240-hour visa-free transit
United Kingdom - China 240-hour transit eligibility
The United Kingdom is an island nation off the northwest coast of continental Europe. British passport holders are eligible for China's 240-hour visa-free transit via London Heathrow (LHR) or Manchester (MAN).
Example result
What this check gives you
Example transit: London → mainland China → a third country or region (not your departure country).
9 of 9 checks pass
- Passport is on the 240h eligible listPass · GB · 57
- Entry port is a listed 240h portPass · Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) · 65
- Exit port is a listed 240h portPass · Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
- Stay is 240 hours or lessPass · 96h / 240h
- A → China → B third-country route shapePass · GB → CN → KR
- Neither endpoint is in mainland ChinaPass · GB / KR
- Hong Kong / Macau / Taiwan handled as third regionsPass · N/A
- Exit mode (air / rail / sea) is supportedPass · AIR
- Entry port's permitted activity regionPass · shanghai
- Region
- Western Europe
- Common departure cities
- London, Manchester
- Beijing time difference
- 7–8 hours behind Beijing
- Example third-place transit
- Example transit: London → mainland China → a third country or region (not your departure country).
Before you transit — get China-ready
Open the full arrival checklist →Important reminders
- Visa-free entry does not allow work and cannot be extended.
- Register temporary accommodation within 24 hours after check-in.
- Tibet and some border areas may require extra permits before travel.