Updated 15 October 2026. Czech and Slovak citizens can spend up to 240 hours (10 days) in China without a visa if they travel on to a third country or region. According to China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA, August 2026), the policy covers nationals of 57 countries and 65 entry ports in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. A round trip Prague to China and back to Prague does not qualify: for that you need a tourist visa.
Česká verze: 240hodinový bezvízový tranzit v Číně.
Who can use the 240-hour transit
Nationals of 57 countries can use it, including the Czech Republic and Slovakia and most EU countries, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan and South Korea. You need an ordinary passport (airlines usually require at least 6 months of validity) and a confirmed onward ticket. The list changes from time to time, so check the NIA page before you book.
The transit is free of charge and involves no application in advance: you get the entry stamp at the border.
The conditions
- Onward ticket to a third country or region with a confirmed seat and date, departing within 240 hours. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as a third region.
- Not back where you came from: Prague to Beijing to Prague does not qualify, Prague to Beijing to Tokyo does.
- Entry and exit through any of the 65 designated ports; they do not have to be the same.
- Stay within the permitted provinces and regions listed by the NIA.
- The 10 days are counted from 00:00 on the day after your arrival.
Example routes
| Route | Qualifies? |
|---|---|
| Prague to Beijing, then Tokyo | yes |
| Vienna to Shanghai, then Hong Kong | yes, Hong Kong counts as a third region |
| Prague to Guangzhou, then Bangkok, then Prague | yes, the onward flight from China goes to Thailand |
| Prague to Beijing, then Prague | no, you need a visa |
| Hong Kong to Shenzhen, then Hong Kong | no, origin and destination are the same region |
What you can and cannot do
Tourism, business meetings, visits and family reunions are allowed; work, study and news reporting are not and still require the appropriate visa. You may travel between the permitted provinces, but not beyond them; Tibet always requires a separate permit.
If you do not stay at a hotel, you must register your stay with the local police within 24 hours; hotels register guests automatically.
How it works at the airport
- Tell the airline at check-in that you will use the 240-hour visa-free transit; airlines check eligibility before boarding.
- Fill in the arrival card and choose the lane for visa-free transit at immigration.
- Show your passport and the onward ticket; you receive an entry stamp with the permitted stay.
- Leave China before the 240 hours expire, through any designated port.
Common mistakes
- A return ticket to the Czech Republic: the most common reason for refusal at check-in.
- Overstaying the 240 hours, which means a fine and problems with future visas.
- Travelling outside the permitted areas.
- No police registration when staying privately.
For a holiday longer than 10 days or a return trip to Prague you need a tourist visa L. No fingerprints are needed for it until 31 December 2026, see China visa fingerprints 2026. Our online order form is in Czech; you can also simply email us in English at recepce@vizadociny.cz or call +420 296 348 606.
Frequently asked questions
Can Czech citizens use the 240-hour visa-free transit in China?
Can Slovak citizens use the 240-hour transit?
How are the 240 hours counted?
Does Hong Kong count as a third country?
Does the 240-hour transit cost anything?
What do I need for a return trip from Prague to China?
Going to China and back to Prague?
Then you need a tourist visa. We check your documents and handle the application for you.