Visa-free transit policies for foreign nationals

China has implemented a 24-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens of all other countries around the world at all its accessible exit-entry ports. Foreign nationals holding valid international travel documents and connecting tickets with confrmed seats, who intend transit via China by internationa fights, 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 arrival ports.Those who plan to leave the ports must apply for temporary entry permits at the exit-entry borderinspection authorities of the corresponding ports.

Currently, 41 exit-entry ports in 19 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government of China have implemented the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens from 54 countries.

The requirements are as follows:

• He/she must be a citizen of one of the countries entitled to the 72/144-hour visa-free transit
  (Please check the table below for the list of the countries entitled.)

• He/she must hold a valid international travel document (valid for no less than three months) that can prove his/her nationality and identity, and meet the conditions for entering a third country/region; He/she must hold a connecting ticket to a third country/region.
• He/she must hold a connecting ticket to a third country/region with a confrmed date and seat for departure within 72/144 hours or relevant certifcates as per the amount of time applied for the visa-free transit, fll out the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners, and accept inguiries from the entry-exit borderinspection authority.

Foreigners who meet the conditions can apply for the 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit at the entry-exit border inspection authorities in the following cities.

KIND REMINDER

The border control authorities will not issue temporary entry permits to a foreigner if:

• His/her passport or any other international travel document is expiring in less than three months, or any of his/her travel documents has a rejection stamp by a visa-issuing agency in china;
• He/she has a record of illegal entry or exit, illegal residence, or illegal employment within the last five years.

Foreigners under these circumstances are NOT entitled to the 72/144-hour visa-free transit.

Source: National Immigration Administration