China Transit Visa for Indian Passport Holders: 24-Hour Rule

Can I transit China without a visa on an Indian passport?

Yes, for up to 24 hours, on one condition: you stay inside the port (the airport’s international transit area). You need a valid passport and a connecting ticket with a confirmed seat to a third country or region (NIA, August 20, 2026; repeated in the Chinese Embassy in India’s visa notice of October 22, 2026).

The rule applies to any nationality, so it covers Indian passports. It does not cover a trip that ends where it started. India to Guangzhou to India needs a visa.

Does the 240-hour rule apply to me?

No. The NIA list of 57 eligible countries does not include India. If a friend with another passport tells you they got 240 hours in Guangzhou, that is the list they are on, not yours. Read our 240-hour transit guide for who qualifies, or check your passport in the visa-free checker.

Policy lists change. This page was checked against the NIA list on October 23, 2026. Re-check the NIA page linked in the sources before you book.

Can I leave the airport on a 24-hour transit?

iPhoto: Jacky Cheung · CC BY-SA 4.0 Details

Not automatically. To leave the port, first get a temporary entry permit from the border inspection authority at that port. You need (NIA, March 29, 2021):

• a valid passport and your onward ticket;
• the transit landing card;
• to answer questions from the inspection station.

The permit can be refused if (NIA):

1. You are not allowed to enter China under its laws.
2. Your passport is valid for under 3 months, or carries a rejection stamp from a Chinese visa office.
3. You have an illegal entry, exit, stay or work record from the past 5 years.
4. You had serious accommodation registration violations in the past 2 years.

Do not count on getting one. China Southern’s 24-hour stay permit page says permits are generally not issued to nationals outside the 54 countries of the old 144-hour visa-free transit scheme; the page still describes that older scheme (read October 23, 2026). India is not on today’s 240-hour list either.

The NIA page does not say how long a permit lasts or what it costs, so we do not give figures. If you only want a rest, see airport transit hotels and our Guangzhou layover guide.

Which option fits your trip?

iPhoto: Tim Wu · CC BY-SA 4.0 Details

How do I apply for a Chinese visa from India?

Check the embassy’s notices on the day you apply: both were updated on October 22, 2026.

1. Apply online at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA: fill in the form and upload your documents. No fee is paid at this step.
2. Wait for the approval email.
3. Within 30 days of that email, hand in your passport, form and documents in person at the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General in Mumbai. Fingerprints are taken if required.
4. Pay and collect on the collection date, by demand draft (below).

From October 26, 2026, the Embassy and the Mumbai Consulate General accept and process visa applications directly (embassy notice, October 22, 2026). The notice does not mention the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers, so check the embassy site before you go to one.

Which office:

• Consulate General in Mumbai: if you live in Maharashtra or Karnataka. Applications 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., collection 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Chinese Embassy, New Delhi: everywhere else. Applicants in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal apply temporarily to the Embassy. Applications 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., collection 3:00 to 5:30 p.m.
• Both are open Monday to Friday, except public holidays. Districts and hours: Notice on Chinese Visa Application (2026.10.22), signed October 22, 2026; the page keeps an older 2024 web address and posting time.

Paying: only a demand draft is accepted; cash and personal cheques are not. The draft must be printed by the bank, payable to “CHINESE EMBASSY, NEW DELHI” or “CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN MUMBAI”. Write your full name, pick-up slip number and phone number on the back (fee notice).

What documents do I need?

For every applicant (embassy visa notice, October 22, 2026):

• a passport valid for more than 6 months, with at least 2 blank visa pages;
• photos 48 mm x 33 mm, to the notice’s photo rules.

Then add what your visa type needs:

• L visa: personal savings account statements for the last 6 months, with an average monthly balance of at least INR 1 lakh. The notice lists more documents, so read it before you apply.
• M visa, for the Canton Fair:
  • copies of the inviting Chinese company’s business licence (showing its business scope) and of its legal representative’s or inviter’s ID, each endorsed by hand in Chinese, “This document is only for the visa application of [your name]”, with a handwritten Chinese signature and date;
  • an invitation letter stating the purpose of the visit, with a handwritten Chinese signature and the company’s official seal (contract or personnel seals are not accepted);
  • a cover letter with your company profile (year founded, business scope), the specific purpose and the exact length of stay. General wording such as “business visit” or “business meetings” may not be accepted.
  • Our Canton Fair invitation letter guide explains how buyers get the letter.
• G (transit) visa: we found no India-specific official page on it, so ask the embassy.

Fingerprints are waived until December 31, 2026 for short-term visas with a stay of no more than 180 days.

What does it cost, and how long does it take?

Fees for Indian passport holders (embassy fee schedule, October 22, 2026):

Express processing (four working days) adds Rs1800. Urgent processing (two working days) adds Rs2700. The visa notice gives regular processing as 7 working days and express as 4, counted from the day after you submit. Check the fee notice again before paying, because the embassy says its interpretation prevails.

Our general China visa application guide covers the process in more detail. Fill in the arrival card online before you fly, whichever route you take.