On December 17, China’s National Immigration Administration released an announcement to relax and optimize the visa-free transit policy, which took effect immediately.
This announcement mainly focuses on two key changes:
How does it work: FAQ regarding the new policy:
Q: Is the transit visa free transit policy applicable to all foreigners?
A: Currently, citizens of 54 countries are eligible for the visa-free transit policy, including:
Q: What conditions need to be met to apply for visa free transit?
A: Applicants must meet the following conditions:
Q: Can the visa free transit policy be applied at any port?
A: No, the visa free transit is only available at 60 designated ports across 24 provinces, (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) in China. For specific information, please see the table below.
Q: Can travelers enter the Chinese mainland and travel around freely after entering with visa free
transit?
A: No, travelers must stay within specific allowed areas across 24 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities). For instance, if a foreigner enters China through Shanghai Pudong International Airport under the visa-free transit policy, they can travel to Beijing Municipality or Liaoning Province as these areas are listed as allowed areas to stay, but they cannot travel to Gansu Province, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Shangrao city of Jiangxi Province. For further details of the allowed areas to stay, please refer to the table below.
| Ports applicable to the 240-hour transit visa-free policy and allowed stay areas | |||
| Serial number | Province/Autonomous region/Municipality | Applicable ports | Allowed areas to stay |
| 1 | Beijing | Beijing Capital International Airport | Beijing Municipality |
| 2 | Beijing Daxing International Airport | ||
| 3 | Tianjin | Tianjin Binhai International Airport | Tianjin Municipality |
| 4 | Tianjin Port (Passenger Transport) | ||
| 5 | Hebei | Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport | Hebei Province |
| 6 | Qinhuangdao Port (Passenger Transport) | ||
| 7 | Liaoning | Shenyang Taoxian International Airport Liaoning | Liaoning Province |
| 8 | Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport | ||
| 9 | Dalian Port (Passenger Transport) | ||
| 10 | Shanghai | Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport | Shanghai Municipality |
| 11 | Shanghai Pudong International Airport | ||
| 12 | Shanghai Port (Passenger Transport) | ||
| 13 | Jiangsu | Nanjing Lukou International Airport | Jiangsu Province |
| 14 | Sunan Shuofang International Airport | ||
| 15 | Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport | ||
| 16 | Lianyungang Port (Passenger Transport) | ||
| 17 | Zhejinag | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport | Zhejing Province |
| 18 | Ningbo Lishe International Airport | ||
| 19 | Wenzhou Longwan International Airport | ||
| 20 | Yiwu Airport | ||
| 21 | Wenzhou Port (Passenger Transport) | ||
| 22 | Zhoushan Port (Passenger Transport) | ||
| 23 | Anhui | Hefei Xinqiao International Airport | Anhui Province |
| 24 | Huangshan Tunxi International Airport | ||
| 25 | Fujian | Fujian Fuzhou Changle International Airport | Fujian Province |
| 26 | Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport | ||
| 27 | Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport | ||
| 28 | Wuyishan Airport | ||
| 29 | Xiamen Port (Passenger Transport) | ||
| 30 | Shandong | Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport | Shandong Province |
| 31 | Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport | ||
| 32 | Yantai Penglai International Airport | ||
| 33 | Weihai Dashuibo International Airport | ||
| 34 | Qingdao Port (Passenger Transport) | ||
| 35 | Henan | Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport | Henan Province |
| 36 | Hubei | Wuhan Tianhe International Airport | Hubei Province |
| 37 | Hunan | Changsha Huanghua International Airport | Hunan Province |
| 38 | Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport | ||
| 39 | Guangdong | Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport | Guangdong Province (exit available at all ports across the province) |
| 40 | Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport | ||
| 41 | Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport | ||
| 42 | Nansha Port (Passenger Transport) | ||
| 43 | Shekou Port (Passenger Transport) | ||
| 44 | Hainan | Haikou Meilan International Airport | Hainan Province |
| 45 | Sanya Phoenix International Airport | ||
| 46 | Chongqing | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport | Chongqing Municipality |
| 47 | Guizhou | Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport | Guizhou Province |
| 48 | Shaanxi | Xi’an Xianyang International Airport | Shaanxi Province |
| 49 | Shanxi | Taiyuan Wusu International Airport | Taiyuan City and Datong City |
| 50 | Heilongjiang | Harbin Taiping International Airport | Harbin city |
| 51 | Jiangxi | Nanchang Changbei International Airport | Nanchang City and Jingdezhen City |
| 52 | Guangxi | Nanning Wuxu International Airport | A total of 12 cities: Guilin, Beihai, Nanning, Liuzhou, Wuzhou, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi, Laibin |
| 53 | Guilin Liangjiang International Airport | ||
| 54 | Beihai Fucheng Airport | ||
| 55 | Beihai Port (Passenger Transport) | ||
| 56 | Sichuan | Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | A total of 11 cities: Chengdu, Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Yibin, Ya’an, Meishan, Ziyang |
| 57 | Chengdu Tianfu International Airport | ||
| 58 | Yunnan | Kunming Changshui International Airport 9 cities: | A total of 9 cities: Kunming, Yuxi, Chuxiong, Honghe, Wenshan, Pu’er, Xishuangbanna, Dali, Lijiang |
| 59 | Lijiang Sanyi International Airport | ||
| 60 | Mohan Railway | ||
| Notes: The content in teal color is newly added in this new policy. | |||
Q: Besides a passport, are there any other documents required for entry?
A: There is no mandatory requirement to carry other documents. However, it is advisable to carry corresponding supporting documents. For example, business travelers may consider carrying an invitation letter issued by the Chinese company, return air tickets, hotel reservations, etc. It is important to note that activities such as work and study in China, etc. are not covered by the transit visa-free policy.
Q: How is the duration of the visa free stay calculated?
A: The duration of stay is calculated from the day following entry. Foreigners can stay continuously until 24:00 on the 10th calendar day, with the day of entry not being counted in the 240-hour count.
Q: Can I extend my visa free if it exceeds the period?
A: While it is technically possible to request for an extension, approval is not guaranteed and can be challenging to secure. Applicants must provide valid reasons for the extension, along with proof of accommodation, sufficient funds for the extended stay, and other relevant supporting documents. The application must be submitted to the local exit-entry administration bureau where the applicant resides, with the final decision resting with the local exit-entry administration authorities.
The relaxation and optimization of the visa-free transit policy marks a significant milestone in boosting interactions between China and the rest of the world. This initiative aims to accelerate cross-border activities and promote international cooperation. The Chinese government is committed to further expanding its immigration policies, continuously optimizing entry and exit facilitation measures, and welcoming an increased number of foreign travelers to China.
At the same time, companies are expected to adhere to elevated standards in managing cross-border business travelers. This includes closely monitoring the presence of business travelers in China or other countries, as well as strengthening compliance awareness regarding visas, individual income tax and social security obligations of each business traveler.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Jacky Chu
Partner, China Leader
Sheree Cang
China Immigration Partner
Dienn Hu
China Immigration Senior Manager
Ray Xia
China Immigration Senior Manager
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