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Do Ukrainian citizens need a visa for China?
Checked 17 September 2026 against official Chinese sources
Ukraine passport · ordinary
You need a visa, unless you're flying on.
Ukraine is not on China's 30-day visa-free list. But Ukraine passports qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit: if you continue to a third country or region, you can spend up to 10 days in China without a visa.
How 240-hour transit works
- Arrive from one country, leave to a different one. The place you fly in from and the place you fly on to must be different countries or regions.
- Hold a confirmed onward ticket with a date and seat, leaving within 240 hours.
- Passport: an ordinary passport valid for at least 3 more months.
- Enter and leave through any of the 65 designated ports (most big international airports, plus some rail, land and sea ports).
- Stay within the permitted areas of 24 provinces. You can travel between them, for example Beijing to Shanghai by train.
- The clock starts at 00:00 the day after you arrive.
Routes that work, and routes that don't
| Route | Visa-free? |
|---|---|
| Ukraine → Shanghai → Tokyo | Yes |
| Seoul → Beijing → Ukraine | Yes (flying home counts, if you came from elsewhere) |
| Ukraine → Shanghai → Ukraine | No round trip, same country both ways |
| Ukraine → Beijing, stay 12 days → Tokyo | No over 240 hours |
Many travellers use a flight to Hong Kong or Macau as the onward leg. The official rule says "third country or region"; confirm with your airline before you book, because it checks your eligibility at check-in.
Staying longer, or flying round-trip?
Apply for a tourist (L) visa at a Chinese embassy, consulate or visa application service center before you fly. For single and double-entry visas of up to 180 days, fingerprints are currently waived and fees are reduced until 31 December 2026.
Show this at the counter
Full rules, the list of 24 provinces and all 57 eligible passports: 240-hour visa-free transit, explained.
Questions people ask
Can Ukrainian citizens visit China visa-free on a round-trip ticket?
No. For 240-hour transit the onward flight must go to a different country or region from the one you arrived from. A return flight home works only if you arrived from somewhere else.
When does the 240-hour clock start?
At 00:00 on the day after you arrive. You then have up to 240 hours, and your onward ticket must fall inside that window.
Can I travel around China on 240-hour transit?
Yes, within the permitted areas of 24 provinces and municipalities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Sichuan and Yunnan. You can move between them.
What passport validity do Ukrainian citizens need?
At least 3 months for 240-hour transit.
Other passports nearby
SourcesNational Immigration Administration: 240-hour visa-free transit, 57 countries (20 Aug 2026): https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c183412/content.htmlChinese Consulate in Montreal: transit FAQ, passport validity and time count (30 May 2025): https://montreal.china-consulate.gov.cn/zjfw/lszj/fhqz/cjwd2/202505/t20250530_11637915.htmChinese Embassy in Canada: 240-hour transit ports and permitted areas: https://ca.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsyw/lszj/mqzc00/gjmq00/202501/t20250110_11530399.htmChinese Consulate in Barcelona: online arrival card and 2026 measures: https://barcelona.china-consulate.gov.cn/gdxw/202603/t20260330_11883678.htmChecked 17 September 2026