China’s 72/144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy
Overview
China’s 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy is an initiative implemented by the Chinese government to facilitate foreign nationals’ entry and exit, as well as to promote international exchange and cooperation. This policy allows citizens from certain countries to transit through specific Chinese cities for up to 72 or 144 hours without requiring a visa, provided they meet the necessary conditions.
Recent Updates
- November 17, 2023: The 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy was extended to citizens of Norway, bringing the total number of eligible countries to 54.
- July 15, 2024: The National Immigration Administration expanded the 144-hour visa-free transit policy to 37 border ports, including cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Kunming, and more.
- December 17, 2024: The policy was further relaxed, allowing foreign nationals to stay up to 240 hours (10 days) under the visa-free transit arrangement. Additionally, 21 more border ports were added to the list, expanding the permissible regions for activities.
Applicable Countries
As of December 17, 2024, 54 countries are eligible for the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy. These countries are grouped as follows:
Europe (40 Countries)
- Austria (奥地利), Belgium (比利时), Czech Republic (捷克), Denmark (丹麦), Estonia (爱沙尼亚), Finland (芬兰), France (法国), Germany (德国), Greece (希腊), Hungary (匈牙利), Iceland (冰岛), Italy (意大利), Latvia (拉脱维亚), Lithuania (立陶宛), Luxembourg (卢森堡), Malta (马耳他), Netherlands (荷兰), Poland (波兰), Portugal (葡萄牙), Slovakia (斯洛伐克), Slovenia (斯洛文尼亚), Spain (西班牙), Sweden (瑞典), Switzerland (瑞士), Monaco (摩纳哥), Russia (俄罗斯), United Kingdom (英国), Ireland (爱尔兰), Cyprus (塞浦路斯), Bulgaria (保加利亚), Romania (罗马尼亚), Ukraine (乌克兰), Serbia (塞尔维亚), Croatia (克罗地亚), Bosnia and Herzegovina (波黑), Montenegro (黑山), North Macedonia (北马其顿), Albania (阿尔巴尼亚), Belarus (白俄罗斯), Norway (挪威).
Americas (6 Countries)
- United States (美国), Canada (加拿大), Brazil (巴西), Mexico (墨西哥), Argentina (阿根廷), Chile (智利).
Oceania (2 Countries)
- Australia (澳大利亚), New Zealand (新西兰).
Asia (6 Countries)
- South Korea (韩国), Japan (日本), Singapore (新加坡), Brunei (文莱), United Arab Emirates (阿联酋), Qatar (卡塔尔).
240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Cities and Ports
The following cities and ports in China are part of the 240-hour visa-free transit program:
| Province/Region | City | Airport/Port | Region of Stay | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunan (湖南) | Changsha (长沙) | Changsha Huanghua International Airport (长沙黄花国际机场) | Hunan Province | – |
| Hunan (湖南) | Zhangjiajie (张家界) | Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (张家界荷花国际机场) | – | – |
| Heilongjiang (黑龙江) | Harbin (哈尔滨) | Harbin Taiping International Airport (哈尔滨太平国际机场) | Harbin City | – |
| Guangxi (广西) | Nanning (南宁) | Nanning Wuxu International Airport (南宁吴圩国际机场) | Nanning City | – |
| Guangxi (广西) | Guilin (桂林) | Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (桂林两江国际机场) | Guilin City | – |
| Guangxi (广西) | Beihai (北海) | Beihai Port (北海港口) (Passenger) | Beihai City | – |
| Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region (京津冀) | Beijing (北京) | Beijing Capital International Airport (北京首都国际机场) | Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei | – |
| … | … | … | … | … |
144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Cities
Cities where the 144-hour visa-free transit policy is implemented include:
- Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), Shijiazhuang (石家庄), Qinhuangdao (秦皇岛), Shanghai (上海), Nanjing (南京), Hangzhou (杭州), Ningbo (宁波), Guangzhou (广州), Shenzhen (深圳), Jieyang (揭阳), Shenyang (沈阳), Dalian (大连), Qingdao (青岛), Chongqing (重庆), Chengdu (成都), Xi’an (西安), Xiamen (厦门), Wuhan (武汉), Kunming (昆明), Zhengzhou (郑州).
Additional Cities Under Special Policy:
- Hainan: A 144-hour visa-free policy was extended to foreign tourist groups entering Hainan through Hong Kong or Macau, with activities limited to Hainan Province.
Significance of the Policy
Since its implementation in January 2023, over 500,000 foreign nationals have benefited from the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy. This policy plays a key role in facilitating high-level foreign exchanges, promoting international cooperation, and enhancing accessibility for tourists and business travelers.
In 2024, the number of foreign nationals utilizing the policy increased by 132.9%, reflecting its growing popularity both domestically and internationally.
Statistics:
- From January to November 2024, 29.2 million foreign nationals entered China, with 17.4 million entering through the visa-free transit, showing a 123.3% year-on-year increase.
China’s 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy offers significant benefits to foreign travelers by reducing visa barriers and promoting tourism and business activities. This extension to 240 hours further strengthens China’s openness, making it an even more attractive destination for international visitors.
