Shanghai Visa Policies: The Latest Visa-Free Transit Options for Foreign Travelers

Written by Catherine | Updated April 30,2025

Shanghai is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in China. It is best known for its modern landscape, rich cultural heritage, and a unique Shanghai lifestyle. You’ll have a variety of memorable experiences from seeing the impressive Shanghai skyline to tasting local dishes. And the first step before planning your Shanghai trip is to make sure you’re eligible to enter the country.

Depending on your nationality and travel length, you might be able to visit Shanghai without a visa. Currently, there’re a few policies on Shanghai visa-free transit. This article will take you through the requirements and countries of exemption, as well as how to apply for a Shanghai visa if you need one.

1. 30-day Visa-Free Policy

From November 30, 2024 to December 31, 2025, passport holders from a list of 38 unilateral visa-exemption countries can travel to China without a visa and stay for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, family visit, exchange visit, and transit purposes.

This is the easiest option for China visa-free transit in Shanghai, as this policy is flexible with travel purposes and allows the longest time of visit, as long as you are a passport holder of one of these countries:

France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Republic of Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, and Negara Brunei Darussalam.

This policy equally applies to countries with mutual visa exemption agreements with China, including Thailand, Singapore, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Antigua and Barbuda, Albania, United Arab Emirates, Barbados, Bahamas, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dominica, Ecuador, Fiji, Grenada, Qatar, Mauritius, Serbia, Seychelles, San Marino, Suriname, Tonga, Armenia, and Georgia.

2. 240-Hour Visa-Free Policy

China has extended the 144-hour visa-free policy to 240 hours. Starting from December 2024, foreign visitors from 54 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Russia, Singapore, and Japan, traveling from China to a third country (region), can enter visa-free through any of the 60 open ports in 24 provinces and stay within the areas for as long as 240 hours (10 days).

The designated ports of Shanghai are Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and Shanghai Port. If you’re from one of the eligible countries, this policy has made your Shanghai tour even easier. 10 days is plenty of time to explore the city’s top attractions and experience the beautiful culture of the region.

Under this policy, you can make a Shanghai visa-free transit if

• You’re a citizen of one of the 54 eligible countries; see the complete list of countries here.
• You must hold a valid international travel document with at least three months of validity.
• You must hold passenger tickets and booking confirmation with a specific date and seat to a third country or region from China within 240 hours of your arrival.

Here’re a few important things to note:

1. If you’re making a Shanghai visa-free transit under this policy, you must stay within Shanghai Municipality during your visit.There are a total of 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China where you can enter and stay for up to 240 hours without a visa.
2. The “third country or region” must not be your home country, however, it can be Hong Kongor Macau.
3. The 240-hour period starts at 0:00 (12:00 am) the day after your day of entry.

How to apply:

1. Inform the airline that you intend to apply for a 240-hour Shanghai visa-free transit.
2. Fill out the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners.
3. Upon arrival, apply for a 240-hour visa-free transit with your Arrival Card and travel documents at the designated counter.
4. Obtain a Temporary Entry Permit stamp on your passport.
5. Claim your luggage and go through inspections at the customs.
6. Leave your port of entry and start your Shanghai visa-free transit tour.

Recommended Best Shanghai Tours:

• 3 Days Best Shanghai Tour
• 3 Days Best Shanghai Tour with Zhujiajiao Water Town
• 4 Days Shanghai Family Tour with Disneyland Park

3. 24-Hour Visa-Free Policy

If you’re from neither of the exemption lists above, you can still take a Shanghai 24-hour visa-free transit. Currently, all open ports in China implement a 24-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens of all countries and regions.

As long as you hold a confirmed connecting ticket for international flights, ships, or trains transiting through China to a third country or region, you can stay in China without a visa for no more than 24 hours within the port of entry (the airport in most cases).

If you would like to make the best of your transit time in Shanghai and leave the entry port to see the city, you may apply for a Temporary Entry Permit from the port immigration inspection authority.

Although the 24-hour visa-free transit policy does not guarantee you much time in Shanghai, it applies to citizens of all nationalities making a transit anywhere in China.

Recommended Shanghai 24-Hour Day Tours:

• Half Day Private Shanghai Tour to Yuyuan Garden
• Shanghai Highlight Day Tour
• One Day Private Modern Shanghai Tour

4. 15-Day Visa-Free Policy for Cruise Groups

If you’re traveling to Shanghai as part of a cruise group, you may also be eligible for a visa-free visit, as long as you meet these requirements:

• The foreign tourist group must have no fewer than 2 members.
• The group must arrive in Shanghai on a cruise ship at Shanghai Port International Passenger Terminal or Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal and leave on the same cruise.
• The tourist group should be received by a Chinese domestic travel agency.
• You may stay in Beijing and the 11 coastal provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities (namely Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Zhejiang) for a maximum of 15 days.

5.  How to Apply for a Chinese Visa If You Need One

If you don’t meet any of the Shanghai visa exemption requirements, you can apply for a Chinese tourist visa to visit the city. Here is a list of Chinese visa requirements:

• China visa application form from http://cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn
• Passport with at least another 6 months of validity and blank pages
• A recently taken photo of 48x33mm
• Previous Chinese visa if applicable
• Supporting documents
  • Travel and accommodation booking confirmations
  • Invitation letters
  • Travel itinerary

6. China Visa on Arrival

If you’re visiting Shanghai as part of an organized China tour arranged by a travel agency in China, you can also apply for visa on arrival, aka a port visa, at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. It’ll save you some time and trouble, as you only need to bring all your required documents, including the port visa application form and a photo, to the designated counter after you arrive in Shanghai.