24, 72 and 144-hours, China's Transit Visa Free Policy

China has 24-hour, 72-Hour and 144-Hour visa-free entry policies. Let's take a look at each.

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.

72-Hour or 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy

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.

54 Countries: 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.

72-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy

1. Hunan Province: Changsha Huanghua International Airport (Changsha, Hunan)
2. Heilongjiang Province: Harbin Taiping International Airport (Harbin, Heilongjiang)
3. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (Guilin, Guangxi), Beihai Port (Beihai, Guangxi) [for passenger transport]
   

144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy:

1. Beijing Capital International Airport (Beijing)
2. Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region:
   • Beijing: Daxing International Airport, Beijingxi Railway Station
   • Tianjin: Binhai International Airport, Tianjin International Cruise Home Port
   • Hebei Province: Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport, Qinhuangdao Port [for passenger transport]
3. Shanghai Region:
   • Shanghai: Hongqiao International Airport, Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Port [for passenger transport], Shanghai Railway Station
   • Jiangsu Province: Nanjing Lukou International Airport (Nanjing, Jiangsu), Lianyungang Port (Lianyungang, Jiangsu) [for passenger transport]
   • Zhejiang Province: Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (Hangzhou, Zhejiang), Ningbo Lishe International Airport (Ningbo, Zhejiang), Wenzhou Port (Wenzhou, Zhejiang) [for passenger transport], Zhoushan Port (Zhoushan, Zhejiang) [for passenger transport]
4. Guangdong Province:
   • Guangzhou: Baiyun International Airport, Nansha Port [for passenger transport]
   • Shenzhen: Bao'an International Airport, Shekou Port [for passenger transport]
   • Jieyang: Chaoshan International Airport
5. Liaoning Province:
   • Shenyang: Taoxian International Airport
   • Dalian: Zhoushuizi International Airport, Dalian Port [for passenger transport]
6. Shandong Province: Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, Qingdao Port [for passenger transport]
7. Chongqing Municipality: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport
8. Sichuan Province: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (Chengdu), other cities include Deyang, Leshan, Luzhou, Meishan, Neijiang, Suining, Yaan, Yibin, Zigong, Ziyang
9. Shaanxi Province: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (Xi'an, Xianyang)
10. Fujian Province: Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Xiamen Port [for passenger transport]
11. Hubei Province: Wuhan Tianhe International Airport
12. Yunnan Province: Kunming Changshui International Airport

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.

Information source: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/jiedu/tujie/202407/content_6961526.htm