China’s transit rules for Austrians

China has expanded its visa-free transit policies in 2024–2025, making it easier for travelers from many other countries to enter China temporarily while transiting to a third country.

1. 24-hour visa-free transit (TWOV 24h)

This option is available to travelers of almost all nationalities.

What you can do: stay in the transit zone of a Chinese international airport for up to 24 hours without a visa, as long as you continue your journey to a third country.

Key rules:

• You must remain inside the airport (no immigration clearance).
• Your route must be: Country A → China → Country B (third country).
• No Digital Arrival Card is required for 24h airport-only transit.

Existing 24h transit airports

China already allowed 24h transit in over 60 international airports, including: Beijing PEK / PKX, Shanghai PVG / SHA, Guangzhou CAN, Shenzhen SZX, Chengdu CTU / TFU, Chongqing CKG, Xi’an XIY, Kunming KMG, Harbin HRB, Qingdao TAO, Xiamen XMN, Dalian DLC, Shenyang SHE, Tianjin TSN, Fuzhou FOC, Haikou HAK, Sanya SYX та багато інших.

New airports added

China added 10 more airports to the 24-hour transit program:

• Dalian Zhoushuizi (DLC)
• Fuzhou Changle (FOC)
• Haikou Meilan (HAK)
• Sanya Phoenix (SYX)
• Nanning Wuxu (NNG)
• Xiamen Gaoqi (XMN)
• Guiyang Longdongbao (KWE)
• Lanzhou Zhongchuan (LHW)
• Changsha Huanghua (CSX)
• Hefei Xinqiao (HFE)

Who is not allowed 24h TWOV?

There are only 3 cases when 24h TWOV is not available:

1. If you want to leave the airport

• 24h TWOV is only valid within the transit area.

2. If your transit is through specially controlled cities:

• Urumqi (URC) — has strict restrictions (no more than 2 hours between flights, no terminal changes, no separate reservations).
• Yanji (YNJ) — usually allows 24h, but depends on the flight.
• Fuzhou (FOC) — since 2024, already allows 24h TWOV (was an exception — now NO).

3. If the transfer is more than 24 hours

• Then you need a G visa if you are not from a 144/240h TWOV country.

2. 144-hour and 240-hour visa-free transit (TWOV 144h / 240h)

Travelers from 55 eligible countries can enter China without a visa for 144 or 240 hours if they transit to a third country.

Conditions:

• Maximum stay: up to 240 hours (10 days).
• You must arrive from one country and depart to another (not back to your origin).
• You must enter and stay only in the city/region assigned to your transit zone.
• Digital Arrival Card is required.

Airports that previously accepted 144h/240h TWOV

• Beijing Capital (PEK)
• Beijing Daxing (PKX)
• Shanghai Pudong (PVG)
• Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA)
• Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN)
• Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX)
• Chengdu Shuangliu (CTU)
• Chengdu Tianfu (TFU)
• Hangzhou Xiaoshan (HGH)
• Nanjing Lukou (NKG)
• Wuhan Tianhe (WUH)
• Qingdao Jiaodong (TAO)
• Xiamen Gaoqi (XMN)
• Shenyang Taoxian (SHE)
• Dalian Zhoushuizi (DLC)
• Tianjin Binhai (TSN)

These hubs have been supporting 144h and/or 240h transit for years.

New 5 airports

The following airports officially joined the 240-hour transit program:

• Harbin Taiping (HRB)
• Chongqing Jiangbei (CKG)
• Xi’an Xianyang (XIY)
• Kunming Changshui (KMG)
• Urumqi Diwopu (URC)

This expansion opens important transit regions such as northwest, southwest and northeast China.

Digital Arrival Card

China launched a fully digital arrival form that replaces the previous paper card.

Who must complete the Digital Arrival Card?

Travelers entering China for:

• 144h / 240h visa-free transit
• Regular visa entry
• Temporary entry permit

Who does NOT need it: travelers using 24-hour airside transit, who do not pass immigration.

Where to complete it

• NIA Web App (official online portal)
• NIA Mobile App (Android / iOS)
• QR code displayed at the airport
• Smart border-control kiosks (in major airports)

Required documents for visa-free transit

• A valid passport (minimum validity 3 months after leaving China).
• A confirmed ticket to a third country (not your country of origin).
• A visa to the final destination (if required).
• Completed Digital Arrival Card for 144h/240h transit.

How Austrians obtain the transit permit upon arrival

1. After landing, follow signs “Transit Visa-Free / TWOV / Temporary Entry Permit”.
2. Present your passport and onward ticket.
3. Complete the Digital Arrival Card (if not done earlier).
4. An immigration officer will issue a temporary entry permit, allowing you to enter and stay in the specified region for up to 144 or 240 hours.

Important notes

• If your itinerary does not include a third country, you must apply for a Chinese visa.
• If your transit stay exceeds 240 hours, a regular visa is required.
• You must depart from China exactly as indicated in your arrival documents.

For more information, please follow the link.

Transit Visa (G) for China

A G transit visa is required for citizens of any country if their itinerary does not comply with the visa-free transit rules (24h / 144h / 240h).

Who needs a G visa:

• if your layover in China lasts more than 24 hours (and you are not from one of the 54 countries eligible for 144/240h TWOV);
• if you want to leave the airport during transit;
• if the transfer is between different cities in China;
• if you are arriving by sea or land (TWOV for sea ports is very limited);
• if you are transiting through Urumqi (URC) — TWOV is rarely applicable there;
• if your route does not include a third country (A → China → A is NOT transit).

How to obtain a G transit visa

Step 1. Submit an application to the consulate or Chinese visa center

Applications can only be submitted in person or through an official visa center (CVASC) in your country of residence.

There is no online application for category G.

Required documents:

1. Passport, valid for at least 6 months after the trip and with 1 blank page.
2. Completed visa application form (official form from the Chinese embassy website).
3. 2 passport-size photos.
4. Confirmed tickets:
• entry into China,
• departure to a third country (not back to the same one).
5. Visa to the final country, if required.
6. Transit route (hotel reservation — not required if you are just transferring).
7. Copy of passport and previous visas to China, if any.

Step 2. Pay the consular fee

The amount depends on the country of application and the applicant's passport.

On average:

• 20–40 USD — basic countries;
• 30–60 USD — for some regions.

The exact amount is indicated on the website of the Chinese embassy in your country.

Step 3. Awaiting a decision

Standard processing time:

• 4–7 business days — standard application
• 2–3 days — express (if available)

Once approved, you will receive a G visa affixed to your passport.

What a G transit visa allows you to do

• enter China for a specified period (usually up to 7 days);
• change airports, cities, or modes of transportation;
• travel within China until your departure to a third country.

General regulations regarding the import of animals to China:

1. Only one pet (dogs, cats) per person can be imported into the PRC.

2. When crossing borders, a person importing a pet must submit the following documents to the sanitary-quarantine control body:

• A valid veterinary certificate (certificate) issued by the official veterinary structure of the country of export. Also, it must be certified by the signature of a veterinarian and the seal of an official body. The import of the animal into the territory of the PRC must be carried out within 14 days from the date of issuance of the document indicated on the veterinary certificate. When crossing the border, a person importing a pet into the PRC must have the original of this certificate.
• Rabies vaccination certificate.
• ISO11784 or 11785 electronic 15-digit chip.

3. Mandatory 30-day quarantine for all domestic animals imported into the territory of China ( except for animals that arrived from countries or regions included in the list of quarantine-safe and which have carried out quarantine procedures in their country: New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, the Hawaiian Islands of the United States, the island of Guam of the United States, Jamaica, Iceland, Great Britain, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Cyprus, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, as well as Hong Kong and Macau).

• The animal must be included in the declaration.

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The following rules apply to animals that arrived from countries or regions not included in the quarantine-safe list, but provided a laboratory report on the absence of antibodies to rabies and underwent quarantine procedures on site:

• The owner of the animal must provide a valid veterinary certificate (certificate) issued by the official veterinary structure of the country of export, a certificate of vaccination against rabies, a conclusion of a laboratory accredited by Chinese customs, that there are no antibodies to rabies (antibody titer should be from 0.5IU/ml or more).
  
• The animal must have a 15-digit chip (standard ISO11784 or 11785).
• the animal must meet the requirements during inspection at the point of arrival.
• If the carrier cannot provide a valid veterinary certificate (certificate) or certificate of vaccination against rabies, the animal must be returned to the country of export or destroyed.
• If the animal has not been implanted with a chip or if the carrier cannot provide a laboratory report on the absence of antibodies to rabies, as well as if the carrier cannot provide the relevant documents or inconsistencies were found in the documents, the animal is placed in quarantine for 30 days.
• The vaccine administered to the animal must be an inactivated virus vaccine or a recombinant/modified vaccine, not a live virus vaccine.
• The date of blood collection to determine titers of anti-rabies antibodies should be no earlier than the 2nd anti-rabies vaccination (can be on the same day or later).
• The conclusion of the laboratory on the absence of antibodies to rabies is valid for one year from the date of blood collection. If the animal was vaccinated again during the period of validity of the conclusion, the results of the conclusion remain valid.
• The animal can be imported only during the period of effectiveness of the vaccine against rabies and the conclusion of the laboratory on the absence of antibodies to rabies.
• Within 14 days prior to arrival in China, the animal must undergo quarantine procedures in its country by the official authorities of exporting countries or regions to ensure that the animal is not infected with relevant infectious animal diseases and parasitic diseases, including rabies.

A valid quarantine certificate must include the following information:

• Breed
• Sex
• Color
• Date of birth or age
• The number, date and location of the implanted chip
• Dates of vaccination against rabies and their validity periods. Types of vaccine (inactivated or recombinant). The name of the vaccine, the name of the company - the manufacturer.
• The date of blood sampling for the conclusion of the absence of antibodies to rabies. The name of the laboratory that conducted the research and the result of the research.
• Results of a clinical examination of the animal's health with dates

• Thus, the procedure for inspecting an animal that arrived from countries or regions not included in the list of quarantine-safe includes:
  • Verification of a valid veterinary certificate (certificate).
  • Verification of the certificate of vaccination against rabies.
  • Verification of the conclusion about the absence of antibodies to rabies.
  • Checking the chip.
  • Inspection of the animal at the place of arrival.
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  Rules for importing guide dogs or rescue dogs:
  
  • The owner of the animal must provide a valid veterinary certificate (certificate), an official veterinary structure of the country of export, a certificate of vaccination against rabies, as well as an electronic chip.
  • The carrier must also provide the appropriate user certificate and professional training certificate.
  • A 15-digit chip (ISO11784 or 11785 standard) is required.
  • The animal must meet the requirements during inspection at the point of arrival.
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  Notes:
  
  • Weak, pregnant or lactating animals are not suitable for transportation or undergoing quarantine procedures.
  • Pets that do not require quarantine can enter any port in the PRC. Pets requiring quarantine are only allowed in ports with quarantine conditions. If a pet requiring quarantine has been imported to a port not equipped with a quarantine area, such animal must be returned at the expense of the carrier or destroyed within a limited time period (7 days).
  • Pets placed under quarantine cannot leave the quarantine area for 30 days.
  • The adopted document stipulates the countries and laboratories whose certificates exempt the imported animal from quarantine. In the presence of certificates issued by other countries and laboratories, quarantine for 30 days is mandatory.
  
  
  If the animal must be placed under quarantine procedures for a period of 30 days, it is necessary to choose those checkpoints where there are quarantine institutions:
  • Beijing Capital International Airport
  • Beijing West Railway Station
  • Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
  • Shanghai Pudong International Airport
  • Shanghai Railway Station
  • Shanghai International Passenger Transportation Center
  • Usun International Seaport
  • Urumqi International Airport
  • Alashankou Checkpoint in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

Chinese customs work seriously and responsibly. Dogs are often used to inspect tourists. Border guards rarely show excessive fanaticism and almost never look after children under 10 years of age.

The rules for checking guests are determined by the China Customs Administration (KMA) and set out in the Law on the Control of the Entry of Foreigners into the PRC, as well as other regulations. You can view the customs regulations of China both on the website of the Customs Information Center and on the government portal (english.gov.cn).

What does not need to be declared when importing to China?

One item per person may be imported into China without declaration:

• laptop;
• smartphone/phone;
• tablet;
• cell;
• camera.

According to the rules, all the listed devices must be taken back.

Hand luggage, clothes within reasonable limits, cosmetics, hygiene items - all this does not need to be entered in the declaration. The same applies to personal jewelry (including gold or silver, as long as it weighs no more than 2 ounces).

Alcohol

According to customs regulations, the Chinese consider any alcohol composition with a strength of more than 12% to be alcoholic beverages. You can take with you only a bottle with a volume of up to 1.5 liters, that is, a maximum of 2 bottles with a volume of one alcohol container of 0.75 liters.

Everything above must be declared or left at home. Aperitifs, beer and other low-alcohol drinks do not fall into this category (there are no clear instructions on how much they can be taken).

Food

In terms of food, China's legislation shows strictness. Yes, any fast food without packaging cannot be imported into the country, and fresh products of animal origin (sausage, fish), even packaged according to all the rules, will go to quarantine control. Or they will be confiscated.

But powdered milk in cans or canned goods are among the things that can be imported into China without strict restrictions.

Tobacco products

You can import without a declaration:

• 400 cigarettes maximum;
• up to 100 cigars;
• a little more than 0.5 kg of tobacco for a pipe.

If you are more, a declaration is required. This rule does not apply to electronic cigarettes, but difficulties may arise with the cylinder for filling them (you need to study the composition).

Medicine

It is possible to take standard drugs of universal use (antiseptics, analgesics) for personal needs. It is not possible to transport strong drugs with a narcotic effect. Medicines from the prohibited list cannot be imported into the country under any circumstances. The rest of the products can be transported by taking a doctor's prescription with you. When filling out the questionnaire of the People's Republic of China, do not forget to indicate the chronic pathologies for which you need certain means.

Money

Transfer of money on a credit card or in the form of a currency check is unlimited. Large amounts of cash must be declared.

You do not need to pay for the declaration, because it is necessary to issue it if you have with you: more than 5,000 dollars or euros; in Chinese currency – more than 6,000 yuan.

Animals

You can cross the border with animals - a cat or a dog. At the same time, it is allowed to take no more than one pet per person. It must be declared. In addition, the pet must have a certificate of immunization and vaccination against rabies (issued at the place of residence).

You cannot import into China:

• insects;
• representatives of exotic fauna;
• animals from the epizootic zone.

What is prohibited for import into China?

• soil samples;
• explosives and weapons;
• any items that can be identified as weapons (practice swords are included in this group);
• drugs prohibited for import, according to the KMA list (it can change before each trip, and even more so if you are issuing a Chinese visa for the first time, be sure to check the possibility of transporting the necessary medications);
• radio transmitters and communicators of all types (this includes even such simple devices as a baby monitor);
• microorganisms;
• human or animal tissue samples;
• blood;
• to poison;
• materials with a political and religious bias that contradict the policy of the People's Republic of China (especially the subject of Taiwan's independence);
• pornographic materials;
• exotic animals;
• perishable products in a large assortment (perishable products in open form, including fruits, vegetables, animal carcasses, cheese, etc.);
• any flora and fauna from regions in which an epidemiological situation has been declared at the time of the trip (within the "radius" of the next 6 months);
• imitation of money signs (it is forbidden to import any copies of bills and coins, including souvenir products);
• products worth more than 20,000 yuan without a declaration.

This list can be changed, it is updated periodically as new acts are adopted. If you doubt the possibility of transporting a particular product across the border, you should get individual advice on the website of the Customs Information Center, the Chinese Embassy or your tour operator before sending.

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What must be declared when entering China?

Declarations during transit to Chinese territory are subject to:

• live plants;
• communicators, with the help of which encrypted information, advertising products and souvenirs can be transmitted;
• objects of culture, history, valuables, antiques, collectibles that will be brought back.

All cargo imported into the PRC for commercial purposes is dutiable and therefore declarable. If there are permits and approvals from the relevant declaration authorities, you can transport weapons or medicines purchased according to a prescription.

What must be declared when traveling by plane?

• alcohol with a strength higher than 12%, if their volume exceeds 1.5 liters;
• jewelry and articles of precious metals, if they weigh more than 50 g (2 oz);
• pets;
• cigarettes, cigars (if the amount is more than 400, 100 approx. respectively);
• currency in the amount of more than 5,000 dollars (equivalent) or 6,000 yuan.

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What to do if stopped for inspection or found prohibited items?

Of course, before the trip, you should pay close attention to studying the current information about which products cannot be imported into China, and how to correctly calculate their volume in order not to overpay customs duties. But it is difficult to take into account all the nuances of the rules and requirements without having experience.

Incidents related to changes in the regulations or ignorance of its clauses cannot be ruled out. But you need to be able to respond to them correctly.

Yes, if you are stopped for inspection, which happens often, first of all:

• do not be afraid and do not panic – this practice is common on the Chinese border and does not indicate that you are suspected of violations;
• carry-on bags tend to be lightly searched, so try to keep medicine and currency in there;
• try to use all the products you took with you on the road or throw them away before the examination.

If you are not sure that everything in your luggage is allowed for transportation (there is medicine, chocolate, tea or coffee), choose the red corridor instead of the green one. This will speed up the resolution of disputes if they arise.

When detecting prohibited items, one must act consistently. 

The first thing you need is to invite an interpreter to give detailed explanations. The more convincing and detailed they are, the faster the problem will be solved.

What to prepare for?

• items prohibited by the law of the People's Republic of China (if they do not pose a serious threat) are confiscated;
• a fine will be imposed on the amount of undeclared goods subject to customs duty;
• you may be detained at the airport until the circumstances are clarified, but if there are no grounds to initiate criminal proceedings (if the luggage is not drugs or firearms, but the same lard or apples), the waiting conditions will be comfortable.

If the degree of the problem increases, try to contact your tour operator, insurer (legal risks are included in the policy) or a representative of the Embassy in China.

Conclusions.

• customs officials pay key attention to epidemiological and toxicological risks (hence the ban on importing honey, herring, and meat);
• any cultural values always become a subject of interest;
• the passage time is reduced to a minimum (from a few minutes to half an hour during the examination);
• hand luggage is checked infrequently;
• if you are traveling from an epidemic outbreak zone or are transporting a pet with you, be prepared for a quarantine check (the worst result is isolation for 6 days if the quarantine service finds a negative conclusion).
  

International model rights do not apply in China, so there are several options for moving around the country:

1. Rent a car with a driver.
2. Get local rights.

To obtain rights in China, you will need a visa:

• business visa (category M)
• work visa (category Z)
• student visa (category X)

To become a driver's license holder in China, you need to pass exams.

Before taking the exams, you need to register. For this, you should contact the local traffic police department.

The package of documents should include the following:

• Passport and a copy of the photo page.
• Copy of Chinese visa.
• A copy of the page in the passport with the latest stamp on entry into the country.
• A copy of both sides of national or international rights.
• Documents on residence in China.
• Official translation of rights made by a certified translator.
• Four passport photos.
• A medical certificate of health obtained in any hospital.
• Your name in Chinese and height in centimeters.
• 200-300 yuan.

A person who does not speak Chinese can use an interpreter when submitting documents.

Medical examination is limited to visiting an ophthalmologist, measuring height and weight parameters and paying about 20 yuan.

After registration, you need to fill out the application form for passing the theoretical exam. Next, the license applicant is given a card with the time and date of the exam, as well as a booklet with options for exam questions and useful links to resources where you can also get the necessary information.

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Theory test (suitable only for those who already have any driver's license (national or international).

During preparation, special attention should be paid to the sections:

• Road Signs;
• system of penalty points and fines for various violations;
• controls and dashboard;
• imprisonment and other penalties for offenses;
• road markings;
• hand signals;
• minimum and maximum speed in different situations.

In total, there are 100 questions in the examination test. Each question has three possible answers. You should choose only one option. If correct answers are obtained for at least 90 test questions, the exam is considered passed.

The exam is taken on a computer in 45 minutes. In case of failure, you can retake the exam even without additional payment (and immediately, on the same day).

Rights are issued for five years regardless of when the visa expires.

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Driving test

You need to register for the driving test in advance. There are schools that teach driving to foreigners (a translator is provided). The process takes two to three months.

Documents required:

• passport and residence permit valid for at least three months (original and photocopy);
• a record of temporary residence obtained from the local police station (original and photocopy);
• health insurance (as a rule, it can be obtained locally);
• 3-5 color photos with a white background.

The driving test consists of three parts:

• Skills and parking on the test track.
• Practical driving test.
• Written test on knowledge of driving rules (50 questions).

Each exam lasts about two hours. If you fail it the first time, you will have to pay a fee at the local traffic police station and retake it twenty days later.

The instructor who tests the driving skills does not overwhelm anyone on purpose. If a person orients himself on the road, knows how to fulfill elementary requirements - to move, brake, turn, park - the exam is considered passed. But even after practice, the test is given again - already knowledge of traffic rules. The result is a four-stage admission system for the right to hold a driver's license (that's what they call a driver's license in China).