China's 240-hours visa-free entry policy
24-hour visa-free transit policy
China has implemented a 24-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals from all 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 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.
240 hours (10 days) visa-free transit policy
Announcement of the National Immigration Administration on Further Relaxation and Optimisation of Transit Visa-free Policy for Foreigners (Date 2024/12/17)
After reporting to the State Council for approval, the State Administration of Immigration has decided to further relax and optimise the policy of visa-free transit for foreigners with immediate effect. The announcement is as follows:
I. Extension of stay. Extend the length of stay of visa-free transit foreigners in China from 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days).
Increase the applicable ports. Increase the number of ports of entry.
Wuxu International Airport in Taiyuan, Shanxi; Shuofang and Yangzhou Taizhou International Airports in Jiangsu; Longwan and Yiwu International Airports in Wenzhou, Zhejiang; Xinqiao and Tunxi International Airports in Hefei and Huangshan, Anhui; Changle, Quanzhou, Jinjiang and Wuyishan International Airports in Fuzhou and Wuyishan, Fujian; Changbei International Airport in Nanchang, Jiangxi; Yaowan, Yantai and Dashubo International Airports in Jinan, Yantai, and Weihai, Shandong; Lotus International Airport in Zhangjiajie, Hunan; and Wuwei International Airport in Wuxu, Nanning, Guangxi. Airport, Guangxi Nanning Wuxu, Beihai Fucheng International Airport, Hainan Haikou Meilan, Sanya Fenghuang International Airport, Sichuan Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, Guizhou Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport, and other 21 ports of entry of 240-hour visa-free transit personnel, the number of applicable ports of entry increased from the original 39 to 60 (see Annex 1).
Expansion of the area of stay and activities.
Visa-free transit policy applies to provinces from the original Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, Shaanxi 19 provinces (districts, municipalities) to increase Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan, Guizhou 5 provinces, a total of 24 provinces (districts, municipalities). New 5 provinces, visa-free transit personnel in Anhui, Hainan, Guizhou Province, 3 provinces stay activities for the province, stay activities in Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, Datong City, stay activities in Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, Jingdezhen City. Expand the stay activity area of Fujian, Hubei and Shaanxi provinces to the whole province, and the stay activity area of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to the administrative areas of 12 cities, including Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi and Laibin. Foreigners coming to China through the visa-free transit policy can travel across the provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in the above 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and make their own arrangements for their itineraries within the permitted stay areas.
After the implementation of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, citizens of the 54 countries that are subject to the policy (see Annex 2), holding valid international travel documents and a combined ticket with a confirmed date and seat, who are travelling from China to a third country (region) in transit, may come to China without a visa from any of the 60 open ports of entry in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and stay in the stipulated area for a period of not more than 240 hours (in accordance with the visa-free transit agreement signed with China or our unilateral visa-free policy). (In conformity with the agreement on mutual visa exemption signed with China or our unilateral visa exemption policy, the provisions of the agreement shall apply). During their stay in China, the visa-free transit personnel can engage in activities such as tourism, business, visiting and visiting relatives, etc., while activities requiring prior approval such as work, study and news interviews should still apply for visas before they can come to China.
Annex:
- 240-hour visa-free transit policy applicable ports and Staying Activity Areas
- 54 countries applying the 240-hour visa-free transit policy.
National Immigration Administration 17 December 2024
54 countries applying the 240-hour visa-free transit policy
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, 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, United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar
240-hour visa-free transit policy applicable ports and Staying Activity Areas
Ports of entry and areas of stay applicable to the 240-hour visa-free transit policy
Visa-free transit passengers can stay for 240 hours in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) within the permitted stay activity areas across provinces and regions.
1 Beijing Beijing Capital International Airport Port
2 Beijing Daxing International Airport
Beijing Daxing International Airport
Area of Stay: Beijing
3Tianjin Tianjin Binhai International Airport, Tianjin, China
4Tianjin Harbour Port (Passenger)
Area of Stay: Tianjin
5 Hebei Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport Port
6 Qinhuangdao Harbour Port (Passenger)
Area of Stay: Hebei Province
7 Liaoning Shenyang Taoxian International Airport Port
8 Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Port
9 Dalian Harbour Port (Passenger)
Area of Stay: Liaoning Province
10 Shanghai Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport Port Shanghai Municipality
11 Shanghai Pudong International Airport Port
12 Shanghai Seaport (Passenger)
Area of Stay: Shanghai
13 Jiangsu Nanjing Lukou International Airport Port Jiangsu Province
14 Southern Jiangsu Shuofang International Airport Port
15 Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport Port
16 Lianyungang Harbour Port (Passenger)
Area of Stay: Jiangsu Province
17 Zhejiang Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport Port Zhejiang Province
18 Ningbo Lishe International Airport Port
19 Wenzhou Longwan International Airport
20 Yiwu Airport
21 Wenzhou Port Port (Passenger)
22 Zhoushan Port Port (Passenger)
Area of Stay: Zhejiang Province
23 Hefei Xinqiao International Airport Port, Anhui Province, China
24 Huangshan Tunxi International Airport
Area of Stay: Anhui Province
25 Fujian Fuzhou Changle International Airport Port Fujian Province
26 Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport
27 Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport Port
28 Wuyishan Airport
29 Xiamen Harbour Port (Passenger)
Area of Stay: Fujian Province
30 Shandong Jinan Yaowei International Airport Port Shandong Province
31 Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport Port
32 Yantai Penglai International Airport Port
33 Weihai Dashuipo International Airport Port
Weihai Dashuibo International Airport
34 Qingdao Harbour Port (Passenger)
Area of Stay: Shandong Province
35 Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport Port
Area of Stay: Henan Province
36 Hubei Wuhan Tianhe International Airport Port
Area of Stay: Hubei Province
37 Hunan Changsha Huanghua International Airport Port
38 Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport
Area of Stay: Hunan Province
39 Guangdong Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Port
40 Shenzhen Baoan International Airport
41 Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport
42 Nansha Port Port (Passenger)
43 Shekou Port Port (Passenger)
Area of Stay: Guangdong Province (can exit from all open ports of the province)
44 Hainan Haikou Meilan International Airport Border Crossing Hainan Province
45 Sanya Phoenix International Airport Port
Area of Stay: Hainan Province
46 Chongqing Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport Port
Area of Stay: Chongqing Municipality
47 Guizhou Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport Port
Area of Stay: Guizhou Province
48Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
Area of Stay: Shaanxi Province
49 Shanxi Taiyuan Wuxu International Airport Port
Area of Stay: Taiyuan, Datong
50 Harbin Taiping International Airport Harbin
Area of Stay： Harbin
51 Jiangxi Nanchang Changbei International Airport Port
Area of Stay: Nanchang Jingdezhen
52 Guangxi Nanning Wuxu International Airport Port Nanning
53 Guilin Liangjiang International Airport Port
54 Beihai Fucheng Airport Port
55 Beihai Harbour Port (Passenger)
Area of Stay: Liuzhou Guilin Wuzhou Beihai Fangchenggang Qinzhou Guigang Yulin Hezhou Hechi Linzhou 12 cities
56 Sichuan Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport Port
57 Chengdu Tianfu International Airport Port
Area of Stay: Chengdu Zigong Luzhou Deyang Suining Neijiang Leshan Yibin Ya'an Meishan Ziyang 11 cities
58 Yunnan Kunming Changshui International Airport Port
59 Lijiang Sanyi International Airport Port
60 Maohan Railway Port
Areat of Stay: Kunming Yuxi Chuxiong Honghe Wenshan Pu'er Xishuangbanna Dali Lijiang 9 cities and states
Information source: https://s.nia.gov.cn/mps/tztg/202412/t20241201_1001.html