Zebras in Kruger National park, South Africa

Visa-free

Citizens from specific countries in transit through China, if you have a valid international travel document and a combined passenger ticket to a third country (region) with a confirmed date and seat within 144 hours, you can stay in the designated cities without a visa for up to 144 hours (i.e., 6 days), during which time you can engage in short-term activities such as tourism and temporary business visits.

The list of countries where China is currently implementing a visa-free transit policy:
Europe (40 countries): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway.
Americas (6 countries): USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand
Asia (6 countries): Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qata.

Applicable ports:

So far, China has implemented the 144-hour visa-free transit policy at 37 ports in Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang and Qinhuangdao in Hebei, Shenyang and Dalian in Liaoning, Shanghai, Nanjing and Lianyungang in Jiangsu, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou and Zhoushan in Zhejiang, Zhengzhou in Henan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Jieyang in Guangdong, Qingdao in Shandong, Chongqing, Chengdu in Sichuan, Xi'an in Shaanxi, Xiamen in Fujian, Wuhan in Hubei, Kunming, Lijiang and Xishuangbanna in Yunnan. Visa-free transit policy. Please refer to the announcement of the State Administration of Migration for the specific ports and the scope of stay, which may be adjusted.

Visa Waiver Precautions for Traveling to China:
During the period of visa-free stay, the applicant shall strictly abide by the laws and regulations of China and shall not engage in activities that are inconsistent with the reason for visa-free.
If the applicant needs to go beyond the visa-free stay area or time limit, he/she should apply to the Exit-Entry Administration Department of the Public Security Organs to apply for a corresponding stay document in accordance with the regulations.
If the applicant needs accommodation during the visa-free stay, he/she should apply for accommodation registration according to the law. It is recommended that you book your hotel and transportation itinerary in advance to better cooperate with the visa-free time.

China's Visa-free Cities at a Glance

Questions & Answers
No nationality requirement. Citizens of countries that fall within the 72/144 hour visa-free transit scope: these countries usually have good diplomatic relations or economic and trade exchanges with China. As of the latest information (subject to change over time), this scope has included 54 countries, covering a number of countries and regions in Europe, America, Oceania and Asia. For a list of specific countries, check the National Immigration Administration or relevant official channels for the latest information.​
Applicants are required to hold a valid international travel document, such as a passport, that proves the identity of their nationality, and the validity period of the document should be not less than 3 months, and our suggestion is that the validity period of your document should preferably be greater than 6 months. Applicants must have a valid visa or entry permit to a third country or region, and the visa or entry permit must be within the validity period.
Possession of a combined passenger ticket or relevant proof: Depending on the length of the transit visa waiver applied for (72 hours or 144 hours), the applicant is required to possess a combined passenger ticket or relevant proof of travel to a third country or region with confirmed dates and seats. This proves that the applicant is actually transiting through China and is not destined for China.
Applicants are required to fill out a temporary entry alien entry card and be questioned by the entry and exit border control authorities. It is recommended that you should preferably arrange your stay plan and itinerary in China before entering the country, and provide travel and hotel booking information to the Customs staff if necessary.
Pay attention to the port of entry and the duration of stay: the implementation of the visa-free transit policy may vary from one port of entry to another, so applicants should pay attention to the specific regulations of the port of entry. Meanwhile, the duration of visa-free stay is counted from 00:00 on the next day of entry, so please do not overstay. Please refer to Vasa-Free Cities on our website or contact us for specific transit cities and time, we will provide you with the best advice on cities of entry and travel arrangements for your visitors.
1. The passport or international travel document is valid for less than three months. 2. The passport or other international travel document is stamped with the refusal stamp of the visa authority in China. 3. There is a record of illegal entry and exit, illegal residence or illegal employment in the past 5 years. With one of the above circumstances, the border control authorities will not issue temporary entry permits, so you can not apply for 72/144 hours transit visa-free, we recommend that you make preparations in advance to avoid visa refusal.
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