China 144-hour visa-free transit policy


Are you ready for an unforgettable adventure in China? Get ready to be amazed! Many incredible cities – Xiamen, Chongqing, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Kunming…- are opening their doors to international travelers with a brand-new 144-hour visa-free transit policy!

Whether you’re a foodie, a history buff, or simply looking to experience a different culture, these cities have something for everyone. With an 144 hours to explore, you can savor the delicious local cuisine, wander through ancient temples, or simply relax and soak up the atmosphere.

PORTs

This table lists visa-free transit ports and their corresponding stay limits.

No./序号Region/省(区市)/地区Eligible City/适用城市Eligible Port/适用口岸Permitted Stay Area(s)/停留范围
1Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei/京津冀区域Beijing/北京PEK/北京首都国际机场Beijing Municipality/北京市、Tianjin Municipality/天津市、Hebei Province/河北省
2Beijing/北京PKX/北京大兴国际机场
3Tianjin/天津TSN/天津滨海国际机场
4Tianjin/天津Tianjin International cruise home port/天津国际邮轮母港
5Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province/河北石家庄SJW/石家庄正定国际机场
6Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province/河北秦皇岛Port of Qinhuangdao/秦皇岛海港(客运)
7Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang Region/沪苏浙区域Shanghai/上海SHA/上海虹桥国际机场Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province/上海市、江苏省、浙江省
8PVG/上海浦东国际机场
9Shanghai Port/上海海港口岸(客运)
10Exit-Entry Port of Shanghai Railway Station/上海铁路口岸
11Nanjing, Jiangsu Province/江苏南京NKG/南京禄口国际机场
12Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province/江苏连云港Lianyungang Port/连云港海港口岸(客运)
13Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province/浙江杭州HGH/杭州萧山国际机场
14Ningbo, Zhejiang Province/浙江宁波NGB/宁波栎社国际机场
15Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province/浙江温州Wenzhou Port/温州港口岸(客运)
16Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province/浙江舟山Zhoushan Port/舟山港口岸(客运)
17Guangdong Province/广东省Guangzhou(Canton), Guangdong Province/广东广州CAN/广州白云国际机场Guangdong Province/广东省
18Nansha Port/南沙港口岸(客运)
19Shenzhen, Guangdong Province/广东深圳SZX/深圳宝安国际机场
20Shekou Port/蛇口港口岸(客运)
21Jieyang, Guangdong Province/广东揭阳SWA/揭阳潮汕国际机场
22Liaoning Province/辽宁省Shenyang, Liaoning Province/辽宁沈阳SHE/沈阳桃仙国际机场Liaoning Province/辽宁省
23Dalian, Liaoning Province/辽宁大连DLC/大连周水子国际机场
24Dalian Port大连港口岸(客运)
25Shandong Province/山东省Qingdao, Shandong Province/山东青岛TAO/青岛胶东国际机场Shandong Province/山东省
26Qingdao Port青岛海港口岸(客运)
27Henan Province/河南省Zhengzhou, Henan Province/河南郑州CGO/郑州新郑国际机场Henan Province/河南省
28Chongqing Municipality/重庆市Chongqing/重庆CKG/重庆江北国际机场Chongqing Municipality/重庆市
29Yunnan Province/云南省Kunming, Yunnan Province/云南昆明KMG/昆明长水国际机场Kunming City/昆明市、Lijiang City/丽江市、Yuxi City/玉溪市、Pu’er City/普洱市、Chuxiong City/楚雄市、Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture/大理白族自治州、Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture/西双版纳傣族自治州、Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture/红河哈尼族彝族自治州、Wenshan City/文山市
30Lijiang, Yunnan Province/云南丽江LJG/丽江三义国际机场
31Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province/云南西双版纳Exit-Entry Port of Mohan Railway Station/磨憨铁路口岸
32Sichuan Province/四川省Chengdu, Sichuan Province/四川成都CTU/成都双流国际机场Chengdu City/成都市、Leshan City/乐山市、Deyang City/德阳市、Suining City/遂宁市、Meishan City/眉山市、Ya’an City/雅安市、Ziyang City/资阳市、Neijiang City/内江市、Zigong City/自贡市、Luzhou City/泸州市、Yibin City/宜宾市
33Shaanxi Province/陕西省Xi’an, Province/陕西西安XIY/西安咸阳国际机场Xi’an City/西安市、Xianyang City/咸阳市
34Fujian Province/福建省Xiamen, Fujian Province/福建厦门XMN/厦门高崎国际机场Xiamen City/厦门市
35Xiamen Port/厦门海港口岸(客运)
36Hubei Province/湖北省Wuhan, Hubei Province/湖北武汉WUH/武汉天河国际机场Wuhan City/武汉市
*The three-letter code in the table is the IATA airport code.
*The Port in the table refers to the passenger transport.

Countries and regions eligible for this policy

Nationals from 54 countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, may transit through the specified ports without a visa for up to 144 hours, provided they possess a valid passport and a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region within the 144-hour period. Such individuals may undertake short-term activities, including tourism, business, and visiting friends or relatives, while within the designated area. For those eligible for visa-free entry or mutual visa exemption arrangements with China, the provisions of such agreements shall apply.

No.Eligible Countries/RegionsNotes
1🇦🇱Albania
2🇦🇷Argentina
3🇦🇺Australia
4🇦🇹Austria
5🇧🇾Belarus
6🇧🇪Belgium🚩Visa-Free
7🇧🇦Bosnia and Herzegovina
8🇧🇷Brazil
9🇧🇳Brunei
10🇧🇬Bulgaria
11🇨🇦Canada
12🇨🇱Chile
13🇭🇷Croatia
14🇨🇾Cyprus
15🇨🇿Czech Republic
16🇩🇰Denmark
17🇪🇪Estonia
18🇫🇮Finland
19🇫🇷France🚩Visa-Free
20🇩🇪Germany🚩Visa-Free
21🇬🇷Greece
22🇭🇺Hungary🚩Visa-Free
23🇮🇸lceland
24🇮🇪lreland🚩Visa-Free
25🇮🇹ltaly🚩Visa-Free
26🇯🇵Japan🚩Visa-Free
27🇱🇻Latvia
28🇱🇹Lithuania
29🇱🇺Luxembourg🚩Visa-Free
30🇲🇹Malta
31🇲🇽Mexico
32🇲🇨Monaco
33🇲🇪Montenegro
34🇳🇱the Netherlands🚩Visa-Free
35🇳🇿New Zealand
36🇲🇰North Macedonia
37🇳🇴Norway
38🇵🇱Poland
39🇵🇹Portugal
40🇶🇦Qatar
41the Republic of Korea
42🇷🇴Romania
43🇷🇺Russia
44🇷🇸Serbia
45🇸🇬Singapore
46🇸🇰Slovakia
47🇸🇮Slovenia
48🇪🇸Spain🚩Visa-Free
49🇸🇪Sweden
50🇨🇭Switzerland🚩Visa-Free
51🇺🇦Ukraine
52🇦🇪the United Arab Emirates
53🇬🇧the United Kingdom
54🇺🇸the United States
*🚩Visa-Free flag: China has implemented a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from those countries.

A unilateral visa-free policy has been introduced by China for ordinary passport holders from 12 countries, namely Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Nationals of these countries may engage in business, tourism, visiting friends or relatives, or transit in China for up to 15 days without the requirement of a visa.

FAQs

The FAQs provided offer crucial information to enhance your travel experience.

Q1: How is the 144-hour transit visa exemption calculated?

A1: The 144-hour visa-free period for transit passengers begins at midnight on the day following their arrival, as calculated from the time the border control authority issues a temporary entry permit. This period is valid within the designated administrative region.

Q2: What procedures should foreign nationals eligible for the 144-hour transit visa exemption follow to transit through our country?

A2: Eligible travelers are required to present their valid passports and confirmed onward tickets to a third country (or region) within 144 hours to the check-in staff of their transportation carrier. The carrier will then notify the border inspection station in advance of their arrival. Upon arrival, border inspection officers will verify the traveler’s documents and grant the 144-hour transit visa exemption.

Q3: Can a foreign national apply for the 144-hour transit visa exemption if they do not have a confirmed outbound ticket upon arrival but plan to purchase one within 144 hours?

A3: Unfortunately, NO. As per our regulations, foreign nationals seeking the 144-hour transit visa exemption must present a confirmed onward ticket with specific dates and seats at the time of entry. This means that the ticket for their departure to a third country must be purchased before arriving in our country.

Q4: Can a foreign national arriving in a Chinese city with a 144-hour transit visa-free policy, who has a confirmed return ticket to their original country of departure within 144 hours, take advantage of this policy?

A4:NO, they cannot. Our regulations stipulate that the 144-hour transit visa exemption is applicable only to foreign nationals transiting to a third country or region. The origin and destination countries must be distinct.

Q5: What are the requirements for foreign nationals applying for the 144-hour transit visa exemption?

A5: Applicants must ensure that their passports or other travel documents are valid for at least three months. Those with a history of visa refusal by Chinese authorities or any illegal activities such as illegal entry, stay, or employment within the past five years are ineligible for the exemption.

During their visa-free transit stay, foreign nationals shall abide by the laws and regulations of China, and shall not exceed the permitted stay area or duration. Those staying in hotels shall have their accommodation registered by the hotel. Those staying in residences other than hotels shall, within 24 hours of check-in, register with the local police station or foreigner service station.

Foreign nationals who exceed the permitted stay area or duration, depart from an unauthorized port of entry, or fail to register their accommodation as required by law will be subject to penalties imposed by the immigration authorities or local public security organs.

Q6: What should a foreign national do if they cannot depart within the 144-hour period after entering China on a transit visa exemption due to unexpected circumstances?

A6: If a foreign national is unable to leave within the 144-hour period due to force majeure or other unforeseen circumstances, they must apply to the local immigration authorities for the necessary stay permit in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Q7: What are the requirements for applying for a 144-hour transit visa exemption?

A7: To be eligible for a 144-hour transit visa exemption, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. Nationality: The applicant must be a citizen of one of the 53 countries eligible for the 144-hour transit visa exemption.
  2. Valid Travel Document: The applicant must hold a valid international travel document that proves their nationality.
  3. Confirmed Onward Ticket: The applicant must possess a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region with specified dates and seats within 144 hours.

Reference

1.Updated List of Countries Eligible for 72/144-Hour Visa-Free Transit (in Chinese and English)

2.Explanation of the 144-Hour Transit Visa Exemption


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