Last verified: August 26, 2026 Quick Answer Yes — Kyrgyz citizens holding ordinary passports can now use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy. From August 20, 2026, China added Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam to the policy, bringing the number of eligible countries to 57. Eligible Kyrgyz travelers can enter through any of China’s 65 designated ports and stay for up to 240 hours (10 days)within the areas permitted by the policy. But there is one very important condition: You must be transiting mainland China on your way to a third country or region. This is not simply 10 days of visa-free tourism for a Kyrgyzstan–China–Kyrgyzstan trip. How Does the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Work? The easiest way to understand it is: Country/Region A → Mainland China → Country/Region B Your itinerary must show that mainland China is the transit point on your journey to a third country or region. For example: Itinerary 240-hour transit? Bishkek → Beijing → Bishkek ❌ No Bishkek → Shanghai → Bishkek ❌ No Bishkek → Beijing → Tokyo ✅ Potentially Bishkek → Shanghai → Seoul ✅ Potentially Bishkek → Guangzhou → Hong Kong ✅ Potentially “Potentially” is important: you must still meet all the other requirements and use eligible ports and permitted stay areas. What Changed on August 20, 2026? China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced that Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam would be added to the 240-hour visa-free transit policy from August 20, 2026. Kyrgyz citizens holding ordinary passports and confirmed onward tickets with dates and seats to a third country or region can use the policy if they meet the other entry requirements. The change increased the number of eligible nationalities to 57. China’s 240-hour policy currently operates through 65 designated ports across 24 provincial-level regions. This Does NOT Mean “10 Days Anywhere in China” This is the part travelers need to understand. If your trip is simply: Bishkek → Beijing → Bishkek you cannot use the 240-hour transit policy. But: Bishkek → Beijing → Tokyo could potentially qualify. The important question isn’t: “Am I staying in China for fewer than 10 days?” It is: “Am I genuinely transiting mainland China on my way to a third country or region?” You must also remain within the permitted areas covered by the policy. The 240-hour scheme does not automatically give you unrestricted travel throughout mainland China. Can You Actually Sightsee During the 240 Hours? Yes. This isn’t merely permission to sit in an airport waiting for your next flight. Travelers using the policy may engage in activities including: Employment, study and journalistic activities are not covered and still require the appropriate visa or approval. That means a transit through China could become a genuine stopover — perhaps several days exploring Beijing or Shanghai before continuing to your next destination. Kyrgyz Citizens Also Get 30 Days Visa-Free in Hainan This is the other major change — and don’t confuse it with 240-hour transit. From August 20, 2026, Kyrgyz ordinary-passport holders also became eligible for China’s separate 30-day visa-free entry policy for Hainan Province. Eligible travelers may enter through Hainan’s open ports and stay within Hainan Province for up to 30 days. Most importantly, this policy does not have the same third-country transit requirement. So: Kyrgyzstan → Hainan → Kyrgyzstan can potentially qualify for the Hainan visa-free policy. 240-Hour Transit vs Hainan Visa-Free Entry 240-Hour Transit Hainan Visa-Free Kyrgyz ordinary passport ✅ ✅ Maximum stay 240 hours 30 days Third country/region required ✅ Yes ❌ No Travel area Designated permitted areas Hainan Province Tourism allowed ✅ ✅ What Documents Should You Prepare? For 240-hour visa-free transit, keep these readily available: Your onward ticket is particularly important because it demonstrates that you are actually transiting through China. Final admission is always subject to immigration inspection. Frequently Asked Questions Can Kyrgyz citizens visit China without a visa in 2026? Yes, under certain policies. From August 20, 2026, Kyrgyz ordinary-passport holders became eligible for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy and the separate 30-day Hainan visa-free policy. Can I fly Bishkek → Beijing → Bishkek visa-free? Not under the 240-hour transit policy. Your journey must continue from mainland China to a third country or region. Can I spend the 240 hours sightseeing? Yes. Tourism is permitted, but you must remain within the areas authorized under the policy. Can I visit Hainan and return directly to Kyrgyzstan? Potentially yes. The separate Hainan policy allows eligible Kyrgyz ordinary-passport holders to stay within Hainan Province for up to 30 days without the third-country transit requirement. Can I work in China during the visa-free period? No. Employment, study and journalistic activities require the appropriate visa or approval. ChinaTravelBUG’s Take The easiest way to remember the new rules is: Kyrgyzstan → Mainland China → Third Country/Region = potentially up to 240 hours visa-free. And separately: Kyrgyzstan → Hainan → Kyrgyzstan = potentially up to 30 days visa-free in Hainan. For Kyrgyz travelers, the August 20, 2026 changes make short trips to China considerably easier — but the two policies work very differently. Don’t confuse visa-free transit with ordinary visa-free entry. Dad’s advice: before buying non-refundable tickets, check your exact route, entry port and permitted stay areaagainst the latest National Immigration Administration rules. Official source:China National Immigration Administration (NIA), August 20, 2026 announcement:https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147468/c217849/content.html Immigration rules can change. This article provides general travel information and is not immigration or legal advice. Last verified: August 26, 2026.

Last verified: August 26, 2026 Quick Answer Yes — Vietnamese citizens holding ordinary passports can now use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy. From August 20, 2026, China added Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan to the policy, increasing the number of eligible countries to 57. Eligible Vietnamese travelers can enter through any of China’s 65 designated ports and stay within the permitted areas for up to 240 hours (10 days). But there is one very important condition: You must be transiting through mainland China on your way to a third country or region. This is not simply 10 days of visa-free tourism for a Vietnam–China–Vietnam trip. How Does the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Work? The easiest way to understand it is: Country/Region A → Mainland China → Country/Region B Your itinerary must show that you are transiting mainland China on your way to a third country or region. For example: Itinerary 240-hour transit? Hanoi → Beijing → Hanoi ❌ No Ho Chi Minh City → Shanghai → Ho Chi Minh City ❌ No Hanoi → Beijing → Tokyo ✅ Potentially Ho Chi Minh City → Shanghai → Seoul ✅ Potentially Hanoi → Guangzhou → Hong Kong ✅ Potentially “Potentially” matters: you must still satisfy the other requirements of the policy. What Changed on August 20, 2026? China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) officially added Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan to the 240-hour visa-free transit policy from August 20, 2026. Vietnamese citizens holding ordinary passports and interline passenger tickets with confirmed dates and itineraries to a third country or region may enter visa-free through any of the 65 designated ports, including ports in Beijing and Shanghai. They may remain within the designated areas for no more than 240 hours. The addition of Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan increased the number of nationalities covered by the policy from 55 to 57. This Does NOT Mean “Vietnamese Can Visit China Visa-Free for 10 Days” This distinction is important. If your trip is: Hanoi → Beijing → Hanoi the 240-hour transit policy does not apply. But: Hanoi → Beijing → Tokyo could potentially qualify. So the important question isn’t: “Am I staying in China for fewer than 10 days?” It is: “Am I transiting mainland China on my way to a third country or region?” Travelers must also stay within the designated areas covered by the policy. The 240-hour scheme does not automatically allow unrestricted travel throughout mainland China. Can You Sightsee During the 240 Hours? Yes. This isn’t merely an airport layover policy. Eligible travelers may use their stay for short-term activities including: Employment, study and news reporting are not covered and still require the appropriate visa or prior approval. So a flight through China can potentially become a genuine stopover — several days exploring Beijing, Shanghai or another eligible destination before continuing your journey. Vietnamese Citizens Also Get 30 Days Visa-Free in Hainan This is the second major change announced on August 20 — and it is a completely separate policy. Vietnamese citizens holding ordinary passports are now also eligible for China’s 30-day visa-free entry policy for Hainan Province. Eligible Vietnamese travelers may enter through Hainan’s open ports and remain within the administrative region of Hainan Province for up to 30 days. Most importantly, the NIA announcement does not impose the third-country transit requirement that applies to the 240-hour policy. So: Vietnam → Hainan → Vietnam can potentially qualify under the separate Hainan visa-free policy. 240-Hour Transit vs Hainan Visa-Free Entry 240-Hour Transit Hainan Visa-Free Vietnamese ordinary passport ✅ ✅ Maximum stay 240 hours 30 days Third country/region required ✅ Yes ❌ No Travel area Designated permitted areas Hainan Province Tourism allowed ✅ ✅ What Should You Prepare? For 240-hour visa-free transit, travelers should have: Your onward travel arrangements are particularly important because they demonstrate that you are actually transiting through China. Final admission remains subject to immigration inspection. Frequently Asked Questions Can Vietnamese citizens visit China without a visa in 2026? Yes, under certain policies. From August 20, 2026, Vietnamese ordinary-passport holders became eligible for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy and the separate 30-day Hainan visa-free entry policy. Can I fly Hanoi → Beijing → Hanoi without a visa? Not under the 240-hour transit policy. You must be traveling through mainland China to a third country or region. Can I fly Vietnam → China → Japan or South Korea? Potentially yes. If your itinerary and entry port meet the requirements, this is the type of third-country transit itinerary the policy is designed for. Can I leave the airport and go sightseeing? Yes. Tourism is permitted, provided you remain within the designated areas and comply with the policy. Can Vietnamese citizens visit Hainan without continuing to another country? Yes, potentially. The separate Hainan policy allows eligible Vietnamese ordinary-passport holders to enter Hainan and remain within Hainan Province for up to 30 days without the 240-hour policy’s third-country transit requirement. Can I work or study during the visa-free stay? No. Work, study and news reporting still require the appropriate visa or prior approval. ChinaTravelBUG’s Take There are now two different rules Vietnamese travelers should know: Vietnam → Mainland China → Third Country/Region = potentially up to 240 hours visa-free. And separately: Vietnam → Hainan → Vietnam = potentially up to 30 days visa-free in Hainan. That second rule is easy to miss because it was announced at the same time as the 240-hour transit change. For Vietnamese travelers, the August 20, 2026 changes make short trips and China stopovers considerably easier. But don’t remember the headline simply as: “Vietnamese can now visit China visa-free for 10 days.” That’s misleading. Dad’s advice: check your exact route, entry port and permitted stay area against the latest official rules before buying non-refundable tickets. Official sources: National Immigration Administration (NIA), Announcement No. 4 of 2026:https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147468/c217849/content.html Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Vietnam, August 20, 2026 notice:https://vn.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsyw/202608/t20260820_12007534.htm Immigration rules can change. This article provides general travel information and is not immigration or legal advice. Last verified: August 26, 2026.