Foreigners Take Note: 240-Hour Transit Visa Exemption Allows Entry to Yiwu! Four Things to Avoid During a 10-Day Visit for Inspection and Negotiation

Recently at the Yiwu International Trade City, foreign merchants often ask with their phones in hand: “Didn’t they say I could stay for 10 days without a visa? Why do I need to show my ticket to a third country at the airport?” The problem usually arises from confusing the '240-hour transit visa exemption' with a regular visa exemption. These two are different: one requires 'transiting to a third country,' while the other only considers the passport nationality.

The National Immigration Administration's Transit Visa Exemption Policy (Announcement of August 20, 2026) clearly outlines the rules. For foreign trade companies, market operators, and frequent foreign buyers in Yiwu, using this policy correctly can make it more convenient for clients to come and go; using it incorrectly may result in being denied entry at the airport or even leaving a bad record. Let’s explain it in simple terms below.

I. First, Distinguish Between 24-Hour, 240-Hour, and Regular Visa Exemptions

There are significant differences among the three policies:

In short, the 240-hour transit visa exemption is for guests who 'pass through China and take the opportunity to visit Yiwu to inspect goods,' not for those who 'specifically come to China to stay for a long time.'

II. List of 57 Countries, Check if Your Clients Are Included

According to the National Immigration Administration, the 240-hour transit visa exemption currently applies to citizens from 57 countries:

• Europe (40 countries): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway.
• Americas (6 countries): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.
• Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand.
• Asia (9 countries): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan.

Note: The list is based on the latest announcement by the National Immigration Administration. Eligibility is determined by the passport nationality, not the company registration location or the transit point.

III. Four Strict Conditions, All Must Be Met

1. Hold a valid ordinary passport. The passport must be within its validity period. Travel documents and temporary documents cannot replace an ordinary passport.
2. Have a connecting ticket to a third country (region). The flight tickets must have confirmed dates and itineraries; they cannot be purchased after entry.
3. Enter through designated ports of entry. Currently, there are 65 open ports in 24 provinces, not just any small port can be used.
4. Stay within the specified area for no more than 10 days. In Zhejiang, the stay and activity area is limited to Zhejiang Province, and inter-provincial activities are not allowed.

Among these four points, the second one is the most problematic. Many customers purchase round-trip tickets from their home country to Yiwu and back, only to find out at border control that this does not meet the requirement of 'transiting to a third country (region)'. The itinerary must be 'home country—China—third country (region)', and cannot return to the home country.

IV. How to Enter Yiwu: 4 Designated Ports in Zhejiang

According to the list of applicable ports published by the National Immigration Administration, there are 4 in Zhejiang: Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Ningbo Lishe International Airport, Wenzhou Longwan International Airport, and Yiwu Airport. The stay and activity area is Zhejiang Province.

Eligible clients can directly fly into Yiwu Airport; if there are no suitable international flights to Yiwu, they can also enter through Hangzhou, Ningbo, or Wenzhou, and then take a high-speed train or bus to Yiwu—as long as they do not leave Zhejiang Province.

However, after entering with the 240-hour transit visa exemption, they cannot go to Shanghai, Jiangsu, or Guangdong for factory visits or tourism. Leaving Zhejiang Province would be considered exceeding the stay area, and if caught, penalties will be imposed, which could seriously affect future travel to China.

V. What You Can and Cannot Do

The original policy states: During the stay, one can engage in tourism, business, visiting, and family visits; work, study, news interviews, and other activities requiring prior approval still need to obtain the appropriate visa. Viewing goods, negotiating prices, and signing contracts fall under 'business' and are permissible; however, any involvement in 'working' changes the nature of the activity.

If foreign merchants indeed need to work long-term at a company in Yiwu, the correct procedure is: apply for a Z visa abroad beforehand, and upon entry, obtain the necessary work permit and residence permit for work. Using the transit visa exemption to 'start working' is considered illegal employment, and the company may also be held accountable.

VI. Don't Forget to Register Your Accommodation Within 24 Hours of Arrival

If staying at a hotel, the hotel will handle the accommodation registration as required. If staying at a friend's house, factory dormitory, or apartment, either the individual or the host must register with the local public security bureau within 24 hours of check-in.

Now, this service can be handled online: through the National Immigration Administration's Government Service Platform website, the 'Immigration 12367' App, or WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. Select accommodation registration under 'Foreigner Services' and follow the prompts. Online processing has the same validity as on-site processing. For first-time applications, it is recommended to have the host assist for more accurate information.

Do not underestimate this step. If a foreigner or the host fails to register for accommodation as required, they may be given a warning and fined according to the law. It is most common for clients staying in factory dormitories to miss the registration, so remind them in advance.

Seven, Five Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can a client fly from their home country to China and then back to their home country?

This does not meet the requirement of 'transiting to a third country (region)', and typically cannot enter under the 240-hour transit visa exemption. Either adjust the itinerary to include a segment to a third country (region), or apply for a regular visa or other visa-free policy.

2. Can the ticket to the third country be purchased after entry?

No. Upon entry, you must hold a confirmed connecting ticket with a specific date and itinerary, which will be checked by border control.

3. Is the 10-day period calculated from the day of entry or the next day?

The policy stipulates a stay of no more than 10 days (240 hours). The specific start and end dates are determined by the border control at the time of entry. It is recommended to leave some buffer time for your return or onward journey to a third country, and not to plan to leave on the last day.

4. If 10 days are not enough, can the stay be extended or converted to a work visa?

Transit visa exemption is a short-term transit convenience and not a residence status that can be arbitrarily extended. If a longer stay, work, or study is needed, the corresponding visa should be obtained before entry, and do not rely on converting after entry.

5. Can a client bring family members or children along?

Each traveler must individually meet the conditions. Travel and visiting relatives are allowed; however, children's schooling or long-term study activities require prior approval and the appropriate visa should be obtained.

Eight, Three Reminders for Yiwu Business Owners

• When booking tickets for clients, check if there is a 'third country (region) leg' first. Do not arrange for 240-hour transit visa exemption if the ticket is only a round trip between the home country and China.
• Remind clients to complete accommodation registration within 24 hours of landing. For those staying in factory dormitories or employee apartments, the host should assist with online registration to avoid missing it during inspections.
• If a client needs to stay long-term for order tracking and quality inspection, apply for a Z visa and work permit in advance. Do not use the visa-exempt status for such roles, as both the company and the client will bear risks.

Official sources: National Immigration Administration's 'Transit Visa Exemption Policy' (August 20, 2026), https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741577/c1731205/content.html; National Immigration Administration's 'Interpretation of the Policy for Online Registration of Foreigners' Accommodation Outside Hotels', https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741577/c1806139/content.html.

This article is based on publicly available policies. Please refer to the relevant authorities and border control for specific details. This does not constitute legal advice.