the whole of Shaanxi province is in scope.
What this means in practice:
- 54 nationalities — including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU — can enter without a visa when transiting to a third country or region.
- The 10-day window comfortably fits a full Xi'an itinerary: wall, Terracotta Army, museums, a Mount Huashan day trip — even a slow week.
- The clock starts at 00:00 the day after arrival, which in practice means a little more than 240 hours.
- Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as third regions, so routing home via Hong Kong unlocks the whole trip visa-free.
This is the single biggest visa-policy change for Western travellers since the 2023 waiver wave — see our 240-hour transit guide for the full rules and entry walkthrough.
Related guide
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