New 240 hour Transit Visa for visiting China

Question

I want to travel from the UK to Guangzhou, China in February to visit family and return to the UK a few days later via Hong Kong. Am I right to conclude that this proposed route would entitle me to enter Guangzhou area under the transit visa?

Thanl you

Answer

Yes, you are on the right track, but there are some important conditions and details you must check carefully to ensure that your planned route from the UK → Guangzhou → Hong Kong would qualify under the 240-hour visa-free transit policy for entering mainland China. Below is a detailed explanation of how the policy works, whether your itinerary qualifies, plus what you should verify and prepare.

How the 240-hour visa-free transit policy works

Here are the key features of the policy:

Citizens of the UK are eligible for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit scheme (as they are among the 55 countries listed).
The policy allows eligible foreign travellers who are transiting through China (i.e., entering mainland China and then departing to a third country or region) to stay for up to 240 hours (10 days) without needing a full tourist visa.
Key conditions include: a valid passport (typically valid for more than 3 months), a confirmed onward ticket/seat to a third country or region, and arrival through an eligible port/area.
You must be en route to a third country or region — that is, your destination after leaving China must be different from your origin country. It does not count if you go from the UK → China → UK (same country).
The policy specifies which ports of entry and provinces/areas are eligible for this stay, and whether you are allowed to move within that region.

Does your proposed route (UK → Guangzhou → Hong Kong → UK) meet the criteria?

Let’s check your itinerary step-by-step to see if it aligns with the policy:

You are a UK citizen — good, that is an eligible nationality.
You plan to enter mainland China at Guangzhou. According to updates, the Guangzhou port is included among the newly added eligible ports for the 240-hour policy.
Your onward departure is to Hong Kong, and then you return to the UK. Note: For the purposes of the policy, Hong Kong (and Macau) count as a third region or territory beyond mainland China. That is, entering mainland China and then leaving to Hong Kong qualifies as “third country/region” in many cases.
The key issue: You must hold a ticket with confirmed date and seat for departing to Hong Kong (the “third region”) within 240 hours of entry, and you have to enter China on arrival at the eligible port and depart via Hong Kong to your UK final destination. If your return is UK → China → Hong Kong → UK, that route is acceptable as the “third region” is Hong Kong, and your origin country (UK) is different from the destination region (Hong Kong) for the transit. This satisfies the “transit to a third region” requirement.
You should ensure that your departure from China to Hong Kong happens within 240 hours (10 days) of your arrival in Guangzhou. Since you plan only a few days, you are well within that limit.

Therefore, yes, based on the information you’ve given, it appears you *should* qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit entry via Guangzhou, provided all conditions are satisfied (tickets, port, dates, region).

Important caveats and things to double-check

Make sure your flight/rail arrival is at an eligible port (Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport or a recognised entry port) and that the port is one of those covered by the policy as of your travel date. The list has been updating recently.
Confirm that you have a confirmed onward ticket with seat and date from Guangzhou (or the mainland entry port) to Hong Kong (your third region). If you only hold a return to the UK from Hong Kong, that is normally fine, but best to have the Guangzhou → Hong Kong leg confirmed. Many authorities will require a clearly booked connecting itinerary.
Check whether your itinerary involves any stop-overs inside mainland China that might confuse the “transit to a third region” logic (for example change of plane inside China, but still qualifies if port is eligible). Avoid a route like UK → Guangzhou → some other mainland city → Hong Kong unless still within allowed regions and you can exit via the approved port.
Check for any additional local registration requirements, e.g., hotel bookings, immigration form, or limits on areas you can roam in; though the newer policy allows broader travel within the eligible 24 provinces/regions.
Ensure your passport validity and any visa requirements for Hong Kong or your onward UK re-entry are all valid. Also ensure you don’t undertake activities in China that are restricted under the transit policy (e.g., paid employment).
Keep in mind that immigration officers have discretion at the port. Having all documentation (ticket, port, itinerary) clearly laid out helps. Some travellers report airlines sometimes unaware of the policy and may require more proof.

What you should do in your situation

Book your arrival in Guangzhou with a valid ticket from the UK to Guangzhou. Ensure your departure is from China to Hong Kong within the allowed 10 days. Then from Hong Kong you return to the UK.
Keep all ticket confirmations (with seat numbers if possible). Be prepared to show them at check-in and immigration on arrival in China.
On arrival in Guangzhou, declare that you are entering under the 240-hour visa-free transit policy (if asked) and go through immigration at the relevant port. The officer should issue a temporary stay permit for up to 240 hours.
Travel and stay within the approved region(s) – since Guangdong province (where Guangzhou is) is included in the expansion, you should be fine to stay in that province. Then depart to Hong Kong.
Exit before the 240-hour limit expires. Since you plan only a few days, this should be straightforward.

Final summary

Yes — your planned route UK → Guangzhou → Hong Kong → UK appears to meet the main eligibility requirements of China’s 240-hour visa-free transit scheme, provided you have the right tickets, entry port and meet all conditions. It is very likely you will not need a full tourist visa if everything is in order. But please check all the details (tickets, port, dates) and consider contacting your airline or the Chinese consulate (or your travel agent) to confirm your specific travel date is covered under the current policy.

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