China 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy

 

China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy allows travellers from certain countries to enjoy up to six-day tours in some of China’s specific areas. In this article, we will explain who is eligible for the 144-hour visa-free transit and where in China you can travel on this special entry permit. Please note that to qualify for visa-free transit, you must have plans to travel to a third country after departing China. Failure to do so will be considered illegal entry to China. Therefore, the departure and destination countries must be different.

 

1. Policy for 144-hour visa-free transit.

This travel policy allows travelers from a number of countries to enjoy a six-day stay in certain Chinese cities without the need for a visa. A total of 54 countries are currently eligible for this arrangement, along with other necessary requirements. 

 

2. The 54 countries’ citizens are eligible for the 144-hour visa-free.

To qualify for this visa exemption, you must hold a valid passport from one of the 54 countries listed below:

• Europe Schengen area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
• Europe: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, and Belarus.
• Americas: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
• Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.
• Asia: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

 

3. Requirements for the 144-hour visa-free transit.

According to China’s National Immigration Authority (NIA), applicants for a 144-hour visa-free transit visa must have the following items.

• A valid passport must be valid for more than three months from the arrival date.
• Have an interline ticket (connecting ticket) with the confirmed departure date and seat number leaving for a third country within 144 hours.
• The landing card for travelers in transit is to be completed upon arrival in China.
• You may also be required to answer some questions at immigration control upon arrival. 

 

4. Cities you travel with 144-hour visa-free.

Please note that the 144-hour visa-free regime does not mean you can travel to any city in China. The specific destinations available to you are determined by your port of entry. It is important to keep in mind that in most cases (except in Guangdong Province), you will be required to exit the country through one of the same ports that are permitted for entry. In most cases, this will be the same port as the one you arrived through. Therefore, when planning your trip, please ensure you double-check the permitted arrival airports, railway stations, or cruise ports for both entry and exit. Furthermore, please ensure that your itinerary during your stay in China is within the permitted areas to ensure you do not inadvertently cross into an area where you are not permitted or exit the country illegally.

 

 

5. Things to know when you stay in China.

Should you opt to stay in a hotel during your visit, the hotel will register your stay with the local police station using your passport or another international travel document. Please note that not all hotels are equipped to accommodate foreign guests due to this requirement. It is therefore advisable to double-check with the hotel in advance to ensure that they can host foreign guests. If you are accommodated in a private residence, such as a friend’s or family member’s home, both you and your host are required to register with the local public security bureau within 24 hours upon arrival. You will need to bring your passport, as well as your host’s housing contract and identification card. Failure to register your accommodation in accordance with the law may result in punishment being taken by the immigration authorities or border forces.

 

6. Calculate the 144-hour visa-free transit period.

Following the border inspection authority’s issuance of a temporary entry permit, the 144-hour visa-free stay period commences at 00:00  the next day after entry.  The traveller is permitted to stay in the designated administrative areas for 144 hours without a visa.

 

Disclaimer: Please note that this information may be subject to change. Expats Holidays is not responsible for the accuracy of the travel policy given by the government.

 

Source: National Immigration Administration (NIA) 

 

If you have any questions regarding the visa or planning the trip to China, please feel free to contact our travel consultant at any time.