In line with global norms, China has implemented a 24-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals from all other countries around the world at all its accessible exit-entry ports. Foreign nationals holding valid international travel documents and connecting tickets with confirmed seats, who intend to transit via China by international flights, ships, or trains to third countries or regions, are exempt from visa applications, provided that their stay periods in China will not exceed 24 hours and that they will remain within the corresponding ports. Those who plan to leave the ports must apply for temporary entry permits at the exit-entry border inspection authorities of the corresponding ports.
Currently, 38 exit-entry ports in 18 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government of China have implemented the 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals from 54 countries. These countries are Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Foreign nationals from these countries holding valid international travel documents and connecting tickets with information on confirmed dates and seats for transit via China to third countries or regions within specified time frames can apply for visa-free transits at the exit-entry border inspection authorities of the ports in the cities where the visa-free transit policies are in effect. The exit-entry border inspection authorities will then process their applications and grant temporary entry to the eligible foreign nationals. The duration of stay for each foreign national starts from 0:00 on the day following the day of entry.
The list of the ports in cities where the 72-hour and 144-hour visa-free transit policies are in effect is stated below.
S/N | Provincial-Level Administrative Division/Region | Eligible City | Eligible Port | Permitted Stay Area(s) | Notes |
72-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy |
|
1 | Hunan Province | Changsha, Hunan | Changsha Huanghua International Airport | Hunan Province |
|
|
2 | Heilongjiang Province | Harbin, Heilongjiang | Harbin Taiping International Airport | Harbin City |
|
|
3 | Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region | Guilin, Guangxi | Guilin Liangjiang International Airport | Guilin City |
|
|
4 | Beihai, Guangxi | Beihai Port (for passenger transport) | Beihai City |
|
|
144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy |
|
1 | Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region | Beijing | Beijing Capital International Airport | Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province | Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province have collaboratively implemented the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. Foreign nationals meeting the policy's requirements can enter and exit China through all the eligible ports within the region, and stay for a maximum of 144 hours in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. |
2 | Beijing Daxing International Airport |
3 | Beijingxi Railway Station |
4 | Tianjin | Tianjin Binhai International Airport |
5 | Tianjin International Cruise Home Port |
6 | Shijiazhuang, Hebei | Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport |
7 | Qinhuangdao, Hebei | Qinhuangdao Port (for passenger transport) |
8 | Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region | Shanghai | Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport | Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province | Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province and Shanghai Municipality have collaboratively implemented the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. Foreign nationals meeting the policy's requirements can enter and exit China through all the eligible ports within the region, and stay for a maximum of 144 hours in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. |
9 | Shanghai Pudong International Airport |
10 | Shanghai Port (for passenger transport) |
11 | Exit-Entry Port of Shanghai Railway Station |
12 | Nanjing, Jiangsu | Nanjing Lukou International Airport |
13 | Lianyungang, Jiangsu | Lianyungang Port (for passenger transport) |
14 | Hangzhou, Zhejiang | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport |
15 | Ningbo, Zhejiang | Ningbo Lishe International Airport |
16 | Wenzhou, Zhejiang | Wenzhou Port (for passenger transport) |
17 | Zhoushan, Zhejiang | Zhoushan Port (for passenger transport) |
18 | Guangdong Province | Guangzhou, Guangdong | Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport | Guangdong Province | Foreign nationals meeting the policy's requirements can enter China through the airports in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Jieyang, as well as Nansha Port and Shekou Port, and stay for a maximum of 144 hours. Foreign nationals having entered China through the aforementioned ports in Guangdong Province are permitted to leave China through all the 36 exit-entry ports providing passenger transport services within the province. |
19 | Nansha Port (for passenger transport) |
20 | Shenzhen, Guangdong | Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport |
21 | Shekou Port (for passenger transport) |
22 | Jieyang, Guangdong | Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport |
23 | Liaoning Province | Shenyang, Liaoning | Shenyang Taoxian International Airport | Liaoning Province | Foreign nationals meeting the policy's requirements can enter and exit China through the airports in Shenyang and Dalian, as well as Dalian Port, and stay for a maximum of 144 hours. |
24 | Dalian, Liaoning | Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport |
25 | Dalian Port (for passenger transport) |
26 | Shandong Province | Qingdao, Shandong | Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport | Shandong Province |
|
27 | Qingdao Port (for passenger transport) |
28 | Chongqing Municipality | Chongqing | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport | Chongqing Municipality |
|
29 | Sichuan Province | Chengdu, Sichuan | Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | Chengdu City, Deyang City, Leshan City, Luzhou City, Meishan City, Neijiang City, Suining City, Ya'an City, Yibin City, Zigong City and Ziyang City |
|
30 | Shaanxi Province | Xi'an, Shaanxi | Xi'an Xianyang International Airport | Xi'an City and Xianyang City |
|
31 | Fujian Province | Xiamen, Fujian | Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport | Xiamen City |
|
32 | Port of Xiamen (for passenger transport) |
33 | Hubei Province | Wuhan, Hubei | Wuhan Tianhe International Airport | Wuhan City |
|
34 | Yunnan Province | Kunming, Yunnan | Kunming Changshui International Airport | Kunming City |
|
