Transit visa exemptions in China allow eligible foreign travelers a visa free visit for 24, 72, or 144 hours. China is becoming increasingly popular as a travel destination, and entry and travel regulations are relaxing, though they keep on changing. For those wanting to travel to China without the hassle and expense of a China visa, it is definitely doable. You can take advantage of China transit visa exemptions listed below.
24-hour Transit Visa Exemption
Foreign travelers transiting through China within 24 hours to reach another country of destination may be eligible for a 24 hour Transit Visa Exemption. This visa exemption is available to all foreigners, and most ports of entry in China.
72-hour Transit Visa Exemption
Foreign travelers transiting through China within 72 hours to reach another country of destination may be eligible for the 72 hour Transit Visa Exemption. This visa exemption is only available to citizens of participating countries traveling through participating ports of entry in China. To obtain this visa exemption, the foreign national must have a valid passport from one of the 53 countries, which includes:
Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Macedonia, Monaco, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, and UAE.
Further, eligible travelers must be transiting through one of the following 19 cities: Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hangzhou, Harbin, Kunming, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xiamen, or Xi’an.
144-hour Transit Visa Exemption
Foreign travelers transiting through China within 144 hours to reach another country of destination may be eligible for the 144 hour Transit Visa Exemption. This visa exemption is available to citizens of countries that are eligible for the 72 hour Transit Visa Exemption. To obtain this visa exemption, the foreign national must have a valid passport from one of the 53 countries that are eligible for the 72 hour Transit Visa Exemption.
The 144 hour Transit Visa Exemption was now expand to major Chinese cities: Hangzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Guangzhou, Jieyang, and Shenzhen. Starting from January 1, 2019, the 144 hour visa free exemption policy will be implemented in the cities of Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Kunming.
Hainan Visa Exemption
Since May 1, 2018, visitors from 59 eligible countries can travel to South China’s Hainan province visa-free for up to 30 days. Visitors to Hainan enjoying visa-free access do not need to be traveling to a third country. However, they must book their visits via travel agencies registered in Hainan and approved by China’s National Tourism Administration. To be eligible for visa-free travel to Hainan, visitors must hold a valid passport from one of the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Albania, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Macedonia, Monaco, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Arab Emirates.
Contact Us
If you have further inquires, please do not hesitate to contact Tannet at anytime, anywhere by simply visiting Tannet’s website english.tannet-group.com, or calling Hong Kong hotline at 852-27826888 or China hotline at 86-755-82143512, or emailing to tannet-solution@hotmail.com. You are also welcome to visit our office situated in 16/F, Taiyangdao Bldg 2020, Dongmen Rd South, Luohu, Shenzhen, China.
Previous：Shanghai APEC Card Application Requirements
Next：China Work Permit Categorization System