# Do Indians Need a Transit Visa for China? 2026 Rules > China's 240-hour visa-free transit does not cover Indian passports. When a 24-hour airside connection is enough, when you need a G visa, and what it costs from India. _Published: 2026-11-03 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1036_ ## TL;DR Indians can transit China without a visa only within 24 hours to a third country while staying inside the port's restricted area. India is not on the 240-hour visa-free transit list, so a stopover that takes you through immigration needs a G transit visa, which costs Rs2900 for a single entry until 31 December 2026. ## Key takeaways - Indians qualify only for 24-hour visa-free transit to a third country while staying inside the port's restricted area. - India is not on China's 240-hour visa-free transit list (57 countries, August 2026), its 30-day unilateral exemption list or the Hainan visa-free list. - A G (transit) visa needs an onward ticket with a confirmed date and seat to your destination. - Reduced fees for Indian passports run until 31 December 2026: Rs2900 single entry, Rs4400 double entry. - Regular processing is 4 working days and express 3 working days for qualified applications. **Yes, unless you stay airside. According to China's National Immigration Administration, India is not on the 57-country list for 240-hour visa-free transit (August 2026), so leaving the airport needs a G transit visa. Indians can only use 24-hour visa-free transit to a third country inside the port's restricted area.** ## Article These rules are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Every other China visa category is covered on our China visa page for Indians. ### Which visa-free options does China offer, and do Indians qualify? China has expanded visa-free entry for many nationalities, which is why the transit question causes confusion. Indian passports are outside every scheme except the narrowest one: SchemeIndians eligible?Source24-hour visa-free transit to a third country, staying in the port's restricted areaYesNational Immigration Administration240-hour visa-free transit (57 countries, August 2026)NoNational Immigration Administration30-day unilateral visa exemption (list as of 17 February 2026)NoNational Immigration AdministrationVisa-free entry to Hainan (59 countries)NoChinese Embassy in India, August 2024So the practical test is simple: if you can complete your connection within 24 hours without leaving the restricted (transit) area of the port, you need no visa. If anything takes you through immigration, you need one. ### When does a stopover in China need a G visa? - Changing airports, for example between two airports in the same city, takes you out of the restricted area. - An overnight hotel outside the terminal, even near the airport. - A connection longer than 24 hours. - Seeing the city during a long layover. The 240-hour scheme that lets many travellers do this does not apply to Indians. If you transit China on both the outbound and return legs, consider asking for a double-entry visa. Note that first-time applicants are generally issued a single-entry visa. To ask for double or multiple entries, the Embassy wants a copy of a Chinese visa obtained in the past five years and enough passport validity. The visa officer decides the type, entries, validity and length of stay. ### What does a G transit visa application need? The transit-specific document is short: an onward air, train or ship ticket with a confirmed date and seat to the destination country or region. The rest is the standard file: - The Chinese Visa Application Form and the confirmation page of the online application. - Original passport valid for at least 6 months with 2 or more blank visa pages, a photocopy of the information pages, and expired passports from the last 5 years. - Two recent colour photos, 48mm x 33mm, full face, bare head, taken within 6 months; no glasses, hats or headscarves except religious headwear that leaves the whole face visible. - A copy of your most recent Chinese visa, if any. Fingerprints are not needed for now: the exemption for short-term applicants staying up to 180 days was extended until 31 December 2026. ### How much does a China transit visa cost from India? Charge (Indian passport holders)AmountSingle entryRs2900Double entryRs4400Six-month multiple entryRs590012 months or above multiple entryRs8800Express / urgent fee (extra)Rs1800 / Rs2700Visa Center service feeRs 2152 regular / Rs 3172 expressThe reduced visa fees were extended by the Chinese Embassy on 4 January 2026 and run until 31 December 2026. The service fee is paid online before you submit and is non-refundable. The visa fee is paid at the Visa Center (cash or demand draft in New Delhi; cash only in Mumbai and Kolkata), and if an application is rejected the Embassy refunds the visa and express fees through the centre. ### Where do you apply, and how long does it take? Since December 2025 the process starts online. You pay the service fee through VFS Global's payment pages, create an account on the Visa Center website, fill in the form and upload your documents. When the status shows 'online review completed', a confirmation email arrives; that is not a visa approval. You then take your original passport to the Visa Center within 15 days, without an appointment. Visa CenterCoversCollectionNew DelhiAll states not covered by Mumbai or KolkataRegular: 6th working day; express: 4th (submit express before 12:00)MumbaiMaharashtra and KarnatakaNormal around 5 working days; express around 4; urgent around 2KolkataBihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West BengalRegular: 6th working day; express: 4thThe Embassy's own processing time for qualified applications is 4 working days regular and 3 working days express. Requests for extra documents push the date back. ### What if an emergency forces you into China without a visa? There is no tourist visa on arrival for Indians. China's 'port visa' exists only for foreign ordinary-passport holders with an urgent need, such as urgent business, visiting a critically ill relative or attending a funeral, who could not get a visa in time. It is issued at designated ports (99 ports in 72 cities), and the immigration authority recommends getting preliminary approval from the port visa authority before travelling. It is not a fallback for a missed transit plan. Arrival cards can now be filled online before landing, through the National Immigration Administration website or app, or completed on arrival. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us via our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can Indians use China's 240-hour visa-free transit? No. India is not on the National Immigration Administration's list of 57 countries eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit (August 2026). Indians need a visa for any stopover outside the port's restricted area. #### Do I need a China transit visa for a same-day connection at the airport? Not if you continue to a third country within 24 hours and stay inside the port's restricted area. That 24-hour visa-free transit is the only visa-free option open to Indian passport holders. #### Is there an e-visa for China transit for Indians? No. China does not issue an eVisa to Indian passport holders. The form and documents are pre-reviewed online, but you must still hand in your original passport at the Visa Center. #### Can I get a China transit visa refund if it is rejected? The Embassy refunds the visa fee and any express fee through the Visa Center if the application is rejected. The Visa Center service fee is non-refundable. ## FAQ ### Can Indians use China's 240-hour visa-free transit? No. India is not on the National Immigration Administration's list of 57 countries eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit (August 2026). Indians need a visa for any stopover outside the port's restricted area. ### Do I need a China transit visa for a same-day connection at the airport? Not if you continue to a third country within 24 hours and stay inside the port's restricted area. That 24-hour visa-free transit is the only visa-free option open to Indian passport holders. ### Is there an e-visa for China transit for Indians? No. China does not issue an eVisa to Indian passport holders. The form and documents are pre-reviewed online, but you must still hand in your original passport at the Visa Center. ### Can I get a China transit visa refund if it is rejected? The Embassy refunds the visa fee and any express fee through the Visa Center if the application is rejected. The Visa Center service fee is non-refundable. ## Sources 1. [National Immigration Administration of China - Visa-Free Transit Policies (20 Aug 2026)](https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c183412/content.html) — National Immigration Administration of China 2. [Chinese Embassy in India - Notice on Extension of Visa-Fee Reduction (4 Jan 2026)](https://in.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/qz/202601/t20260104_11797373.htm) — Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India 3. [Chinese Embassy in India - Notice on Updating Requirements for Chinese Visa Application (Aug 2024)](https://in.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/qz/202408/t20240820_11476941.htm) — Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India 4. [National Immigration Administration of China - FAQs About Port Visas](https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c156102/content.html) — National Immigration Administration of China