Recent policy updates have expanded the scope of China’s visa-free transit program, adding Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport, and Mohan Railway Port to the list of ports where the 144-hour visa-free transit policy applies, bringing the total number of eligible ports to 37.
What is China’s 72/144-Hour Transit Visa-Free Policy?
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72-Hour Visa-Free Transit: This policy applies to citizens of certain countries transiting through China. They can stay visa-free for up to 72 hours in three designated cities—Changsha, Harbin, and Guilin—provided they hold valid international travel documents and a confirmed onward ticket with a seat and departure date within 72 hours to a third country or region.
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144-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Available to citizens of 54 countries, this policy allows visa-free stays of up to 144 hours in 20 designated cities across China, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Jieyang, Shenyang, Dalian, Qingdao, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Xiamen, Wuhan, Kunming, Zhengzhou, and others, under the same conditions as mentioned above but with an extended stay period of 144 hours.
Applicable Countries (as of July 1, 2024):
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Europe (40 countries): 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.
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Americas (6 countries): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.
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Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand.
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Asia (6 countries): Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
Implementing Cities:
Urban Ports Implementing the 72-Hour or 144-Hour Transit Visa-Free Policy:
| Serial number | Province (District/City)/Region | Applicable cities | Applicable ports | Range of stay | remarks |
| 72 hour transit visa free policy | |||||
| 1 | Hunan Province | Changsha, Hunan | Changsha Huanghua International Airport | Hunan Province | |
| 2 | Heilongjiang Province | Heilongjiang Harbin | Harbin Taiping International Airport | Harbin City | |
| 3 | Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region | Guangxi Guilin | guilin liangjiang international airport | Guilin City | |
| 4 | Beihai, Guangxi | Beihai Port Shore (Passenger Transport) | Beihai City | ||
| 144 hour transit visa free policy | |||||
| 1 | Beijing Tianjin Hebei region | Beijing | Beijing Capital International Airport | Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei provinces (cities) | The Beijing Tianjin Hebei region has implemented a 144 hour visa free transit policy. Foreigners who meet the conditions for policy application can enter the region through ports that apply this policy, stay in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei provinces (cities) for no more than 144 hours, and exit through ports that apply this policy in the Beijing Tianjin Hebei region. |
| 2 | Beijing Daxing International Airport | ||||
| 3 | Beijing West Railway Station | ||||
| 4 | Tianjin | Tianjin Binhai International Airport | |||
| 5 | Tianjin International Cruise Home Port | ||||
| 6 | Shijiazhuang, Hebei | Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport | |||
| 7 | Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province | Qinhuangdao Port (Passenger Transport) | |||
| 8 | Jiangsu Zhejiang Shanghai region | Shanghai | Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport | Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces (cities) | The Jiangsu Zhejiang Shanghai regional linkage implements a 144 hour transit visa free policy. Foreigners who meet the conditions for policy application can enter the region through ports that apply this policy, stay in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces (cities) for no more than 144 hours, and exit through ports that apply this policy in the Jiangsu Zhejiang Shanghai region. |
| 9 | Shanghai Pudong International Airport | ||||
| 10 | Shanghai Port (Passenger Transport) | ||||
| 11 | Shanghai Railway Port | ||||
| 12 | Nanjing, Jiangsu | Nanjing Lukou International Airport | |||
| 13 | Lianyungang, Jiangsu | Lianyungang Port (Passenger Transport) | |||
| 14 | Hangzhou, Zhejiang | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport | |||
| 15 | Ningbo, Zhejiang | Ningbo Lishe International Airport | |||
| 16 | Wenzhou, Zhejiang | Wenzhou Port Shore (Passenger Transport) | |||
| 17 | Zhoushan, Zhejiang | Zhoushan Port Shore (Passenger Transport) | |||
| 18 | Guangdong Province | Guangzhou, Guangdong | Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport | Guangdong Province | Foreigners who meet the policy application conditions can enter the country from any airport port in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Jieyang, or Nansha Port or Shekou Port, stay in Guangdong Province for no more than 144 hours, and exit from the 36 open ports with passenger transportation functions in Guangdong Province. |
| 19 | Nansha Port (Passenger Transport) | ||||
| 20 | Shenzhen, Guangdong | Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport | |||
| 21 | Shekou Port Shore (Passenger Transport) | ||||
| 22 | Jieyang, Guangdong | Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport | |||
| 23 | Liaoning Province | Shenyang, Liaoning | Shenyang Taoxian International Airport | Liaoning Province | Foreigners who meet the policy application conditions can enter from any airport port in Shenyang, Dalian or Dalian Port, stay in Liaoning Province for no more than 144 hours, and exit from any airport port in Shenyang, Dalian or Dalian Port. |
| 24 | Dalian, Liaoning | Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport | |||
| 25 | Dalian Port Shore (Passenger Transport) | ||||
| 26 | Shandong Province | Qingdao, Shandong | Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport | Shandong Province | |
| 27 | Qingdao Port (Passenger Transport) | ||||
| 28 | Chongqing City | Chongqing | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport | Chongqing City | |
| 29 | Sichuan Province | Chengdu, Sichuan | Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | Chengdu, Leshan, Deyang, Suining, Meishan, Ya’an, Ziyang, Neijiang, Zigong, Luzhou, Yibin City | |
| 30 | Shaanxi Province | Xi’an, Shaanxi | Xi’an Xianyang International Airport | Xi’an City, Xianyang City | |
| 31 | Fujian Province | Xiamen, Fujian | Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport | Xiamen City | |
| 32 | Xiamen Port (Passenger Transport) | ||||
| 33 | Hubei province | Wuhan, Hubei | Wuhan Tianhe International Airport | Wuhan City | |
| 34 | Yunnan Province | Kunming, Yunnan | Kunming Changshui International Airport | Kunming, Lijiang, Yuxi, Pu’er, Chuxiong, Dali, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, Wenshan | |
| 35 | Lijiang, Yunnan | Lijiang Sanyi International Airport | |||
| 36 | Mohan Railway Port | ||||
| 37 | Henan Province | Zhengzhou, Henan | Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport | ||
| Reference materials (as of July 15, 2024) | |||||
The 144-hour visa-free transit policy covers the following Chinese cities: Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Jieyang, Shenyang, Dalian, Qingdao, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Xiamen, Wuhan, Kunming, and Zhengzhou. These cities permit eligible foreigners to stay visa-free for up to 144 hours within specified areas, engaging in activities like tourism and short-term business visits, provided they meet the criteria mentioned earlier. Additionally, Changsha, Harbin, and Guilin offer a 72-hour visa-free transit option.