Do I need a visa for a layover in China in 2026?

No, for a layover in China in 2026, a visa is not required for Russians. Thanks to the visa-free regime, you can safely make a transfer at any Chinese airport. You have two options:

• Stay in the airport transit zone. If your connection is short, you can simply wait for your next flight in the "clean" zone without going through passport control. In this case, no visa is needed at all.
• Exit to the city. If you have a long layover, you can take advantage of the general visa-free entry for up to 30 days. To do this, you need to go through passport control, presenting your foreign passport and return tickets. There are no longer any separate transit visas or restrictions by airport.

The old rules of 144-hour or 240-hour visa-free transit for Russians have become irrelevant. Now everything is much simpler and more convenient, making flights with a layover in China very attractive.

More information and step-by-step instructions for different airports can be found in our article: Do I need a visa to China in 2026: visa-free entry rules for Russians for 30 days.

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