Visa rules are not the whole story — approval depends heavily on the documents and circumstances you can show.
- DPRK / North Korean passport: widely refused entry
240-hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV) — China
- Max stay
- 10days
- Processing
- 0–0days
- Fee
- —
Difficulty2/10·Realism5/10Why? ▾
Difficulty
Easy1–4Quick to obtain, light documentation, fast turnaround. Difficulty 1–4.
Why this score?
- —Visa-free entry — no advance authorisation needed
- +0.25Onward / return ticket required
- +1Long documentation list (7 items)
Approval realism
Approval depends on youApproval depends heavily on the documents and circumstances you can show. Read the warning above — it points to what tends to move the needle.
What drives this score?
- —No visa needed — entry is granted at the border given valid documents
- -5DPRK / North Korean passport — DPRK / North Korean passport: widely refused entry
Step-by-step checklist
Your application checklist
- 1
Check your passport validity
30+ days beforeMost countries require 6+ months of validity beyond your travel dates and at least one blank page. If it's close, renew before applying.
- 2
Book refundable flight + accommodation
7+ days beforeUse a refundable booking (or a free hold/itinerary service) until your visa is approved — embassies want to see real plans, but you don't want to lose the money on a refusal.
- 3
On the day of travel
day of travelCarry: passport (printed visa if applicable), onward ticket, proof of accommodation, proof of funds, travel insurance. Border officers retain discretion regardless of visa status.
Show full requirements, fees, and source
What you need
- Available to passport holders of ~54 countries (including US, UK, Schengen, most of EU, AU, NZ, JP, KR)
- Expanded from 144 hours to 10 days (240 hours) in December 2024
- Must enter and exit via the same port of entry region (24 regions covering most major cities now)
- Onward flight to a third country (not your origin country) within 10 days
- Permitted: tourism, business meetings, visits within the approved region
- Apply on arrival at the immigration counter — no advance application
- Stay limited to the approved transit regions (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, etc.)
