Is PVG (Shanghai) a valid 240-hour transit air port?

Yes. Shanghai Pudong Intl is on the 65-port list under the National Immigration Administration's 240-hour visa-free transit policy. Both entry and exit at PVG are allowed for qualifying passport holders on an A→China→B itinerary.

Which provinces can I visit if I enter at PVG?

Once admitted, you can travel within the eligible 240h stay areas during your stay (up to 240 hours total). Many regions are province-wide, but a few are city-limited under the official table, so verify city-level coverage before booking side trips.

Can I enter at PVG and exit from a different port?

Yes. The entry and exit ports do not have to be the same. Both must be on the 65-port list. For example: enter PVG, travel by HSR to another city, exit from a different listed port.

What should I have ready at PVG immigration?

Passport, confirmed onward ticket to a different country/region within 240 hours, completed Digital Arrival Card (CDAC) reference, and the address of your accommodation in China.

PVG Shanghai: 240-hour visa-free transit port guide

Port basics

IATA / port code: PVG
City: Shanghai
Province: Shanghai
Type: International airport
240h status: Eligible for entry and exit
Sister ports in the same metro: SHA

Arrival tip

PVG is the busiest 240h port. Allow 60-90 minutes from gate to curb during peak hours (afternoon and late evening). After deplaning: walk to immigration, complete the Digital Arrival Card (CDAC) via QR codes displayed on arrival-corridor boards (or in the WeChat / Alipay mini-program before you land), then go through automated fingerprint kiosks for foreigners aged 14-70. Eligible biometric-passport repeat visitors can use e-gates. After immigration, collect baggage and clear customs via Green Channel (nothing to declare) or Red Channel (items to declare).

Don't forget: complete the Digital Arrival Card within 72 hours before landing.

Onward transport from PVG

Maglev to Longyang Road, then Metro Line 2 — fastest airport segment for daytime light luggage, ¥50
Taxi / Didi — most reliable for late-night arrivals or heavy luggage, ~¥180+ to central Shanghai
Metro Line 2 direct — cheapest at ¥8, slowest at 70-90 minutes including transfers
Pre-booked transfer — fixed price, best for late arrivals or families
PVG-SHA inter-airport shuttle — for connecting onward to a Hongqiao departure

Accessible provinces from this port

Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui.

The list above reflects what's practical by direct transport from PVG. Some eligible regions are city-limited under the official table; run the checker and verify the exact cities before booking.

Check your route through PVG

The check below has PVG pre-filled as your China entry port. Adjust the other fields to fit your trip.

240h Transit Eligibility CheckBased on NIA policy as of 2026-05-18

YES · Likely compatible

Passport

Last stop before mainland China

China entry port

Exit mode

First stop after mainland China

Arrival date

Arrival time

Departure date

Departure time

Provinces / cities you plan to visit

Shanghai

Ticket arrangement

Can the airline see your onward leg?

Onward ticket proof

HK / Macau / Taiwan count as separate regions, so they are valid third-region exits. Exit by HSR to West Kowloon (WKL) counts.

Continue to Boarding Kit Arrival Card recipe

Rule detail

240h transit checks

9 of 9 checks pass

Passport eligible for 240h transit

Pass

United States is on the 55-country 240h list.

Entry port is a listed 240h port

Pass

Shanghai Pudong Intl (PVG, Shanghai) is on the 65-port list.

Stay is 240 hours or less

Pass

Calculated stay: about 119 hours (5 days).

A → China → B route shape (different countries/regions)

Pass

SFO (United States) → China → ICN (South Korea).

Hong Kong / Macau / Taiwan handled correctly

Pass

Your route does not involve HK/Macau/Taiwan. (These would count as third regions if used.)

Exit mode (air / rail / sea) is supported

Pass

Exit by air to a third country/region — standard 240h exit path.

Planned regions are inside the 24 eligible provinces

Pass

Planned regions: Shanghai.

City-level stay-area caveats checked

Pass

No special city-level stay-area caveats for the provinces selected.

Onward destination is not inside mainland China

Pass

Onward leg is outside mainland China — correct.

Airline counter risk

Boarding proof check

Low

Low airline-counter risk: standard proof should be enough.

Your route shape and ticket proof are easy for airline staff to verify. Still print the Boarding Kit and onward ticket.

What to say at check-in

I'm using China's 240-hour visa-free transit. Here is the NIA policy excerpt, my route, and my confirmed onward transport to a third country or region. Could you verify the Timatic override condition?

If the agent hesitates

Could a supervisor or international policy desk verify the China 240-hour transit override in Timatic? My itinerary is A to mainland China to a different country/region within 240 hours.

Carry these at airline check-in

Printed Boarding Kit with NIA policy QR code.
Printed onward ticket to a different country/region within 240 hours.
Hotel booking or host address in China, preferably with Chinese address.
CDAC reference or QR code if already submitted.

Recommended next steps

Book a first-night hotel with a usable Chinese address for the Arrival Card, airline counter, and Boarding Kit.

Find hotels on Trip.com →

Activate data before takeoff so CDAC, maps, translation, and ride-share work immediately.

Get a China eSIM →

Install and test before departure — most VPN download pages are blocked after landing.

Install NordVPN →

Sponsored · we may earn a commission if you book.

PVG Shanghai: 240-hour visa-free transit port

Check your route through PVG

240h transit checks

Passport eligible for 240h transit

Entry port is a listed 240h port

Stay is 240 hours or less

A → China → B route shape (different countries/regions)

Hong Kong / Macau / Taiwan handled correctly

Exit mode (air / rail / sea) is supported

Planned regions are inside the 24 eligible provinces

City-level stay-area caveats checked

Onward destination is not inside mainland China

Boarding proof check

Low airline-counter risk: standard proof should be enough.

Build a Boarding Kit for your PVG arrival