Visa-Free Transit in China Resumes

The visa-free transit policy in China, offering 24-, 72- and 144-hour periods of visa-free transit has officially resumed.

The announcement was made in a January 2023 press release the by the PRC’s National Immigration Administration. The program is available to travelers who are transiting through China to a destination that is different from their country of departure.  

Overview of the different visa-free time periods:

• 144-hour visa-free transit is available to passport holders from 52 countries* and allows for transfers between various transportation methods.

• 72-hour visa-free transit is available to passport holders from 52 countries* and allows for transfers between flights only.

• 24-hour visa-free transit is available to most nationalities and allows for transfers between various transportation methods.

 Locations and duration of visa-free transit in China:

• 144-hour (including 72- and 24-hour) visa-free transit is available in the below regions:
  • Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei
  • Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang
  • Guangdong
  • Shandong
  • Liaoning
  • Chengdu
  • Kunming
  • Xi’an
  • Chongqing
  • Xiamen
  • Wuhan

• 72-hour visa-free transit is available in the below regions:
  • Harbin
  • Guilin
  • Changsha

• 24-hour visa-free transit is available in all of China’s international airports except:
  • Fuzhou Changle Airport
  • Huangshan Tunxi Airport
  • Mudanjiang Hailang Airport
  • Yanji Chaoyangchuan Airport
  • Urumqi Diwopu International Airport

*74- and 144-hour visa-free transit is open to passport holders from the below countries:

Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Qatar

As with all visa-related processes, there are various requirements, nuances and permutations to consider. Leave that task to us. Get in touch, let us know your plans/thoughts, and we’ll handle the rest.