Filling the China Digital Arrival Card?
On the CDAC form, use PVG as the port code and Shanghai Pudong International Airport as the Port of Entry. Match your Arrival Flight/Train/Vessel Number to the inbound segment that lands at PVG.
240h transit port · Air · Shanghai
PVG (Shanghai Pudong) — port code and port of entry for China arrival paperwork
Use PVG as the port code and Shanghai Pudong International Airport as the port of entry on the China Digital Arrival Card. Your Arrival Flight/Train/Vessel Number should match the inbound ticket that lands at PVG.
Port basics
- IATA / port code: PVG
- PVG port code and port of entry: PVG / Shanghai Pudong International Airport
- 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.
PVG also known as
PVG is the IATA airport code for Shanghai Pudong International Airport (上海浦东国际机场), Shanghai's main international gateway and the larger of the city's two airports (the other being SHA / Shanghai Hongqiao). The three letters in PVG come from Pu Dong, the district east of the Huangpu River where the airport sits.
- Common names: Pudong Airport, Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai International Airport, Shanghai PVG.
- IATA code: PVG · ICAO code: ZSPD.
- Port type on CDAC: air port of entry (use "Aircraft" as Entry Transportation Mode).
- Sister port in the same metro: SHA — Shanghai Hongqiao (domestic-heavy, also 240h eligible).
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 compatibleShanghai
HK / Macau / Taiwan count as separate regions, so they are valid third-region exits. Exit by HSR to West Kowloon (WKL) counts.
Rule detail
240h transit checks
Passport eligible for 240h transit
PassUnited States is on the 55-country 240h list.
Entry port is a listed 240h port
PassShanghai Pudong Intl (PVG, Shanghai) is on the 65-port list.
Stay is 240 hours or less
PassCalculated stay: about 119 hours (5 days).
A → China → B route shape (different countries/regions)
PassSFO (United States) → China → ICN (South Korea).
Hong Kong / Macau / Taiwan handled correctly
PassYour route does not involve HK/Macau/Taiwan. (These would count as third regions if used.)
Exit mode (air / rail / sea) is supported
PassExit by air to a third country/region — standard 240h exit path.
Planned regions are inside the 24 eligible provinces
PassPlanned regions: Shanghai.
City-level stay-area caveats checked
PassNo special city-level stay-area caveats for the provinces selected.
Onward destination is not inside mainland China
PassOnward leg is outside mainland China — correct.
Airline counter risk
Boarding proof check
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.