Under the 240-hour visa-free transit rules for Transit Without Visa (TWOV) travelers, you complete an Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners and show a confirmed onward seat to a third country or region. The 240-hour scheme took effect on 17 December 2024 and applies at all designated entry and exit ports (65 as of 5 November 2025).
This is an independent guide, not a government site. Check your nationality and port on the National Immigration Administration (NIA) portal before you travel.
144 Hour Visa Free Transit Arrival Card Rules
Eligible passport holders with a confirmed onward booking to a third country or region can enter under the temporary entry procedures after completing the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners. The 240-hour stay replaced the 72- and 144-hour transit stays at all designated ports from 17 December 2024, as set out in the PRC Consulate General in New York notice. If you are entering under a longer stay rather than transit, see our 30-day visa-free entry declaration rules.
A separate 144-hour channel still applies to foreign nationals in Hong Kong visiting Guangdong, through registered travel agencies in Hong Kong and Macao. As of the 2025 updates, 55 nationalities and 65 ports were eligible; Indonesia joined on 12 June 2025 and the port list expanded on 5 November 2025. Check the NIA portal for newer country additions.
| Scenario | Card needed? | Key document |
|---|---|---|
| You remain in the international transit area without crossing the border | No | Passport and onward ticket |
| You enter China under the 240-hour rules | Yes, the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners | Passport and onward ticket (interline or connecting ticket with confirmed seat) |
Passengers who never cross the border do not complete entry formalities. Decide before check-in whether you’ll enter China. If you’re unsure how the entry declaration differs from an entry permit, read whether the China Arrival Card is the same as a visa.
Documents and Routing Rules from Singapore
Check your airline’s boarding policy before you fly. The conditions cover five things:
- A valid international travel document, valid for at least three months.
- An interline or connecting ticket, or other document with a specified date and seat, leaving for a third country or region within 240 hours of entry.
- A completed Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners.
- Cooperation with entry-exit inspection, including answering questions from border officers.
- A route of Singapore, China, then a third country or region.
SIN → Shanghai → London fits the rule. SIN → Shanghai → SIN does not, because you must continue to a third country or region after China. Confirm with the airline and the NIA whether Hong Kong or Macau qualifies as the third region on your route. For a full checklist of what to prepare, see our guide to the documents needed for the China Arrival Card.
With separate tickets, the onward booking still needs a confirmed seat to a third country or region within 240 hours. Keep your onward ticket available.
Filling In the 144 Hour Visa Free Transit Arrival Card
Complete the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners on arrival. If you do not hold a visa, you can leave the visa number field blank. For detailed field-by-field guidance, see how to fill personal details on the China Arrival Card.
| Field | What to enter | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Name, passport number, nationality | As printed in your passport | Typing a nickname or a wrong digit |
| Flight details | Your onward travel details | Writing the inbound flight |
| Address in China | Where you’ll be staying | Leaving it blank |
| Purpose of visit | Transit | Ticking another purpose |
| Visa No. | Nothing, leave it blank | Writing your passport number |
| Signature | Sign as in your passport | Forgetting to sign |
Confirm the current form on the NIA portal.
Terminal Clearance From Kiosk to Permit
On arrival, complete the clearance process step by step:
Complete the Arrival Card
Fill in the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners on arrival
Answer immigration questions
Respond to questions from border officers
Cooperate with checks
Cooperate with entry-exit inspection
Present passport and onward ticket
Immigration may check your confirmed onward seat
Stay Limits, Zones and Registration
The stay begins at 00:00 on the day after you enter China. The stay lasts up to 240 hours (10 days).
The 240-hour scheme lets you travel within the designated areas of 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and in some provinces only specific cities are open. Enter and leave through designated ports. The earlier 144-hour scheme covered 19 provinces and specific ports before 17 December 2024.
For private accommodation, check how the NIA’s nationwide online accommodation registration for foreigners applies to you on the NIA portal. For the address format and hotel registration duties, see our guide to the hotel address format for the China Arrival Card and 24-hour PSB registration.
Plan your departure so you leave before the 240-hour stay ends.
Common Mistakes That Delay Clearance
- Booking a return to Singapore. Choose a third destination instead.
- Trusting an outdated page that lists 144 hours and 54 countries. Check the current 240-hour and 55-country rules.
- Using an outdated form. Use the current Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners.
- Leave the visa number field blank if you do not hold a visa.
- Holding an unconfirmed onward ticket on a separate booking. Confirm the seat before you fly.
- Traveling outside the permitted areas. Check the designated zone for your port.
Be cautious with third-party sites that charge fees or ask for card details. Use the NIA portal for official information. Compare rules with the NIA portal, the PRC Consulate General notice and your airline just before departure. If you also complete Singapore’s own MDAC before flying, read about the differences between the China Arrival Card and the SG Arrival Card.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the 144 hour visa free transit arrival card rules for passengers flying from Singapore?
You need a valid passport, a confirmed seat to a third country or region, and a Singapore → China → third-country route. You complete the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners on arrival. The 240-hour scheme applies at all designated ports.
Can I use a round-trip ticket under the 144 hour visa free transit arrival card rules?
No. You must continue to a third country or region after China. Round-trip routes back to Singapore do not meet this condition. Confirm whether Hong Kong or Macau qualifies with the airline and the NIA.
Do I need an arrival card if I stay in the transit area?
If you remain in the international transit area and never cross the border, you do not enter China and do not complete the entry card. You only complete the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners when you enter the country.
Is there a fee for the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners?
The sources reviewed do not mention a fee for this card. Be cautious with third-party sites that charge for it or ask for card details, and use the NIA portal for official information.
What is the difference between 144-hour and 240-hour visa-free transit?
The 144-hour scheme gave 6 days; the 240-hour scheme gives 10 days and covers 55 nationalities and 65 ports (2025 figures). Confirm your nationality on the NIA portal.
Do I need a hotel booking, and must I register with the police?
Have a hotel or other address ready. For private accommodation, check the NIA portal for the current registration requirement.
What happens if I overstay my transit window?
Stay within the 240-hour limit, which begins at 00:00 on the day after entry, and plan your departure with margin.
Where can I check the current list of eligible countries and ports?
Check the NIA portal at https://en.nia.gov.cn/ for current eligible nationalities and ports. The PRC Consulate General in New York notice is also useful. Confirm with your airline before you travel.
Sources and Further Reading
- National Immigration Administration: current immigration announcements.
- PRC Consulate General in New York notice: the 240-hour transit policy and its start date.
Rules can change, so check the portal before you travel.
