China has significantly expanded visa-free transit opportunities for citizens of the Russian Federation.

Russian citizens may now stay in China without a visa for up to 240 hours (10 days) when transiting through a number of Chinese airports and seaports.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the rules.

Key Visa-Free Transit Rules

1. 240 Hours Without a Visa

  • Russian citizens may remain in China without a visa for up to 10 days.
  • The transit clock starts at 00:01 on the day following arrival.
  • A confirmed onward ticket to a third country (for example, back to Russia or to another destination) is mandatory.
  • Travel between provinces and cities within the designated regions is permitted.

2. Required Documents

  • An international passport valid for at least three months from the date of arrival.
  • A confirmed onward ticket to a third country (air, cruise, or rail).
  • A completed arrival card, if required.

3. Restrictions

  • Visa-free transit is not available at Huangshan (TXN), Mudanjiang (MDG), or Urumqi (URC) airports.
  • All passengers must pass immigration control on arrival.

Airports and Ports Where Transit Applies

Transit is available through more than 30 Chinese airports and seaports, including:

  • Beijing/北京: PEK (Capital), PKX (Daxing)
  • Shanghai/上海: PVG (Pudong), SHA (Hongqiao)
  • Guangzhou/广州: CAN (Baiyun)
  • Sanya/三亚: SYX (Phoenix International)
  • Haikou (Hainan/海南): HAK (Meilan)
  • Chongqing: CKG (Jiangbei)
  • Chengdu: CTU (Shuangliu), TFU (Tianfu)
  • Xi'an: XIY (Xianyang)
  • Shenyang: SHE (Taoxian)

Sample Transit Itinerary

Say your route is Sanya → Beijing/北京 → Russia:

  1. In Sanya you clear immigration and receive a 240-hour transit permit.
  2. You fly on to Beijing/北京, where you can move around freely for the remaining days.
  3. You depart China within 240 hours of first arriving in the country.

Practical Checklist

  1. Plan your route in advance. Confirm that your itinerary complies with the 240-hour transit rules and that both your arrival and departure airports appear on the approved list.
  2. Prepare your documents. Your international passport must be valid for at least 3 months from arrival; carry a printed copy of your onward ticket.
  3. Verify requirements before travel. Rules can change, so check current requirements with your airline or the Chinese consulate before departure.

The new visa-free transit rules make it straightforward to explore China's cities along the way. Contact the AMIST team to plan a trip that takes full advantage of this opportunity.