China’s Game-Changing 10-Day Visa-Free Transit Policy: Explore More, Travel Further
The National Immigration Administration of China announced today (17 December 2024) that it has fully expanded and optimised its visa-free transit policy.
According to the announcement, effective immediately, the visa-free transit policy has been extended. Foreign travellers transiting through China will now be allowed to stay for up to 240 hours (10 days), an increase from the previous 72-hour and 144-hour limits. Additionally, 21 new ports have been added as designated entry and exit points for visa-free transit passengers, and the permitted areas for activities during the stay have been further expanded.
Citizens of 54 eligible countries, including Russia, Brazil, the UK, the US, and Canada, transiting through China to a third country (or region), can now enter visa-free via any of the 60 open ports across 24 provinces (regions or municipalities) and remain in designated areas for up to 240 hours.
Compared to the previous 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy, the most notable update is the allowance for cross-regional travel. Eligible travellers may now move between provinces within the designated 24 regions during their visa-free stay.
ELIGIBLE NATIONALITIES FOR THE 240-HOUR VISA-FREE TRANSIT POLICY
Citizens of the following 54 countries qualify:
● 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, the UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, and Norway.
● Americas (6 countries):
The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
● Oceania (2 countries):
Australia and New Zealand.
● Asia (6 countries):
South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
+ A valid international travel document with at least 3 months’ validity.
+ A confirmed onward ticket (with a date and seat) to a third country or region within 240 hours, or relevant supporting documentation.
+ A completed temporary entry form for foreign nationals.
+ Compliance with border inspection checks and inquiries.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Eligible travellers may apply for the visa-free transit at the border inspection authorities of any of the 60 designated ports, such as Beijing and Shanghai. Temporary entry will be granted, and the 240-hour stay will be calculated from midnight following the date of entry. Travellers who meet the conditions of bilateral visa exemption agreements or China’s unilateral visa-free policies may proceed under those terms.
PORTS & PERMITTED AREAS FOR THE 240-HOUR VISA-FREE TRANSIT POLICY
Transit visa-exempt passengers are allowed to stay for up to 240 hours across provincial boundaries within the permitted activity areas in 24 provinces/regions/cities.
Important Attention:
1. The 240 hours transiting China visa free policy applied to only citizen of certain of certain 54 countries.
2. They tourist should possess the flight from China to the third country before your entrance of China, just transit in China and can stay within 240 hours in China.
3. The policy is only applied to certain China border, not all of the borders.
The List of applicable countries and borders: