China has fully relaxed and optimized its transit visa-free policy, allowing stays of up to 240 hours and adding 21 new ports of entry.
The National Immigration Administration of China announced today that, starting from December 17, the transit visa exemption policy will be comprehensively relaxed and optimized. The allowed stay for foreign nationals under the transit visa exemption will be extended from the original 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). Additionally, 21 new ports of entry will be added for transit visa-exempt individuals, and the scope of permissible activities during their stay will be further expanded. Eligible individuals from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, traveling from China to a third country or region, may enter China visa-free through any of the 60 designated entry ports in 24 provinces (regions, municipalities) and can stay for up to 240 hours within specified areas.
The 21 newly added ports for the transit visa exemption policy include: Taiyuan Wusu International Airport in Shanxi, Wuxi Sunan Shuofang International Airport and Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport in Jiangsu, Wenzhou Longwan International Airport and Jinhua Yiwu International Airport in Zhejiang, Hefei Xinqiao International Airport and Huangshan Tunxi International Airport in Anhui, Fuzhou Changle International Airport, Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport, and Nanping Wuyishan International Airport in Fujian, Nanchang International Airport in Jiangxi, Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport, Yantai Penglai International Airport, and Weihai Dashuibo International Airport in Shandong, Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport in Hunan, Nanning Wuxu International Airport and Beihai Fucheng International Airport in Guangxi, Haikou Meilan International Airport, and Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Hainan, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Sichuan, and Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport in Guizhou. The total number of designated ports has increased from 39 to 60.
The optimized 240-hour transit visa exemption policy has expanded the permissible areas for activities during the stay. The provinces applicable for this policy have increased from the original 19—Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Shaanxi—to include Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan, and Guizhou, totaling 24 provinces (regions, municipalities). In the newly added provinces, the permissible activity areas for visa-exempt individuals are the entire provinces of Anhui, Hainan, and Guizhou, while in Shanxi, it is limited to Taiyuan and Datong cities, and in Jiangxi, it is restricted to Nanchang and Jingdezhen cities. The activity areas in Fujian, Hubei, and Shaanxi have been expanded to cover the entire provinces, and in Guangxi, the area has been extended to cover administrative regions in Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi, and Laibin.
A representative from the National Immigration Administration indicated that this relaxation of the transit visa exemption policy aligns with the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference, proactively serves to promote high-level opening-up, facilitates exchanges between Chinese and foreign personnel, accelerates cross-border movement, and enhances international cooperation, injecting new momentum into high-quality economic and social development. Moving forward, the National Immigration Administration will continue to deepen the management system for immigration and further optimize and improve policies that facilitate entry and exit, aiming to enhance the convenience for foreign nationals in studying, working, and living in China and welcoming more foreign friends to experience the beauty of China in the new era.
Conditions for Foreigners to Apply for the 240-Hour Transit Visa Exemption Policy:
1. Applicants must be citizens of one of the 54 countries eligible for the transit visa exemption policy:
European countries (40): 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, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway.
American countries (6): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.
Oceanian countries (2): Australia, New Zealand.
Asian countries (6): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar.
2. Applicants must hold a valid international travel document with a validity of no less than three months, meeting the entry requirements for the third country or region.
3. Applicants must possess a confirmed connecting ticket or relevant documents for travel to a third country or region within the 240-hour timeframe, complete the temporary entry card for foreigners, and comply with the checks and inquiries of the entry-exit border inspection authorities.
Foreigners who meet these conditions can submit their applications to the border inspection authorities at any of the 60 designated ports in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. The border inspection authorities will proceed with the temporary entry formalities for them, and the visa-free stay period will commence from 00:00 the day following their entry. Individuals eligible under mutual visa exemption agreements or unilateral visa exemption policies with China may follow the stipulated regulations.
