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Travel China Cheaper

Travel China the smart way! Expert tips and travel advice for China tourists and expats.

PLANNING A TRIP TO CHINA? Start Here

China Visa-Free Transit Guide 2024 | 72-Hour & 144-Hour Transit

February 3, 2024 By Josh Summers 145 Comments

For those of you who plan to transit through China, the ever-expanding China Visa-Free Transit , or what is sometimes referred to as the China Transit Visa program, is a welcome opportunity to see the country without the hassle of applying for a full visa. Here’s the most accurate, up-to-date guide for everything you need to know in 2024.

Up until recently, most travelers who wanted to spend any significant portion of time in China had to go through the process of applying for a China Visa. This not only included filling out the application, but also paying the consulate fees, waiting for approval, etc.

It’s time consuming, expensive and, honestly, not fun.

But what if you’re stopping in Beijing for just a few days of your international journey and you want to go see the Great Wall of China ?

Perhaps you have a cruise that departs/arrives in Shanghai and you want to wander the city for a few days?

In both cases, the visa-free transit in China is an excellent option.

This is the ultimate guide to China’s visa-free transit, both the 72-hour visa free transit and the 144-hour visa free transit.

Table of Contents

• Transit visa vs Visa-Free Transit
• How to Check Eligibility
• Which Cities offer Visa-Free Transit?
• Which Countries Qualify for Visa-Free?
• Special Rules & Restrictions
• How to Apply for China’s Visa-Free Transit
• Frequently Asked Questions

As you read, if you find this guide helpful, you’ll greatly benefit from the best-selling Travel to China | Everything You Need to Know Before You Go , my published guide from which this was excerpted.

**Important Note** I will no longer be answering comments on this article asking about specific itineraries.

Also, thanks to ever-evolving Chinese policies, I cannot guarantee that you will be issued a China transit visa.

Transit Visa vs Visa-Free Transit in China

You might hear this referred to as the “China transit visa” across the internet. Technically, it’s called China’s visa-free transit .

A transit visa does exist, called the G visa in China, but you must apply for this at the Chinese consulate before you arrive in China.

Unlike this G visa, entering China under the rules of the visa-free transit happens upon arrival in China . This means that you don’t need to apply before you get on the airplane, which theoretically could save you a good amount of time and money.

However, China’s visa-free transit is notoriously confusing and there are a number of restrictions that you need to understand . It’s good to gather this info before you decide to take advantage of the China transit visa, whether that be the 24-hour transit visa, the 72-hour transit visa or the 144-hour transit visa.

I’m going to do my best here to clear up the confusion by breaking down the steps you need to take.

Check Your Eligibility for the China Transit Visa

Before you read any further, you should start here. I recommend you do is to follow the link below to use a tool developed by the Chinese government to explain eligibility.

Within the tool, you’ll be asked to enter your passport country and your Chinese port of entry.

When you click “search”, it will list out which transit visa is available for you (i.e. 72-hour visa-free transit China, 144-hour visa-free transit China). It also tells you where you are allowed to travel, and where you are allowed to enter/exit.

Which Cities Offer Visa-Free Transit in China?

It’s important to distinguish between two parts of the transit visa: your port of entry and your region of movement .

Ports of Entry

In order to take advantage of visa-free transit in China, you MUST arrive and depart directly through one of the following cities. This usually happens at an airport, but in some cases can be done through a seaport or train station.

• Beijing, Shanghai *† – 144-hour visa-free by air, sea or train;
• Tianjin*, Xiamen*, Qingdao* – 144 hour visa-free by air or sea;
• Qinhuangdao – 144-hour transit visa via sea port only;
• Guangzhou, Xian, Chongqing, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shijiazhuang, Dalian, Shenyang, Kunming, Chengdu, Wuhan – 144 hour visa-free via airport only;
• Harbin, Changsha, Guilin – 72-hour visa-free service;

* Includes entry via a sea port † Includes entry via train station

These are the air, sea and rail ports that offer China’s visa-free travel as of May 1, 2020.

Region of Movement

Once you’ve entered through one of these ports of entry, visitors taking advantage of the 72-hour or 144-hour transit visa in China must remain within the specified regions for each port that include:

• Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei (Qinghuangdao, Shijiazhuang): Travelers entering each of these ports here can move freely among these three regions.
• Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang : Travelers entering each of these ports may move freely within these provinces.
• Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, Kunming, Wuhan, Chongqing, Changsha, Xiamen, Guilin, Harbin, Qingdao : Movement restricted to each of these city’s respective provinces (i.e. entering Chengdu gives you access to travel throughout Sichuan, entering Kunming gives you access to Yunnan, etc.).

It’s entirely possible to travel beyond these regions of movement without being stopped. However, any attempt to stay at a hotel or pass through a security check will result in major fines, imprisonment, or expulsion from the country.

China Visa-Free Map (72- and 144-hour Transit Visa)

From the map above, you can clearly see not only which regions of China offer transit visas but also your region of movement.

Outside of the Beijing and Shanghai areas (which are boxed in), all other regions of movement are restricted to a single province.

IMPORTANT : Before you move on and assume you can take advantage of the China transit visa, make sure you read the rest of this article detailing the remaining restrictions and rules for using this visa.

Finally, if you wish to spend more than 6 days (144 hours) in China or if you want the freedom to move around anywhere you want in the country, you’re better off applying for and getting a traditional China visa.

You can read more about how to apply for a Chinese visa here .

Which Countries & Nationalities Qualify for China Visa-Free Transit?

Not every single country passport is eligible for China’s 72-hour and 144-hour transit visa. There’s a good chance, however, that yours is.

Check below to make sure that your home country is on the list:

• European countries : Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania, Belarus, Monaco.
• American countries : United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.
• Asian countries : Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
• Schengen Agreement 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.
• Oceania countries : New Zealand and Australia.

If your country is not listed above, you should contact your local Chinese embassy to find out what provisions they have for you in regards to both the 72-hour transit visa and the 144-hour transit visa.

It never hurts to ask!

Rules & Restrictions for China’s Visa-Free Transit

There are a number of important restrictions for China’s transit visas that I’d to point out before you decide to move forward.

I’ve known at least three travelers who have been turned away at the Chinese airport because they didn’t understand the rules & restrictions well enough. Don’t let that be you!

Travelers have been turned away at the Chinese airport because they didn’t understand transit visa rules well.

• You Must Enter from and Exit to Different Countries : In order to take advantage of any visa-free transit, your original departure and your final destination must be different countries/regions . In other words, you can’t book a round-trip ticket from the U.S. and use the 144-hour transit visa. If you’re coming to China from the U.S., your next destination must be another country. It’s worth noting that Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau count as a “different country/region” in this case.
• That Includes Layovers! While your ticket’s final destination is important, so are potential layovers. So, for example, if you fly to China from Seoul, South Korea with a ticket that returns to the United States via a layover back in Seoul…you are not eligible for the transit visa. It’s a dumb technicality, but it’s important to know.

• Your Flight Must Arrive and Depart as an International Direct Flight: In order to be eligible for the transit visa, your arrival flight and departure flights will both have to be international flights. What this means is that if you’re leaving Chengdu after using the 144-hour transit visa there, you can’t have a layover in Beijing, Shanghai or any other Chinese city. It MUST directly be leaving the country. Again, for the purposes of this visa, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau count as a “different country”.
• You Must Remain within the Restricted Movement Regions : Regions of movement are independently administered, which means that those who have a 144-hour transit visa in Shanghai aren’t permitted to move up into Beijing. You must arrive, move about and depart all within the same region (but you can depart from different ports within the region, i.e. arrive at the Shanghai airport and leave from a cruise port). This is important because this means you can’t see Beijing and Shanghai on the same transit visa trip. Your departing flight MUST leave the country with no layovers within China.
• You Must Depart Before the Transit Visa Expires : Once you receive your transit visa, you’ll see the exact date written on the temporary visa stating when you need to depart China. For planning purposes, it helps to know that your China transit visa starts at midnight the day after you arrive in China. That means that if your plane arrives at 10am on Wednesday, your 144-hour transit visa clock begins at midnight on Thursday morning.
• You Can Apply for Extenuating Circumstances: If for some reason you are unable to leave within 72 or 144 hours (i.e. health problems or business meetings), you must apply for a full visa from the nearest Public Security Bureau Entry-Exit Administration Office. Failure to do so will result in big fines (or worse) when you eventually do try to leave the country.

How to Apply for a China Transit Visa (Visa-Free Transit)

Thankfully, the required documents to enter China under their visa-free policy (72/144 hours) aren’t too complicated.

Here’s what you need to know, broken down into three simple steps.

Step 1: Prepare Documents Required for China Visa Free Transit

Before you even step foot on the airplane, train or ship that will be transporting you to China, here’s what you need:

• A valid passport : Of course! You’ll have that with you anyway to board your flight/train/ship. Your passport will be required to have at least three (3) months of validity in order to be accepted.
• An Entry/Exit Card: You will find this card in the customs area at the Chinese airport. This card will ask you to fill out your nationality, name, flight number, passport number, place of issuance, date of birth, gender, and purpose of visit.
• A visa for a third region or country (if required): If your final destination doesn’t require a visa, you can ignore this. Otherwise, you’ll need proof of legal entry into the third country.
• A ticket with a confirmed seat number for the next flight that leaves within 144 hours. This is important. They want to know that you are already booked to leave within the required time period. Print this flight confirmation to bring with you.

Remember, if at any point you realize that you’re going to need a traditional China visa for your trip, check out our Complete Guide to Chinese Visas .

Step 2: What to Do at Your Departure City

China has done a horrible job of communicating the specifics of it’s visa-free policy internationally. I’ve known many travelers who have had to fight to board their airplane to China because the airline wasn’t entirely clear about the policy.

For this reason, I recommend printing out something like this news item from Xinhua to explain visa-free entry. Hopefully you won’t need to use it, but you might want to have it just in case.

You can explain to the agent at the airport who is checking for a valid visa that you are taking advantage of China’s visa-free policy and that you have all the necessary documents with you.

Step 3: Arrival at the Chinese Airport / Port / Train Station

Now that you know what documents are required for China’s 72- hour and 144-hour visa-free transit documents, let’s quickly walk through what you’re going to need to do once you arrive in China.

Once you arrive at a port of entry in China, you’ll enter the customs area just like all the other travelers with you. The difference is that within the customs area you’ll be looking for a specific line for those applying for a 72-hour or 144-hour transit visa.

Don’t worry about it too much – you’ll see signs everywhere directing you to the right place. Just keep your eyes open.

Once you’ve been approved (which should only take 5-10 minutes while you’re standing there), they will stick a printed “Temporary Entry Permit” on a blank page of your passport that says where you can stay and when you must leave.

They will stamp this visa with the date you arrived and let you pass through.

That’s really it!

It’s not a super-complicated process once your travels plans have been made. As long as you have all your documents in order and you fit the eligibility requirements, the process is smooth and easy.

If while planning your trip you decide that you would like to spend more than 144 hours in China or visit other places throughout the country, I highly recommend you read through my list of the best China visa services to help you obtain a China visa quickly and easily.

My personal recommendation is Passport Visas Express (and you can get a 10% discount by using this link) and I’ve used them a few times before with great results.

Frequently Asked Questions: Visa-Free Transit China

I receive questions on a daily basis regarding China’s visa-free transit.

While I can’t comment specifically on your itinerary, I will provide some answers to the most common questions I receive.

Yes, you can. As long as you continue to transit directly from one country to another country, there is no stated limit to the number of times you can receive a visa-free transit pass.

It’s free. Unlike traditional visas to China which require pre-approval and a visa fee, the visa-free transit is issued on arrival and requires no fee.

At this point, Shanghai allows for online applications for visa-free entry. However, the website is all in Chinese and it doesn’t seem to speed up the process any more than just arriving at the international port with all your documentation.

As long as you are entering and exiting from the same region of movement (learn about the available cities and regions of movement ), you can enter from one port and depart from another using the China transit visa. Visa-free exemptions are issued at the above listed international airports, sea ports and rail ports.

No. You must remain within specified region of movement, which in most cases is just the province within which you landed. You must arrive and depart from the same region.

China offers a transit visa (G) that requires an application prior to arrival and allows you to leave the airport for short visits during a layover. Visa-free transit, on the other hand, is issued on arrival and allows up to 144-hour to travel around a region of China.

Final Thoughts: China’s Visa-Free Transit (i.e. “Transit Visa”)

China’s visa-free transit is a great option for individuals who desire to visit China without having to apply (and pay!) for an extended visa. The guidelines are (somewhat) straightforward and painless as long as one plans ahead and provides the required documents.

I welcome questions in the comments below, although I warn you that I will no longer be approving and answering questions about specific itineraries .

If you have questions like that, I refer you to your local Chinese consulate or your travel agency. I can’t guarantee that they’ll be willing to help or answer your questions, but such is the confusing nature of China’s visa-free transit policy!

Remember, as you prepare for this trip to China, make sure you have set up a good VPN for China (to avoid the blocking) and that you’ve set your expectations well with the highly-reviewed China travel handbook .

Further Reading & Resources

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About Josh Summers

Josh is the founder of TravelChinaCheaper.com who has been living in China with his family since 2006. Over that period of time he has traveled by plane, train, car, motorcycle and even camel to explore almost every corner of the country.

Reader Interactions

June 29, 2018 at 12:02 am

Can minors also apply for the 144- hour visa?

July 24, 2018 at 4:19 pm

Is the 144 visa different to the 72 in that I can access it in Beijing after flying from Europe even though my flight onwards to Australia will have a stop in Guangzhou on the way?

July 25, 2018 at 8:58 am

I believe so. You’ll want to double check with a visa company or with the Chinese consulate to be sure.

June 24, 2019 at 6:15 am

I Am arriving in beijing by train from mongolia – will i be able to apply for 144 hour free transit visa at the tRain stAtion ? If yes will the place to apply for it be easy to find?

June 24, 2019 at 10:07 am

There is a transit visa application center at the train station, so you should be able to as long as you meet all the criteria.

August 3, 2018 at 3:07 am

You are not right Guangzhou is only 72 hour TWOV

August 3, 2018 at 1:00 pm

It’s been announced but I guess it hasn’t been implemented yet. I’ll update the article. Thanks for the tip!

August 7, 2018 at 7:38 pm

Hi Josh, very helpful post. thanks for it!

I’ve got one question, though: what if I want to take advantage of this type of visa (144 hours transit) and I want to make a round trip (same origin and destination country)? Can I just buy a flight ticket to a third country and not use it (only use the reservation for the visa procedure at the airport)? I guess I would be able, because I suppose they are not going to check in the airport (while returning), what type of visa I used.

August 8, 2018 at 9:28 am

Hey Gontzal, I’m honestly not sure. It sounds like a loophole you could take advantage of, but that would be an expensive one since the dummy reservation would have to be an international flight. It would probably be cheaper just to get a full-fledged China visa in that case.

August 8, 2018 at 7:51 pm

Thanks for your answer, josh. I was thinking to do that because the process to get a visa isn’t cheap either, and it requires my fat ass to move to the embassy!

April 16, 2019 at 6:07 am

Hi Gontzal,

did you end up trying this? did it work? Considering the same thing.

August 14, 2018 at 2:59 pm

Great post – thanks!

Do you know if it’s possible to arrive from a country not of your origin.

I.e. A Brit arriving in Shanghai from Singapore, with an onward flight to Vietnam for example.

Note: Sorry for the caps – capslock is off but it looks like a text-transform:uppercase in this text box. 😀

Thanks! Karl

August 14, 2018 at 8:57 pm

Great question, Karl. You don’t have to arrive from your country of origin. What’s important is that your “arrive from” country and “departure to” country are not the same. 🙂

August 17, 2018 at 10:49 am

Does Shengen coint as one country? (Ie would arriving from France returning to Germany work?)… i think Its ok but welcome your thouGhts

Btw… my colleague used Gontzal’s loophole… worked once but the immigRation officer did check the visa type and said his details would be filed and gave him a verbal warNing

August 17, 2018 at 12:39 pm

Interesting. Thanks for sharing, Roland. And yes, arriving from France and returning to Germany should work – it just has to be two different countries.

August 17, 2018 at 1:18 pm

Good information and We would like to take advantage of the 144 hour but not sure if we will qualify:

We plan to fly to Beijing from Seoul (after spending 3 days in Seoul), spend 4 days in Beijing, then fly from Beijing to Seattle. However the flight to Seattle has a 2-hour layover in seoul. Would that qualify for the 144-hr since flight out of Beijing terminates in Seattle?

August 20, 2018 at 1:26 pm

The final destination has to be a different country than the originating destination, regardless of layovers.

February 19, 2019 at 3:58 am

Hi there @F.Rachel, wondering if you were all ok with your route? I have the same query. London- qatar, spending 4 days in qatar, then onward to shanghai, then back to london, with a 1.5hr layover in qatar. i understand this is ok for the transit visa because i am arriving into china from qatar, and returning to london as my final destination (third country)

October 30, 2019 at 8:24 pm

This might be subjective and up to whomever is checking you in on your flight to China, but having a layover in the country you arrived in China from did NOT work for me. I planned to fly from KUL (Malaysia) to Shanghai, and then Shanghai to Sydney with a layover in KUL. At the check-in (AirAsia), I was not allowed to board the flight with that itinerary and was forced to purchase another ticket that did not involve KUL. These restrictions were coming from the person at the check-in desk’s boss, via cell phone, so it was difficult to argue. I also had proof of my Australian visa and confirmation of lodging in Sydney, which I’d hoped would further prove I was not interested in returning to KUL. After I booked the new flight (found a direct one from Shanghai to Sydney), I was allowed to board with no further issues.

I wasn’t sure of the consequences of cancelling that direct flight (thank you Expedia for 24-hour free cancellation on many of your flights!) and taking the original one out of China (similar to the possible loophole mentioned by Gontzal), so I ended up using the direct flight to Sydney just in case. In theory I would think that it shouldn’t cause major drama since you’re leaving the country, but I couldn’t find any specific information about consequences (though certain visa violations can lead to a fine, detainment, or a 5-year ban on entering the country).

August 18, 2018 at 12:26 am

Yours is the easiest, most straightforward description of how to use these transit visas of all that i’ve found online. I do an extensive amount of travel for work, but china has not been on my radar before, until now. i am looking to take a flight simply for status and miles, as the deal of a flight i’ve found pays for itself and then some. to clarify/confirm, if i have a phx.lax.pek.hkg.lax.phx itinerary, i will be able to take advantage of this 144 hour transit visa, because my arrival country immediately preceding china is u.s., and the next immediate destination (3 days later) on the airline itinerary is hong kong. thus, I would departing from pek to hkg before going back to the u.s. according to what i believe to be true from your article, that would qualify – is that correct? would it be beneficial for me to call the airline or immigration in beijing to confirm? thanks! ~Ryan

August 20, 2018 at 1:28 pm

The important thing is that your Hong Kong stop is not just a layover. It needs to be a full ticket in and of itself. Still, I recommend calling immigration just to be sure. It would be terrible to get caught up in a technicality!

August 24, 2018 at 8:54 am

Hello – here’s my question and no, my caps-lock is not on; this text box is doing this… I am flying PHX-PEK (layover in Vancouver) and then flying a few days later to Seoul. PHX-PEK is on Air Canada PEK-ICN (5 days later) is on a different ticket – Asiana. I Bought these tickets SEPARATELY AND they are on different itineraries. The two airlines are both part of the same Alliance though: Star Alliance Does it matter that they are different tickets? I have read that the two airlines have to have an “interline” relationship.

August 24, 2018 at 9:11 am

To the best of my understanding, you do not have to have tickets with related airlines. The only important factor is that the country you arrive from and the country you depart to are different.

January 2, 2019 at 10:38 am

JC- Did you get through on Separate Tickets? I am looking into the same thing and the airline has told me it would be no big deal and they’d let me through.

August 24, 2018 at 6:08 pm

That’s what I thought too, but read what happened to this guy:

https://www.elliott.org/case-dismissed-2/chinas-72-hour-visa-free-transit/

August 27, 2018 at 11:04 am

Wow…thanks for bringing that to our attention, JC. Very important to note.

June 26, 2019 at 6:33 pm

OMG! China is so inconsistent and confusing. yesterday, I got a visa after buying Uln-Pek (Air China). One-way ticket. And, PeK-SYD-BNe (Qantas). One-way ticket. Seperate itineraries. Not Interline.

August 26, 2018 at 5:26 am

Hi,, we will be flying into Beijing on 4th October 2018 for a 3 day stay. We will be joining a cruise on 7th October departing from tianjin. We will be arriving in beijing from Dubai after a 3 day stay. our country of origin is the uk our 1st port of call will be okinawa. the cruise ends in singapore from where we will return home to the uk. Are we eligible for the 72hr pass or the 144day pass. Please advise as there are so many conflicting websites regarding this procedure. Thank you

August 27, 2018 at 11:12 am

Hi Michael, I wish I could clear things up for you, but I can’t be 100% certain and I don’t want to be responsible for any problems that arise. It seems to me like that would work, although it also seems that this entire trip would need to be part of an inline trip, meaning you didn’t piece together each of these legs yourself.

August 27, 2018 at 3:20 pm

Anyone ever heard of this 144 hour China transit visa when visting Shanghai Disneyland?

If I’m travelling from UK- Hong Kong – Shanghai- Tokyo back to the UK can I apply ?

August 27, 2018 at 3:50 pm

It’s possible to visit Disneyland on the transit visas. The question is more about your flights. If these stops in Hong Kong and Tokyo are just layovers on your way to/from Shanghai, it won’t work. You have to have an outbound ticket that terminates in a new country.

August 27, 2018 at 4:10 pm

I will be in hong kong for 4 days and tokyo for a week.

Do i inform the airport in the uk i would like the 144 hour visa or hong kong as My stop before shanghai is hong kong.

August 31, 2018 at 10:41 pm

We are travelling to shanghia From the uk, With a one hOur change over in doha. We will stay overnight in shanghia before embarking a crUise to japan. We will not be reentering China and fly home from singapore. Do we qualIFy for the 144 Hour free transit visa. Thanks

September 3, 2018 at 12:03 pm

Technically yes, you should qualify. You should call the airline to confirm that they will allow you onto the plane without a Chinese visa – they will likely know the requirements well.

September 2, 2018 at 9:40 pm

hi i will be travelIng from Manchester to xian with ( a Change at hong kong )

Would i be able to get 144 hour pass from Xian. We are doing a 5 day tour with a company which will be xian / beijing from there to cruise port at tianjin. After cruise fly back from singapore to hong kong and back to manchester would i qualifie for the 144 pass Thanks jenny

September 3, 2018 at 12:07 pm

No, the 144-hour transit visa is not setup in Xi’an at the moment, and it wouldn’t even work for you to arrive in one port and leave in another (i.e. come through Xi’an and depart through Beijing). You’ll need to apply for a full Chinese tourist visa in this case.

September 5, 2018 at 3:22 am

I am currently in Vietnam. If I get a return flight to China and back to Vietnam, does this visa apply?

September 5, 2018 at 9:16 am

No. You must be in transit, not round trip.

September 7, 2018 at 7:18 pm

Can i travel frm cairns to shanghai, then to beijing then to uk?

September 7, 2018 at 8:18 pm

No, you can’t. You can’t switch zones on a transit visa.

September 8, 2018 at 12:32 am

Hi We are planning to travel from uk tO shanghai stay in SHANGHAI for 2 days then go to Thailand for 9 days back to shanghai for 2 days then back to uk . Does 144 transit visa cover that.? Or would it be better to apply for tourist visa?

September 9, 2018 at 2:55 pm

If it’s all part of one ticket, it should cover you just fine. Check with your airline to be sure. It’s not clear how many times you can make use of the 144 transit visa in a period of time.

September 8, 2018 at 9:43 am

Thanks for a very informative article. Outgoing, December 2018, we fly from Montreal to Shanghai and plan to use the 144 hour visa for a 5 night visit. We depart for Cambodia via Bangkok. On return, April 2019, we will depart Thailand to Shanghai with a transit/plane change in Kuala Lumpur. We plan to do another 4 or 5 day stay in Shanghai, again using the 144 hour window. We then depart from Shanghai to Montreal. Three questions ARISE. First, can you use the 144 hour visa on arrival twice in one trip or year? Second, should we obtain a Cambodian visa or should we, as planned, get a visa on arrival in Cambodia? Third, my partner heard of a case where passengers incoming from KL were denied the 144 hour China visa on entry, apparently because they flew in from KL. Have you heard of any complications arising from KL arrivals in China? Thanks again. Bill.

September 9, 2018 at 2:58 pm

Hey Bill! Those are great questions. There’s no indication of any limit to how many times you can use a transit visa. I wish I could assure you – and I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine – but you’ll want to double check with either your airline or nearby Chinese embassy (or both). As far as Cambodia is concerned, I have no clue. Same with flights from KL – I’ve never heard of that before.

September 8, 2018 at 6:13 pm

Hi, We are planning to travel from denmark to shanghai, stay for 3 nights begore entering for a roundtrip cruise to japan and back to shanghai, the 2 nights in shanghai before taking the plane back to denmark. Can we apply for 2 144 hours visa, one when Arriving shanghai begore cruising to japan, and one when arriving in shanghai after the cruise before flying back to denmark?

Regards EriCh

September 13, 2018 at 10:07 am

Hey Josh, great post and very informative!

Can you let me know if I’m eligible to get a 144 hour visa? I’m flying from Toronto to Europe, then to Bangkok and exploring Thailand for 2.5 weeks. On my flight back to Toronto, I have a layover in Bejing and want to see the Great Wall of China. Since I am going to Thailand, does that count as my “departure city”, and my arrival city would be back in Toronto?

Thank you for your time, Tiffany

September 13, 2018 at 1:18 pm

Yes, it does. You need to make sure that your flights are all part of one itinerary, though, else the airline might not let you board without a visa.

September 16, 2018 at 8:19 pm

Hi josh, please can you let me know do we eligible to get a 144 hours transit visa .

we are flying from sydney to beijing, staying beijing 4 days . than from beijing to kathmandu staying kathmandu 7 days and back to sydney. i have direct flight form sydney to beijing but from beijing to kathmandu 2.5 hours layover at KMG Kunming . i do got one ticket form chines eastern AIRLINE thanks john

September 17, 2018 at 9:22 pm

Hi John, thanks for the comment. Based on what you’ve shared, I believe you’re eligible for the 144-hour transit visa. HOWEVER, I still recommend you call China Eastern and ask them.

September 18, 2018 at 7:11 am

this is very helpful and quite clear. One further question though please. Getting a RESERVED seat number for a flight three days after you land in Beijing? How is this possible? Typically you don’t get a seat number until you check in and you cant check in more than 24 hours in advance. Will air china staff at london issue a boarding pass for the second section of my trip too before departure to China? I am flying on January 9th, landing in BeiJing on the 10th and flying to bangkok on the 13th before touching back just in transit in beijing on the 20th. i will be in china just over 72 hours and i understand that in beijing alone the 72 or 144 hours start from the SCHEDULED landing time not midnight after the time you land as is correct fro other regions. can you please confirm?

September 18, 2018 at 11:50 am

You don’t need a paper boarding pass. You need an itinerary that shows the next leg of your trip.

September 18, 2018 at 1:26 pm

ok but your own site instructions – point 4 says: A ticket with a confirmed seat number for the next flight that leaves within 144 hours. This is important. They want to know that you are already booked to leave within the required time period.

September 18, 2018 at 2:58 pm

That’s true, but I believe this confirmation doesn’t always mean a “seat”. It’s a confirmed booking number. Either way, the fastest way for you to clear this up is to contact the airline directly. They are the ones that either will or won’t let you board the plane because of the visa situation.

September 30, 2018 at 3:59 pm

Anyone have experience with getting the required ticket from air asia? I assume I need an actual ticket and not just the confirmation page from their website. How do you get tickets in hand? Thank You

October 1, 2018 at 2:23 pm

Hi Glenn, as with most flight tickets nowadays, you’ll get the ticket when you get to the airport. Bringing a printout of your confirmation page should be sufficient if you need something on you.

September 30, 2018 at 5:08 pm

Wondering about what is provided to you when approved? Hotel I am looking at requests a “valid visa” to complete booking at the front desk. Will I have documentation that says I am in good standing until my exit date?

Yes, you will have something stapled to your passport. Don’t worry…you won’t get out of the airport without something that would be acceptable to a hotel.

October 6, 2018 at 7:05 am

Hi Josh, have you heard anything about the new bullet train route from HK to Shanghai. Most websites I see say that Shanghai Station issues these visas but it doesn’t say anything about Shanghai Hangkiao Train Station. WE arrive from NYC-PEK for 5 days, then fly to Tokyo for 10 days. Then fly to HK for a few days then plan on taking the train to either Shanghai or Hanhzhou for 5 more days, then onward to the US. Do they issue the stamp at all major train stations in the region or just Shanghai Station.

October 9, 2018 at 3:50 pm

Hello ! Thank you for your very useful website and info. I have an important and urgent question, if i may…!

I want to stay in china for a couple of weeks but I didn’t have time to apply for a visa and my flight is within a couple of hours. Is it possible to apply for a visa on arrival?

If Not, can i just book a flight elsewhere once i’m already there? Or is It required that i prove a departure flight upon arriVal in the country?

October 10, 2018 at 10:19 am

Sorry, Jan. More than likely, if you can’t show a visa or ongoing flight, they probably won’t even let you on the flight to China in the first place.

October 14, 2018 at 7:52 pm

Hi josh Can you tell me whether customs will require proof of accommodation whilst in china. I am entering into shanghai from australia, staying with my daughter who lives in shanghai, then exiting 4 days later into hong kong. as i don’t have any accommodation bookings i am wondering whether this is something they will ask for. i have all the required flight confirmations and am leaving within the required 144 hours thank you steph

October 15, 2018 at 11:31 am

I’m honestly not sure, Stephanie. I think it would be good to have refundable hotels in hand just in case. From what I understand, though, you won’t need proof of hotel stays.

November 18, 2018 at 11:33 pm

I was planning a trip for my parents to visit me in China. I was hoping we would be able to visit Hong Kong for a few days then go back over the boarder to Guangzhou (flights are cheaper there) before they fly home. Do you know if you can get a transit visa from the train station in GZ having just taken the train from HK?

November 19, 2018 at 8:18 am

No, they can’t (yet).

December 7, 2018 at 6:25 am

Sorry if this is a silly question but…how much does the visa cost (or is it free)? I can’t see any mention on here.

December 7, 2018 at 10:20 am

Hey Steve, that’s not a silly question at all. As far as I know, there is no cost associated with the transit visa. I think it would be hard for them to expect travelers to have cash to pay for those types of transactions and the customs office usually doesn’t accept credit cards.

December 11, 2018 at 7:53 am

We want to use the 144 hour visa-free arrangement, taking the G80 high-speed train HK to Beijing West, then a flight to London. however, it’s unclear if our ‘point of entry’ is indeed Beijing west, or is in fact hong kong west kowloon as that is where immigration takes place, and the train calls at several cities en route within china.

But if we can’t do this, why is beijing west listed at all? Even the old Z-category sleeper trains do immigration at hk as far as i know, in which case there’d be no way to reach beijing west without going through some other point of entry, in which case why would it then be designated?

January 1, 2019 at 9:19 am

I don’t have an ITINERARY question. However, I noticed that all comments are predicated on airports. how would i confirm whether this 144hr transit visa option also include for water ports ie: ships? i haven’t heard back from the cruise line as yet. i’m thinking that the answer would be yes. however, I still have time to do that fingerprint shuffle identified on their consulate website, if needed. very appreciating!

January 2, 2019 at 10:25 am

At the moment, it seems that it’s only available at airports.

January 2, 2019 at 8:03 pm

thanks for the prompt response, josh. it is appreciated.

January 9, 2019 at 9:11 pm

Thank you for this artiCle!!! This one has been the best detaIled in a easy To understand manner Explaining the 144 hour visa Free requirements i’ve come across So far in my research on the topiC. You da real MVP!!!

January 10, 2019 at 7:06 pm

Thanks so much, Annie!

January 24, 2019 at 4:55 am

Can I use the 144 hour visa for a business trip? or is it limited to tourist activities. You mention it asks for the “purpose of the trip”, but are there some purposes that are ok or not? Thank you!

January 24, 2019 at 7:55 am

Based on my understanding, business trips require a business visa. Transit is specifically for the purpose of travelers transiting through China.

February 6, 2019 at 6:51 pm

Just want to let you guys know that there are certain ports you can leave from. Booking a bullet train to hong Kong will get you sent back home immediately(speaking from a terrible and expensive experience)

February 14, 2019 at 10:39 pm

do I qualify for 144 transit free Visa coming from Bangkok.. stop in Hong Kong for 1.5 hrs then on to Beijing for 4 days then on to london ?

March 25, 2019 at 10:28 pm

Does this type of Visa (24-72-144) has a cost upon entering China?

March 26, 2019 at 11:14 am

No, there is no cost for this visa-free arrival.

March 27, 2019 at 7:47 am

Hello Josh,

Hope you can help me out: If i want to go to chengdu with a 144 hrs transit visa, can i visit Dujiangyan panda base (55 km from chendu city) and the leshan buddha? (155 km from chengdu),or I’m forced to stay only in the city without the chance of VISITINg those places? Thanks, Giorgio

March 28, 2019 at 2:45 pm

When entering Chengdu on the visa-free policy, you can visit anywhere in the province of Sichuan. Does that answer your question?

April 1, 2019 at 7:38 am

Hi, Your article has been very helpful. I am planning a trip to China… Dublin -> Beijing Beijing -> Hong Kong Hong Kong -> ShangHAI ShanGHai -> Tokyo (and so on, not visiting China again)

Would this work for 2 separate uses of the 144 visas? one for Beijing and then one for Shanghai. I plan on staying in Hong Kong for 2 nights. Thanks.

April 1, 2019 at 11:46 am

Hi Gretchen, theoretically, that should work. There’s nowhere that China states any sort of restrictions on the number of times you can make use of the visa-free transit.

April 5, 2019 at 9:28 am

Hi, great post! Thanks for all the info! Do you know whether you can apply for the 144 hour visa-free transit online? I read in two websites that you can at least start the application process via online before your flight so at your arrival you reduce the paperwork and the processing time to get the permit. However I haven’t been able to find the official Chinese website where you can start with the application… Thanks in advance!

April 6, 2019 at 10:27 am

I am not aware of any online application. At best, you might be able to download the paperwork they will give you when you arrive, but I believe you’ll still have to fill out a new, official form upon arrival.

April 9, 2019 at 1:18 pm

Hi any luck with this? In march i was able to use thAt link to regiSteR. You were supposed to be able to apply online ahead of time then you will be given a qr code to scan in maChine Upon arrival in china. Now that i have soLId dates for travel, that link to shanghai police bureau is now BroKen.

April 8, 2019 at 11:31 am

wow i have done quite a bit of visa stuff within asia, but this is quite a pain…

I have a longish layover (6pm-8am) in beijing (september) & i only just discovered this weird rule as it seems it happened after i booked my flight. i’m going from america to korea so my plan was just to sleep at the hotel which I already booked to recover from the long haul flight. also as a woman, i don’t feel it is safe sleeping alone at an airport.

it has been extremely difficult getting answers from chinese immigration. the american consulate gave me a phone number that when asked for english just says “no”.

my worry is that even though americans are not required to have a tourist visa for the first 90 days in South Korea, china air may not recognize this & demand I show a korean visa. does anyone have experience with this?

i’m glad i got a cheap flight, but i am starting to really worry after seeing so many get stuck. i just want to sleep at the hotel right next to the airport. >_<

my plan is to provide the following: *passport vaild till 2021 *printed flight itinerary showing my flight to korea the next morning *printed airport hilton confirmation

any advice to calm my nerves?

April 12, 2019 at 8:25 am

I fly from London to Jakarta via Shenzhen with Shenzhen airlines. I have a 5-hour transit at Shenzhen airport. Do I (as a UK citizen) need a Chinese visa? It is a little confusing…

April 12, 2019 at 9:07 am

If you’re not leaving the airport and the ticket was purchased as a single leg, you won’t need a visa nor will you be using the visa-free transit since you probably won’t leave the airport.

April 16, 2019 at 2:22 pm

I have been reading many articles on this rule, but Im still confused. Hope you can help me. So, here is my situation. I’m thinking about flying from USA to Japan and spending a week there. I would then fly to BeiJing and spend 3 nights (One-way ticket would be booked sepaRateLy). I would then fly from Beijing to USA, again on a separately booked one-way ticket. I will be traveling with two young children and a grumpy husBand, so you can probably understand my nervousness about the whole thing. On the Other hand, getting four visas to China (close to $600) is a significant expense. Has anyone done this type of a trip? Should I be concerNed?

April 17, 2019 at 10:48 pm

Hello, I am flying from Bangkok to Los Angeles but have 2 layovers in china. I have one in Guangzhou for 12 hours and the next is in beijing for 22 hours. I would like to take advantage of the 144 hour visa-free transit in beijing so I can do the great wall for the day. I will not be leaving the airport in guangzhou. will I be able to apply for the transit-visa in beijing? Or will it be restricted because i will be coming from guangzhou? my flight after beijing is straight to los angeles. Thank you so much!

August 7, 2019 at 4:25 pm

yes u will be able to

April 19, 2019 at 9:13 pm

Is it possible to do a Hong kong to Chengdu back to Macau trip with the 144 transit visa? I guess i’m wondering if hong kong and macau are considered separate.

April 22, 2019 at 10:49 am

As long as they are direct flights, according to the China embassy website, that would be considered an “international flight”.

April 22, 2019 at 5:21 pm

It’s surprising how difficult it is to find anything about the 144h Visa Exemption on the official chinese websites or even the local Chinese Embassy website…

After finding out about the program I read somewhere that you now can apply online for this and with some further searching, I found the website of Shanghai Police: https://gaj.sh.gov.cn/crj/144zy.jsp

They want your name, citizenship, passport no., itineraries as well as hotel or residence address. When done, you get a QR code which can be scanned in the Arrival area in Shanghai and which then prints the arrival card.

We are using this as we fly from Switzerland via Helsinki to Shanghai, staying 2 days then leaving on a cruise to Japan. After a week, we come back to Shanghai, applying for another 144h visa exemption and then flying back to Switzerland via Finland.

May 10, 2019 at 7:55 am

I see beiJing west train station is a “port of entry” for the twov but can u confirm if passengers off the bullet train can obtain a visa. Im doing hong kong-beijing-sydney in december-january but i would like confirmation that i can obtain the visa as ive been told i can only get a visa on the overnight train as its locked where as the bullet train isnt!

May 10, 2019 at 10:54 am

I’m sorry, Stuart – I can’t confirm either way because China hasn’t been entirely clear.

May 11, 2019 at 9:20 am

I am travelling to india from paris through china. my transit is 19 hours. do i need transit visa.

May 11, 2019 at 5:24 pm

You shouldn’t need a transit visa unless you plan to exit the airport. If it’s a normal layover on the same ticket, you’re usually fine. Check with your airline to be sure.

May 20, 2019 at 5:13 am

Great article, clear and easy to understand. I know that I can use the 144 hour transit visa from the UK to Beijing, then onto Tokoyo. Is it possible though to fly back to Beijing from Tokoyo and then to the Uk if its over 6 days? We won’t be leaving the airport, but would be classed as a layover I think.

June 4, 2019 at 4:33 pm

Hi Josh, This is an excellent article with great iNfo.

My question is: As Macau, Hong Kong are Both considered a third country. Can I enter the region of quandong PROVinCe From Macau via the gongbei port (vIa land transit). Does gongbei port has this 72 hours visa-free transit office? If yes, after we toured the region of guandong, can we take the train back to Hong Kong? Or can I do the reverse and enjoy the visa free transit ?

Thank you!!!

June 5, 2019 at 8:36 am

You need to check the government website listed here to see if the transit visa is offered at the Guangzhou train station. I can tell you that you won’t be able to enter via a land port and get the transit visa.

June 8, 2019 at 4:50 am

Hi Josh, does the “Temporary Entry Permit” take up a whole page? I no longer have any completely blanks pages left in my passport and realise I will need to get a new one soon, but I have several pages with only one stamp on that could handle a half page sticker.

June 8, 2019 at 9:01 am

It’s a full-page visa, but I’m not sure whether or not they’re willing to cover another visa stamp. It will be best if you’re able to apply for another passport before you go.

October 30, 2019 at 7:51 pm

I just visited China this week on the 144-hour transit “visa” and the sticker only took up 1/4 of the page; then the exit stamp was placed next to the visa sticker (so you need 1/2 a page in your passport to fit the stamps you’ll receive).

Josh – I can send you a picture if that’s helpful for this post

June 8, 2019 at 8:11 am

Hey Josh, thanks for your helpful description. Just one clrafication question: Do I need a Pre-reserved seat for the onwarding flight out of China or is it simply enough to show them the flight confirmation? Because I didn’t book a seat reservation in advance for my flight out of china. Thanks for your precious answer!

June 13, 2019 at 1:57 pm

I have been searching everywhere for an answer and your article has helped a lot! first I want to thank you for taking the time to write such a well written article on this subject matter. I am hoping someone can answer a question for me regarding the 144hr transit visa for my husband and myself. our trip will be from SFO (san fransico, CA) – Shanghai (3 day stay)- fly to hong kong (3 day stay) – fly to tokyo japan (4 day stay)- fly home to SFO we are purchasing our flights with united airlines and all are non stop (i think 1 flight is a different airline, however I am purchasing all from united) we plan on visiting the disney parks in all 3 cities will we be ok using the 144hr visa-free option, i am a little confused on the “outbound” flight out of hong kong since that will not be our final destination…….

thank you in advance

August 10, 2019 at 11:10 am

What a fantastic page thank you. My question is… We fly with emirates on the 3rd october two nights in beijing then board our cruise ship on the 5th and sail around asia, japan, taiwan, Vietnam hong kong then finally disembark In singapore. We are hoping the 72/144 transit Will cover us. But what would happen if they refuse us when we get there? Could we buy tickets and fly straight to japan ( our first stop on the cruise) or would they send us back to the u.k?

August 12, 2019 at 8:53 am

If you’re boarding a cruise and you have proof of passage, you’ll be fine getting the visa-free entry. Worst-case scenario, they’ll turn you around at the airport and you can try to fly to Japan from there.

August 19, 2019 at 5:21 pm

Hi, Thanks for all the info. One Query on 144 hr Transit visas

If we arriving in Kunming, do we have to leave through Kunming as well, or can we leave across the border into Vietnam by road ? ( not intending to Return into China)

August 20, 2019 at 8:17 pm

Technically, you’re supposed to leave through the port where you entered.

August 20, 2019 at 10:45 am

Josh in late October I will arrive at the new airport pkx Beijing daxing as ba flights will then be switched from pek Beijing capital airport. I want then to apply for the 144 hour visa free. In all the documentation about this, including your transit visa eligibility inquiry button, the new airport is not mentioned. do you know if it will be possible from the new airport? Thanks Richard

August 20, 2019 at 7:59 pm

Oh man, Richard. That’s a great question and there is honestly no way for me to know for sure. My gut reaction is “Yea, of course they’ll do the visa-free transit from their new airport!” but honestly…it could be a while before that takes effect. You’ll have to keep testing the eligibility but it might be in your best interest to just get a Chinese visa.

August 26, 2019 at 12:38 pm

I am planning a cruise trip the itinerary is from hong kong stop at Xiamen, china for i day and stop at shanghai, china f0r 2 days then to Japan, taiwan and back to hong kong. please advise could i take the advantage of china visa-free transit by enter and exit xiamen port (same region) on the same date. then apply another visa-free transit when arrive at shanghai port (Different region).

August 26, 2019 at 9:45 pm

Hi Peter, I advise you talk with your cruise company, but based on what I’ve heard from other cruise travelers, you should be able to use the visa-free transit in Shanghai.

September 6, 2019 at 4:33 pm

Thanks for the article.

Is there any restriction on the purpose of the visit when apPlying for a 72h Free-visa transit? Can i cisit business partners?

September 8, 2019 at 4:41 am

I am not aware of any restrictions, although I wouldn’t broadcast that it’s for business purposes.

September 15, 2019 at 3:34 am

thanks for all the info posteD, howeVer i must let you know that if you arrive at chengdu airport, you’re only allowed in the City, not the wHole sichuan province which means no leShan (GianT buddah) or wolong (the other bIg nature reserve for Pandas). I arrived last night in chengdu and was told that by the immigration offIcers. AlSo, if your flIght leaves on a spEcific date and For any reason you want to leave early, that’s also not allowed and you’ll get in trouble. I had planed 4 dAys here, because i wanted to go to leshan and Wolong, but noW i want to leave early and it’s not possible. That’s all. Safe travels everyone

September 16, 2019 at 8:08 am

hi there, I please have a question. If I fly to south korea via beijing from uk I can use the 144 hrs of visa free transit. can i use another 144 hrs on the return? Ex. I want to fly to beijing, stay there 3 days and then go to south korea for 2 days and then go back to beijing and stay another 2 days before flying back to the uk. many thanks! Francesca

September 16, 2019 at 9:27 pm

Yes, you can.

October 17, 2019 at 1:01 am

Josh already answered yes correctly. For some additional info, I just did this, stayed over in Shanghai on the way thru and on the same trip stayed over in Guangzhou on the way back. I stayed two days in Shanghai and six days in Guangzhou.

September 28, 2019 at 10:44 pm

Hi There thank you so much for this fantastic page i got a 144 hours transit visa with my departure flight number on the paper. i will neeed to fly out of china earlier than originally planned. do you think i will be able to do so? many thanks!!!

September 30, 2019 at 1:56 am

That’s a good question…I’m not sure. You would need to discuss that with customs at the airport.

October 1, 2019 at 2:59 am

Thanks for all the great information. I had a 12+ hour (5:30am to 6:00pm) layover in Shanghai the last week of September, 2019. When I arrived at the appropriate counter for the 72 hour visa-free transit I was told that I was not eligible because my departing flight was scheduled for the same day as my arrival flight. I was travelling from Canada to Japan. There were other travellers in the same line who had a longer 15-hour same day layover (from USA to Australia) and they were told the same thing. We were all expecting to be able to visit Shanghai during our layover and we were all firmly rejected despite our best efforts. We got the impression that this was a recent policy change and also that it may not be a permanent policy change. I have another long layover in Shanghai on my way back to Canada in October and I don’t know how optimistic to be about getting a visa-free transit on that journey. If you can provide any helpful information, for myself or other travellers, that would be very much appreciated.

October 4, 2019 at 2:08 am

0n 01/10/19 my wife was refused a transit visa at immigration. We met all rUles i.e flew into beijing malaysia direct. Flying out within 72 hours to japan. The immigration chap with 3 pips on his SHOULDERS sought us out (we were european). He said whats this stamp my wife replied its a turkish visa i took my mum on a cruise. Refused entry. A us couple behind Us had a thailandbstamp refused……….uk and us citizens bewaRe

October 7, 2019 at 7:52 pm

Hi! great info! Thanks. Although my question is specific, I’m sure others have encountered it. We’re flying to Bangkok from Vancouver. We decided to take advantage of the Visa free transit To see sites in Beijing for one day. However our flight there stops in nanking for 3.5hrs. We will not be leaving the airport THERE but it means that we will not be arriving to Beijing from a different country. Does this void the eligibility?

October 7, 2019 at 8:42 pm

Correct, this voids eligibility. You have to be landing in the international terminal as an international flight. Once you land in Nanking, you are now a domestic flight.

October 10, 2019 at 4:44 pm

Do you need a completely blank page in the passport for the 144 hour long visa?

October 11, 2019 at 12:48 am

Yes, you will still need a blank page in your passport.

October 17, 2019 at 12:52 am

144 Hr tranit visa info. I used to get a yearly visa for China. I have been there 28 times so pretty familiar with the regular visa process. This trip I used the 144hr visa for the first time, Here is what I learnt, hope this helps someone out there. 1- Make sure you have a copy of your forwarding flight. 2- Make sure you have a copy of your hotel booking for all the nights you are there. FYI, I moved to a different hotel during the 144hr visa time and had no issues. 3- as most of you know the 144 is 6days and does not count the day of arrival. 4- Look for the visa tranit counter instead of regular customs line, be prepared for a wait, I waited approx an hr both times. Overall is was pretty simple.

November 13, 2019 at 4:35 pm

If I am arriving from a country that is not included in the 53 countries that can obtain the 144 hour visa, but I am using an american passport to enter China ( which does allow the 144 hour visa) would they still allow me to get the 144 hour visa because I’m using an american passport or do they look at the country I’m coming from? Thank you

November 14, 2019 at 8:20 am

It’s all about your passport, not the country you’re arriving from or departing to.

December 1, 2019 at 7:40 am

To take advantage of the 144 hour Visa so I have to arrive and depart from the same airport? I found a flight into a Shanghai airport but the best flight leaving is from a different Shanghai airport. Will that be allowed?

December 1, 2019 at 7:50 pm

As long as both flights are direct international flights, you can depart from the same city/different airport (this really only applies to Beijing and Shanghai).

December 10, 2019 at 3:59 pm

I am bringing a group of students to tour Beijing and Shanghai (six days in Beijing and two in Shanghai). Will the 144 hour visa free apply for our group? This would save my students a lot of money.

December 11, 2019 at 12:10 am

No, it won’t, because the visa-free transit doesn’t allow you to travel between zones. Beijing and Shanghai are in different zones.

December 15, 2019 at 8:22 pm

So my airlines just switched our arrival airport from pek to the new pkx. We have tickets already to depart from pek to our next country (Thailand) within the 144 time allowed for a transfer visa. Will this be a problem now and will I be denied the transit visa?

December 16, 2019 at 3:01 am

No, that won’t be a problem as long as you’re departing from the same city (Beijing, in this case).

December 17, 2019 at 4:09 pm

I read some comments elsewhere that suggest that in order to make use of the VISA-free transit you must inform the airline during check-in for your inbound flight, and your luggage cannot be checked through to your final destination. Is that correct? We are going to leave the airport (PEK) for just a few hours and dragging along all our luggage would be a bit of a hassle.

December 18, 2019 at 1:59 am

For visa-free transit, you will need to get your luggage. Thankfully, the airports have paid storage for luggage that you can use.

December 19, 2019 at 11:04 pm

thank you for this amazing article. i already apllied for a visa that i intend to use in a trip to china in march. In the meantime, can i go through China (in January) in transit enjoying the visa free permit without spending the visa i already applied for? Thank you

December 20, 2019 at 12:07 am

You should, although I would check that the visa you applied for and received was a multi-entry visa. If it was, you can just use that multiple times without any issues!

January 7, 2020 at 2:04 am

hi Josh, do you know with what stamps you cannot get a 144hours transit visa upon arrival? i have a stamp from the uae and turkey

January 7, 2020 at 8:39 am

I don’t think there’s a hard-and-fast rule here…it really depends on the customs officer as well as the port of entry.

January 16, 2020 at 8:45 am

Great article. Does this policy work in reverse? Every comment i see is based on home country -> china -> 3rd county -> home. Can you do Home country -> 3rd country -> china -> Home (assuming all the other requirements – no layovers, not exiting shanghai, < 144 hours, etc.) have been followed? THanks for the help!!

January 8, 2024 at 4:38 pm

Excellent article. A question, if I book a multi-city ticket, eg Australia -> Hong Kong -> Beijing -> Macau -> Hong Kong -> Australia. Am I eligible for a visa-free visa?

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144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in China: A Complete Guide

Now, China has been implementing two visa exemption transit policies in major tourist cities in order to make it more convenient for international travelers from 54 countries to set out a tour in China .

Transiters can take a 72-hour layover at Changsha, Harbin , and Guilin without a China visa, while there are a total of 20 cities, including Beijing , Shanghai , Chengdu , and Xi ’ an , carrying out 144-hour visa-free transit policy that allows foreign travelers to stay in certain regions for up to 6 days.

Which Cities or Provinces in China Have Implemented 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit?

Which c ountries are e ligible for the 144-hour visa-free t ransit in china.

Today, China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy applies to citizens of the listed 54 countries below:

What are the R equirements for 144-hour V isa-free T ransit ?

• Transits must come from the 54 designated countries mentioned above;
• Transits must hold valid passports or other international travel documents proving both identity and citizenship. The passport or travel documents should have at least three months remaining validity;
• Transits must hold connecting tickets with confirmed departure date and seat number to a 3 rd  country or region within 144 hours’ stop-over in mainland China.

① The next destination should be different from the country you come from.

② Hong Kong and Macau are categorized into the 3 rd regions out of mainland China.

Examples of Transit Routes:

US – Beijing – Japan √

UK – Beijing – Tianjin – Japan √

France – Beijing – Shanghai – Malaysia ×

Australia – Shenzhen – Hong Kong √

Australia – Shenzhen – Australia ×

Denmark – Shanghai – Australia √

Russia – Shanghai – Suzhou – Hong Kong √

Germany – Shanghai – Guangzhou – Macau ×

• Transits must stay in designated areas during the layover. For example, if you enter China from Beijing Capital International Airport, you are not allowed to have a trip from Beijing to Xi’an or Shanghai but are able to extend your Beijing trip to Tianjin and Hebei.

Passengers’ application for 144-hour visa-free transit will be rejected when one of the following situations occurs:

• The validity period of the passport or other international travel documents is within three months;
• Those who have been refused a Chinese visa;
• Those who have records of illegal entry and exit, illegal residence, and illegal employment in China within 5 years.

How to A pply for a 144-hour V isa-free T ransit in China?

1. application procedure:.

• When boarding, inform the airline that you intend to apply for a 144-hour visa-free transit
• Fill an Arrival Card
• Upon arrival, apply for the 144-hour permit at the dedicated counter
• Claim the luggage and go through inspections at the customs
• Leave the airport for the area you are permitted to travel around.

2. Documents for Application

• Valid passport issued by 54 designated countries mentioned above.
• Visa for a 3 rd  country or region
• A fully completed Arrival Cardfor temporary entry
• An onward ticket to a 3 rd country or region with a confirmed departure date and seat within 144 hours

How to C ount the 144 hours after E ntry

The 144-hour visa-free transit counts from 00:00 a.m. the next day after your entry. That is, you will actually be allowed to stay in designated areas longer than 144 hours without a Chinese visa.

For example, if you arrive at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport at 10:00 am on May 1 st , 2024, the layover time starts at 0:00 on May 2 nd , which means, you can stay in Xi’an and Xianyang for up to 158 hours and should leave before 24:00 on May 7 th , 2024.

FAQs on   China ’ s  144-Hour Visa-Free Transit  Policy

Q: If I get permission for 144 hours’ visa-free transit but fails to depart within 144 hours due to some special reason, what should I do?

A: If you are unable to leave designated areas in time due to force majeure, you need to apply for a China travel visa at the local entry-exit administration section of public security bureau.

Q: If I arrive in mainland China with a single-entry flight ticket, but I plan to purchase a departure ticket after arrival, can I apply for the 144-hour visa-free transit?

A: The round-way international connecting flight ticket within 144 hours after arrival is a must for the application. Travelers with single-journey tickets will be refused.

Q: After I go through the application for 144-hour visa-free transit, will I get into trouble when checking in a downtown hotel without a China tourist visa ?

A: If you are qualified to enjoy the 144-hour visa exemption transit policy, the customs will put a temporary entry permit sticker on your passport. You can check in at the hotel with the entry permit.

How to S pend the 144 hours   L ayover T ime

The 20 cities implementing the 144-hour visa-free transit policy are all popular tourist destinations in China . The 6-day layover is a great chance to fully explore the essential attractions of each region. For example:

If you enter China from Beijing, the 144-hour transit trip will take you through time to admire magnificent imperial complexes, such as the Forbidden City , Summer Palace , and Temple of Heaven . You can also gain a memorable hiking experience by visiting famous Great Wall sections, like Badaling  and Mutianyu  in Beijing, as well as Shanhaiguan and Laolongtou in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province.

Best Beijing Tour Packages :

• 3 Days Beijing Package Tour
• From Tianjin Cruise Port: 3 Full Days Beijing Classic Tour

If you transit in Shanghai, iconic sights like the Bund , Huangpu River, and stylish skyscrapers will definitely impress you. You may consider taking a side trip to Hangzhou  and Suzhou to enjoy the picturesque scenery of West Lake and the elegant classic gardens respectively.

Best Shanghai Tour Packages :

• 2 Days Best S h anghai Layover Tour
• 5 Days Shanghai – Suzhou Private Tour

A transit trip to Xi’an offers you an exploration journey to the city’s past and is enough to cover celebrated historical landmarks, such as the “world’s eighth wonder” –  Terracotta Warriors and Horses , 600-year-old City Wall , the symbolic Big Wild G o ose Pagoda , as well as the Bell and Drum Towers in the city center.

Best Xi ’ an Tour Packages :

• 2 Days Essence Xi ’ an Tour Package (Time-efficient itinerary)
• 3 Days Xi ’ an Private Tour: History & Tang Costume Experience

During the layover trip in Chengdu, it is recommended you seize the chance to meet the adorable giant pandas. If you are seeking for a memorable culinary trip, Chengdu is a superior alternative, where you can get yourself a real feast of hot and spicy Sichuan cuisines.

Best Chengdu Tour Packages :

• 3 Days Chengdu City Tour with Panda Base & Food Street
• 4 Days Chengdu Tour with Giant Panda and Leshan Giant B u ddha

You May also Like:

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The Complete Traveler’s Guide to the China Transit Visa

I love traveling around China. I lived there for 1.5 years and visited 12 out of its 23 provinces so far. On my blog and social media, I get often asked about the complex visa process and how it has kept many people from visiting China. Fret not! China actually has a 72-hour and 144-hour transit visa that you can get right at the airport in a variety of cities. No prior visa application required! This guide walks you through everything you need to know about the China transit visa.

Also read: The Best First-Time China Itinerary – The Best Places To See In China On Your First Trip

SKIP STRAIGHT TO:

Which Chinese Cities Offer the 72-Hour Visa?

Currently, there are 15 exciting cities in China, where you can take advantage of the 72-hour transit visa policy. These include:

Since 2018, Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian, Shenyang, Guangzhou and Hangzhou, also issue 144-hour China transit visas, giving you 6 full days to explore! More cities are likely to follow and issue 72-hour and 144-hour visas soon, including Urumqi in the Xinjiang region, for example.

Which Countries Qualify for the 72-hour Visa?

Unfortunately, not all country nationals are eligible for China’s 72-hour transit visa. However, there are a lot of countries that do qualify, so there’s a good chance that yours is on the list:

European countries: United Kingdom, Russia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Albania.

American countries: United States, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.

Asian countries: Japan, Korea, Brunei, Singapore, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates.

Schengen Agreement countries: Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Czech Republic, Finland, Estonia, Germany, France, Iceland, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Luxemburg, Portugal, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain, Slovakia, and Switzerland.

Oceania countries: New Zealand and Australia.

Should your country not be on the list above, you should simply give your local Chinese embassy a call and find out what provisions they have for you in regards to the 72-hour transit visa. They might be rolling it out shortly!

Which Cities Offer the 144-Hour China Transit Visa?

For this visa, it’s important to distinguish between two parts of the transit visa: your port of entry and your region of movement.

Port of Entry In order to take advantage of the 144-hour China transit visa, you MUST arrive and depart through one of the following cities. Unlike with the 72-hour visa, where you must arrive by airplane, the 144-hour visa allows you to enter China via an airport, train station or water port. Currently, these are the cities where you can get a 144-hour transit visa:

• Dalian (Liaoning)
• Hangzhou (Zhejiang)
• Nanjing (Jiangsu)
• Qinghuangdao (Heibei)
• Shenyang (Liaoning)
• Shijiazhuang (Hebei)
• Guangzhou (Guangdong) – coming soon
• Shenzhen (Guangdong) – coming soon
• Jieyang (Guangdong) – coming soon

Region of Movement Once you’ve obtained your 144-hour transit visa at one of. the cities above, you must stay within the specified regions that include:

• All of Beijing and its surrounding areas (including the Great Wall).
• Tianjin as well as the entire Hebei and Liaoning provinces.
• All of Shanghai including the surrounding water towns.
• The nearby Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces surrounding Shanghai.
• All of the Guangdong province, which includes the cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

Note: If you travel beyond these borders, you will be stopped at the train station, airport or other port when they authorities ask to see your passport. In short, you must arrive, move about and depart all within the same region.

Which Countries Qualify for the 144-hour Transit Visa?

Not every single country passport is eligible for China’s 144-hour transit visa. There’s a good chance, however, that yours is. Check below to make sure that your home country is on the list:

European countries: Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania, Belarus, Monaco.

American countries: United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.

Asian countries: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.

Schengen Agreement 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.

Note: Should your country not be listed above, simply call your local Chinese Embassy and. double check. If you don’t qualify for the 144-hour visa, you might be eligible for the 72-hour transit visa!

What Documents are Required for China’s transit visa?

The great thing about the China 72-hour and 144-hour visa is that you don’t need to fill out any visa application paperwork before landing. The only China visa requirements that you will have to provide in order to be granted the transit visa are the following items:

• A valid passport: You’ll have your passport with you anyways while traveling.
• An Arrival/Departure Card filled out with your nationality, name, flight number, passport number, place of issuance, visa number, date of birth, gender, and purpose of visit. You get arrival and departure cards either on the airplane before landing from the airline crew or at the Beijing airport in the passport control area.
• A visa for a third region or country – if required. Since this is a transit visa, you need to have a visa for your final destination if you need one. If you don’t need a visa for your final destination, you can ignore this.
• A ticket with a confirmed seat number for the next flight that leaves within 72 hours. This is super important. The Chinese authorities need to make sure that you are already booked to leave within the required time period.

Prerequisites for the Transit Visa Application

Before attempting to take advantage of China’s transit visa, there are a few very important things to note.

In order to qualify for the 72-hour or 144-hour visa, you need to have proof of a confirmed seat on an onward flight and possess a visa for your final destination if that is required.

The 72 hour period doesn’t start until 12:00 AM, the day after arriving. This means, if you arrive in Shanghai on September 4th at 8 PM, you have to leave by 11:59 PM on September 7th. If you get a 144-hour visa, you have to leave by 11:59 PM on September 10th.

When traveling to or from one of the cities offering visa-free transit, you may not stop in any other Chinese city. However, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are an exception to this rule, as they are considered third regions. For instance, if your next flight went from Shanghai to Beijing, you wouldn’t be able to get a transit visa. However, if you travel from Shanghai to Macau (or Hong Kong, or Taiwan), you would be able to stay in Shanghai on a transit visa.

Your original place of departure and your final destination must be different countries/regions. For example, you can’t book a round-trip ticket from the United States and use a transit visa in China. So, if you’re coming to China from the United States, your next destination must be another, third country.

Only passengers arriving by airplane may use a 72-hour visa and passengers need to leave from the same airport they arrived in. The only exception is Shanghai, where you can leave from either Pudong Airport or Hongqiao. For the 144-hour transit visa, you may arrive by plane, train or boat.

The Visa Process Step-by-Step

After arriving in one of the 15 cities mentioned above that have the 72-hour or 144-hour visa, the process to obtain the visa is quite straightforward. Here’s the rundown step by step:

Step 1: It’s a good idea to let your airline know that you want to get a transit permit when checking in at your departure airport. Most airlines inform Chinese customs before you land. This makes the process a lot easier. If you wish to explore Beijing for 72 or 144 hours, you can apply for the transit permit after arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport.

Step 2: Fill out for your Arrival/Departure Card during your flight. The crew usually passes out these cards about 1 hour before landing.

Step 3: Once you’ve landed, make your way to the baggage claim and get your luggage. Then head to the special lanes for the transit visas, which are clearly labeled in the immigration area. If you have all the required documents mentioned above (see “Prerequisites for Transit Visa Application”), an immigration officer approves your request for a 72-hour or 144-hour transit free permit and stamps your passport. They also write down the approved length of time you can stay.

Step 4: You must register at the local police station if your stay longer than 24 hours in China. If you stay at a hotel or hostel, the staff will take care of this but if you stay with friends or family, they need to take you to the police station and help you check-in.

Step 5: Don’t leave your transit city during the transit hours. You may only leave the city if you enter in Hangzhou or Guangzhou. Then, you are free to travel throughout the entire province.

Step 6: Should you not be able to leave China within 72 or 144 hours, you need to visit the Municipal Public Security Bureau and apply for a traditional visa.

Useful information: The airports offering the transit visas offer a variety of services to travelers eager to explore China. For example, you can exchange money, rent cars or Wi-Fi eggs and even store your luggage. There are even tours available for sightseeing or transportation to hotels.

That’s it! It’s not a complicated process to obtain a transit visa in China as long as you have all your documents in order.

What if I want to stay longer than 72 or 144 hours?

Finally, if you want to explore more of China and want to stay longer than 6 days in China and want to roam around the country freely, it’s definitely worth applying for a traditional China visa. There are various ways to obtain a visa for China but I recommend going through  PassportVisasExpress .

They offer a China visa service helping applicants with obtaining and expediting visa(s) for international travel.  PassportVisasExpress works on your behalf directly with each embassy assisting you in expediting your visa application in as fast as the same day! They know exactly how the complex visa process works and take care of all the paperwork for you.

PassportVisasExpress  expedites tourist and business visas not only for China but also for several other popular destinations, including Brazil, India, and Russia.

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Privacy overview.

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1. 24 hour visa-free transit

Foreign citizens travelling to a third country or region through China by plane, ship or train may stay up to 24 hours in China without a visa. The application for a preliminary entry permit at the Chinese border is a requirement for the visa-free entry.

2. 72 hour visa-free transit

2.1 What are the requirements for a 72 hour visa-free transit?

a) Citizens of the following 53 countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Belarus, USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapur, Brunei, UAE and Qatar

b) The above-mentioned bear a travel document and a confirmed flight ticket to a third country or region (onward journey within 72 hours).

c) valid for international airports in the following 15 cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Dalian, Guangzhou, Guilin, Chonqing, Chengdu, Kunming, Xian, Xiamen, Wuhan, Harbin, Qingdao and Changsha.

2.2 How do I apply for the 72 hour visa-free transit on site?

Travellers should apply for the visa-free transit at the Chinese border either themselves or with the support of the responsible airline. An entry permission issued by the border control authorities is required for a visa-free transit.

3. 144 hour visa-free transit

Citizens of the 53 countries mentioned in 2.1 bearing a valid travel document and a confirmed flight ticket to a third country or region within 144 hours are entitled to stay in the following cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and

the following provinces: Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Liaoning

without a Chinese visa.

Attention: Foreign travelers making use of the 144 hour visa-free transit need to bear a valid travel document and a confirmed flight ticket to a third country or region (onward journey within 144 hours). The respective carrier is responsible for the application for the visa-free transit. The respective carrier has to acquire the preliminary entry permit.

4. Journey to the province Hainan

Citizens of the following 59 countries with ordinary passports participating in a journey organized by a tour operator registered in Hainan may enter China at the border crossings open to foreigners in the Hainan province without a Chinese visa and stay up to 30 days: Germany, Russia, Great Britain, France, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, The Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Polen, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapur, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Monaco, Belarus.

The hotels accommodating these tourists are responsible for their registration. Travelers not staying at hotels need to register at the local police or service station for foreigners within 24 hours after arrival.

Office Address: Invalidenstraße 116, Berlin, Germany Business hours: Monday-Friday (except Chinese and German public holidays)         Application Submission: 9:00AM-3:00PM Payment and Passport Collection: 9:00AM-4:00PM       

Contact information :Phone:+49(0)30979920000  (9:00AM-3:00PM )                                  Fax:+49(0)30979920001 E-mail: [email protected]

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• 86-773-286-5632 (Intl rates apply)

Until December 31, 2025 , citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg with ordinary passports can visit China Mainland without needing a Chinese visa for up to 15 days .

This visa exemption extends to various purposes, including tourism, business trips, transit, and visiting friends and relatives in China.

Usually, foreign travelers need a visa when traveling or doing business in China. This China Visa Guide will help you answer almost all the questions you need to know before applying for a China Visa.

This article includes information on China visa types, requirements, applications, costs, visa-free transit policies, and visas on arrival.

China Visa Types

• China Visa Requirements (How to Apply)

China Visa-Free Policy

The type of visa you need to apply for depends on the main purpose of your visit to China.

There are four major categories of Chinese Visa: Chinese Diplomatic Visa, Service Visa, Courtesy Visa, and Ordinary Visa.

We usually refer to the Ordinary Visa types of the Chinese Mainland when speaking of Chinese visas.

1. Ordinary Visa

• C (Crew Visa): issued to foreign crew members using international transportation. It includes aircraft, trains, ships, or motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities and their accompanying family members.
• D (Resident Visa ) : Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently.
• F (Visitor Visa) : issued to those who intend to visit China for exchanges, visits, study tours, and other activities.
• G (Transit Visa): Issued to those who intend to transit through China.
• J1/J2 (Journalist Visa): J1 is issued to foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. J2 is issued to foreign journalists who intend to go to China for short-term news coverage. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
• L (Tourist Visa) : Issued to those who intend to visit China as a tourist.
• M (Business Visa): Issued to those who intend to visit China for commercial and trade activities.
• Q1/Q2 (Family Reunion Visa): Q1 is issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or foreigners with Chinese permanent residence. They intend to go to China for family reunions. Q2 is issued to those who plan to visit their relatives. They are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China.
• S1/S2 (Private Visa): issued to family members of foreigners residing in China for work, study, etc. S1 permits a long-term stay exceeding 180 days. S2 permits are short-term to no more than 180 days.
• R (Talent Visa): Issued to those who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China.
• X1/X2 ( Student Visa ): X1 is issued to those who intend to study in China for more than 180 days. X2 is issued to those who intend to study in China for no more than 180 days.
• Z (Work Visa) : Issued to those who intend to work in China.

2. Hong Kong Visa & Macau Visa

Hong Kong and Macau, as two Special Administrative Regions (SARs) in China, are regarded as third regions from China Mainland. They have their own visa policies, and a China Visa is NOT valid for visiting Hong Kong or Macau.

Ordinary passport holders from 170 countries are visa-exempted from entering Hong Kong. Read  Hong Kong Visa for the complete list. 

Macau also provides visa exemption for passport holders from 81 countries. Read Macau Visa  for the full list.

3. Visa on Arrival for Tourists – Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Xiamen, Hainan

Read China Visa Arrival  for more details about China Port Visa or Landing Visa.

4. Tibet Travel Permit

Non-Chinese passport holders and Taiwanese have to get a Tibet Travel Permit with the help of a China-based travel agency , like China Travel, before visiting Tibet.

Foreigners are not allowed to do the application and travel in Tibet independently. You have to travel with a tour guide.

Read How to Apply for a Tibet Permit for more detailed information.

If you book the Tibet tour with us, we will make all necessary arrangements to obtain the Tibet Permit for you . Feel free to contact us and learn more details about Tibet travel requirements.

China Visa Requirements - How to Apply for a China Visa

When to apply for china visas.

As ordinary visas are only valid for 90/180 days for single/double-entry visas from the issue date, you are suggested to apply for the visa one or two months before the intended travel.

Where to Apply for China Visas

Find out your visa type. Then submit your application to the visa office of the Chinese Embassy/Consulate General based in your country.

A travel agent or a visa agent can also help you deal with the visa in the embassy or consulate office.

Documents for China Visa Application

• Valid Passport: valid for more than six months with at least two blank visa pages
• Visa Application Form : You need to complete it by computer, and print and sign it.
• A recent passport-type photo: 33mm x 48mm
• Relevant proof for your purpose to China: an invitation letter.

China Visa Fees

• According to the reciprocity agreements, visa fees for some non-U.S. citizens may vary from the list above. Please check with the Visa Office.
• Express I service: pay an extra fee of USD 25 for each
• Express II service: pay an extra fee of USD 37 for each

Read How to Apply for a China Visa to get a step-by-step guide.

Visa-Free Transit Policy in China Mainland

There are three types of transit without visa (TWOV for short) policies in China mainland: 24-hour visa-free transit , 72-hour visa-free transit , and 144-hour visa-free transit .

30-Day Visa-Free Policy for Singapore and Thailand

Citizens from Singapore and Thailand with ordinary passports can visit China for up to 30 days without needing a visa.

With this policy, travelers can visit any mainland destination in China during this period, except for certain regions like Tibet and Xinjiang, which require special tourist permits.

15-Day Visa-Free Policy for Specific Countries

From July 26, 2023, Bruneian citizens holding ordinary passports can enjoy a 15-day visa-free policy when traveling to China.

From December 1, 2023, until December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia can benefit from a 15-day visa-free entry to China.

From March 14, 2024, until December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders of  Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium , and Luxembourg  can visit China for 15 days without a visa.

These visa-exempt policies apply to purposes such as tourism, business, transit, and visiting friends and relatives in China.

6-Day Visa-free Policy for ASEAN Groups to Guilin

From May 28, 2015, tourists from the ASEAN nations (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Brunei) traveling in groups (of 2 or more) can visit Guilin for up to six days without a visa.

The requirements are that the group needs to be arranged through a local travel agency and every group member must come in and go out via Guilin Airport.

To get this visa-free trip, you need to apply at least one week in advance and it usually takes about three days to get everything settled. If you meet all these conditions and book a Guilin tour with us , we can help make the process easier for you.

6-Day Pearl River Delta Visa Exemptions

Foreigners traveling from Hong Kong or Macau can visit the Guangdong Pearl River Delta area (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou) for up to six days without a visa.

This visa-free policy is applicable if you are part of a tour group (of 2 or more people) organized by a local travel agency in Hong Kong or Macau.

Additionally, this policy extends to tourist groups visiting Shantou, as long as you enter and exit directly from Shantou, and your activities are limited to Shantou.

Shanghai 15-Day Visa-Free Policy for Cruise Groups

Since October 1, 2016, the 15-day visa-free policy has been operating for foreign tourist groups entering China from Shanghai by cruise .

Under the 15-day visa-free policy, your group can visit and depart from any port within the designated areas as long as you remain together on the same cruise ship.

The visa-free privilege applies to specific regions, including Shanghai, Beijing, and Tianjin, and provinces such as Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan.

During the 15 days, the group is permitted to explore these areas without the need for a visa.

Read about the  15-Day Visa-Free Cruise Trip in China for more details.

Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free Stay

From May 1, 2018, ordinary passport holders from 59 countries can have visa-free entry to Hainan if they are received by Hainan-based travel agencies.

They must apply for a visa-free stay at least 72 hours before arrival and enter/exit from Sanya or Haikou by flight with a hotel booking confirmation voucher. They can stay and travel in the whole Hainan Province for up to 30 days without a Chinese visa.

The full list of the qualifying 59 countries are:

Russia, the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary,

Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania,

the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Monaco, and Belarus.  

Check Hainan’s official tourism website for updated visa-free info and find eligible travel agencies.

More Articles about China Visa

• Latest FAQs about China Visa
• What Should Do After Losing Passport in China

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• How to Apply
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• China Visa Fees
• Entries /Validity /Duration
• 10-year China Visa
• Tourist (L)
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• 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit
• 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit
• 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit
• Hong Kong Visa Policy
• Macau Visa Policy

Chinese Residence Permit

China visa application.

• How to Apply for China Visa in Your Country
• Renewal and Extension Visa in China
• Apply for China Visa in a Third Country
• How to Apply a China Visa in Hong Kong
• China Visa Application Requirements
• China Visa Fees & Costs
• Mail Service
• Visa Rejected Reasons
• FAQ about Visa Application
• China Visa Application Form  - From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China 
• Number of Entries / Validity / Duration
• 1. Single, Double and Multiple Entry 2. Validity (Enter Before) 3. Duration of Stay (After Entry)
• 10-year Visa for US & Canadian Citizens
• 10-Year Visa for UK Citizens
• Overstay in China
• Visa Policy of China
• Holiday Schedule of Chinese Embassies / Consulates

China Visa Types

• Tourist (L)  Issued to aliens who are going to PRC for tourism.
• Business (M)  Issued to aliens who are going to PRC for business and trade activities.
• Student (X)  Issued to aliens who are going for study, furthering studies.
• Work (Z)  Issued to aliens who are going for a post or employment.
• Transit (G)  Issued to aliens who are going to a third country in transit of PRC.
• Private Visit (S)  Issued to family members of foreigners residing in China for work, study, etc.
• Family Reunion (Q)  Issued to relatives of Chinese citizens or foreigners with permanent residence permit residing in PRC.
• Noncommercial Visit (F) Issued to aliens who are invited to a lecture, scientific-technological & cultural exchanges, study tours, etc.
• Talent (R) Issued to high-level personnel and much-needed highly talented people.
• Crew (C)  Issued to crewmembers involving international-based transportation by trains, airway and ships and their accompanying family members.
• Resident (D)  Issued to aliens who are going to reside permanently in PRC.
• Journalist (J-1, J-2) Issued to foreign journalists for the purpose of reporting from PRC.

China Visa-free Policy

• 24-Hour Transit Without Visa
• 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit  
• 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Adopted in Guangdong, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Xi'an, Liaoning, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan, and Kunming.
• Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free Access
• Visa on Arrival
• Mutual Visa Exemption between PRC and Foreign Countries
• How to Travel to China without a Visa

Hong Kong SAR & Macau SAR

• List of Visa-free Countries to Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Visa Application
• Hong Kong Visa Application Form  (PDF Download)
• List of Visa-free Countries to Macau
• Macau Visa Application Form (PDF Download)
• Temporary Residence Permit
• Permanent Residence Permit
• Requirements for Permanent Residence Permit
• Further Reading:
• Marriage Registration in China
• Affidavit of Marital Status
• Application Form of Notarization and Legalization

Do you need a visa to travel to China?

If holding an ordinary passport, you need to apply for a visa for China unless you are covered by China’s visa exemption policy, such as the 24/72/144 hours visa free transit schemes, Hainan 30-day visa-free access, visa exemption for tour groups meeting certain requirements, and visa-free entry for holders of APEC Business Travel Card. It’s worth mention that nationals of countries which have reached mutual visa-exemption agreements with China, like Singapore, Brunei, Japan, Qatar and Armenia, can also enjoy free entry to China. Those who hold a Chinese Temporary Residence Permit don’t need a visa for China either within the Residence Permit’s validity.  

How to apply a visa for China

China Embassies

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China’s Visa-Free Policies: Latest Updates

China has fully reopened its borders, promising recovery of international tourism and travel. Many of the visa-free travel policies that were in place prior to the pandemic have therefore come back into effect, enabling people from a wide range of countries to visit China on a short-term basis. In this article, we provide an overview of all of the China visa-free travel policies currently available and explain who is eligible to enjoy them.

UPDATES (March 7, 2024) : According to official news, China will expand its unilateral visa-free travel policy to six additional European countries including Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg, during the period from March 14 to November 30, 2024. Ordinary passport holders from the above countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days. 

UPDATE (February 18, 2024):  On February 9, 2024, China’s National Immigration Administration announced the expansion of the 30-day visa-free travel policy to the province of Hainan – to include more allowed purposes of entry. The expanded entry purposes for the Hainan visa-free policy include for business, visiting, family reunions, medical treatment, exhibitions, and sports competitions. However, work and study purposes are excluded from this arrangement.

UPDATE (January 25, 2024): China and Singapore  have officially agreed  to implement a visa-free entry policy for their citizens, allowing stays of up to 30 days. Starting from February 9, individuals holding ordinary passports and traveling for tourism, family visits, or business purposes will benefit from this new agreement. The agreement, signed in Beijing, marks a significant step in creating closer ties between the two nations and facilitating smoother travel for their citizens.

UPDATE (January 8, 2024): China and Thailand have agreed to a permanent visa-free policy starting March 2024, fostering diplomatic relations and stimulating economic activity in their respective tourism sectors. Click here  for more information regarding this mutual free-visa agreement between China and Thailand.

UPDATE (December 8, 2023): On December 8, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the Notice on Temporary Reduction of Fees for Applying Visa to China . According to this notice, during the period from December 11, 2023, to December 31, 2024, China shall cut visa fees by 25 percent across the board for foreign travelers. For more details, please consult with your local Chinese embassy or consulate.

UPDATE (December 7, 2023): China and Singapore are seeking to establish a mutual 30-day visa-free travel arrangement to boost people exchanges between the two countries, according to  Reuters . At the time of writing, no further details have been released regarding the timeline or the eligibility, requirement, and application procedures of this new arrangement. Click here for more information regarding this mutual 30-day visa-free travel between China and Singapore. 

UPDATES (November 24, 2023) : According to the official announcement on the website of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China will grant unilateral visa-free travel for holders of ordinary passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, during the period from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024. Holders of ordinary passports from the above countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days. Click here for more information on this new 15-day visa-free travel/transit policy granted to citizens of five European nations and Malaysia.

UPDATES (November 17, 2023) : According to an official announcement from the China National Immigration Administration (NIA), China has added Norway to the list of applicable countries that qualify for the 72/144-hour visa-free transit on arrival. Starting from November 17, 2023, Norwegian citizens will be able to enjoy the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy offered in 23 Chinese cities, covering 20 cities and 29 entry and exit ports. Click here for more information related to the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy.

After almost three years, China has finally reopened its borders to international travelers and tourists, and in March 2023, it resumed issuing all types of visas to foreigners . This means China has begun permitting people with valid travel documents that allow visa-free entry back into the country and has once again started issuing its short-stay entry permits that are available on arrival for citizens of certain countries.  

Below we provide an overview of all the visa-free options that are currently available for people traveling to China, and who is eligible to enjoy these policies.  

Countries with mutual visa exemption agreements with China  

China has also signed agreements on mutual visa exemption with over 150 countries, which enables certain citizens to travel to China without a visa. However, for the majority of countries, visa-free arrangements apply only to diplomatic or official passports.

A few countries do enable visa-free travel to China for citizens holding ordinary passports. Citizens from these countries are allowed to travel to China without a visa for up to 30 days for the purposes of tourism, travel, business, and visiting family or friends.  

These countries are:  

• The Bahamas  
• Bosnia and Herzegovina  
• The Maldives  
• Mauritius  
• San Marino  
• Seychelles  
• The United Arab Emirates  

Citizens from the above countries will still need to apply for a corresponding visa to China if they intend to work, study, or settle in China, or intend to stay for longer than 30 days.  

Countries with 30-day visa-free travel to China

China and Singapore have officially agreed  to implement a visa-free entry policy for their citizens, allowing stays of up to 30 days.

Starting from February 9, 2024, individuals holding ordinary passports and traveling for tourism, family visits, or business purposes will benefit from this new agreement. The agreement, signed in Beijing, marks a significant step in creating closer ties between the two nations and facilitating smoother travel for their citizens.

Countries with 15-day visa-free travel to China 

In the past, citizens with a valid ordinary passport from Japan, Brunei, and Singapore have been permitted to travel to China for a period of up to 15 days without applying for a visa for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting to a third country. However, this policy was suspended since the end of COVID-19 restrictions in China.

On July 26, 2023, the 15-day visa-free travel to China policy was resumed for citizens of Brunei and Singapore, the latter of which has been upgraded to a 30-day visa-free travel since February 2024, as introduced earlier.

On November 24, 2023, China announced that its 15-day visa-free travel policy was expanded to five European countries and Malaysia. During the period from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024, Holders of ordinary passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days.

Then on March 7, 2024, China announced that it had decided to expand its 15-day visa-free entry policy to another six European countries, including Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg. During the period from March 14 to November 30, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from the above countries can enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days.

To note, citizens from these countries would previously also have had to apply for a visa in advance if they:  

• Expect to stay in China for more than 15 days; or
• Intend to study, work, settle down, or attend an interview in China.

At the time of writing, it’s still not clear when this policy will be resumed for citizens of Japan. This means citizens from Japan still need to apply for a Chinese tourist, business, or another type of visa to enter China at this time.  

24/72/144-hour China visa-free transit  

China allows eligible travelers from certain countries to enter and stay in certain areas of China for 24, 72, and 144-hour periods without prior application for a visa when transiting to a third country.  

Note that people are excluded from this policy if they are:  

• Not permitted to enter the country as stipulated by laws and administrative regulations (such as people who have been subject to sanctions or travel bans);  
• Hold a passport or other international travel document that is valid for less than three months upon the time of arrival, or which has a refusal stamp from a Chinese visa issuing agency;  
• Have records of illegal entry and exit, illegal residence, and illegal employment in China in the last five years; and/or
• Have violated accommodation registration regulations in the last two years and the circumstances are deemed serious.  

144-hour visa-free transit  

Under the 144-hour visa-free transit policy , foreign travelers can apply for a six-day entry permit to certain Chinese cities upon arrival at the port of entry, provided they hold a passport from one of the 54 eligible countries. They also must show that they are traveling to a third country after leaving China, which means they must show a connecting ticket to a third country when arriving in China. This is a great option for people who want to make a short stop-over to explore various areas of the country.  

The 54 countries are:  

• 25 countries in the 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.  
• 15 other countries in Europe: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, and Belarus.   
• Six countries in the Americas: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.   
• Two countries in Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.   
• Six countries in Asia: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.  

Eligible travelers can only apply for the 144-hour visa-free transit if they enter through one of the 29 designated ports of entry in 20 mainland Chinese cities. In addition, travelers are only allowed to travel within a certain area on the entry permit and exit the country through designated ports as well. People who travel outside the permitted area and exit the country through a non-designated port may face certain penalties.  

For more information on eligibility requirements, permitted ports of entry and exit, and permitted scope of travel, see our dedicated article: 144-hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreigners .  

72-hour visa-free transit  

Travelers from the 54 countries that are eligible for the 144-hour entry permit are also eligible for the 72-hour visa-free policy . However, there are currently only three entry ports in China that offer 72-hour visa-free entry, as the majority of ports that previously offered it now offer the 144-hour permit instead. The ports are Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, Harbin Taiping International Airport, and Changsha Huanghua International Airport.

Travelers who enter through Guiling and Harbin are only allowed to travel within the scope of the cities themselves, whereas travelers who enter through Changsha are permitted to travel within the whole of Hunan Province.  

All the same requirements and restrictions for the 144-hour entry permit apply to the 72-hour entry permit.  

24-hour visa-free transit  

All international travelers (except those exempted due to special circumstances ) that are transiting through China are permitted to apply for a 24-hour visa-free entry permit upon arrival. As with the other two visa-free transit policies, travelers must provide a connecting ticket to a third country. They are not permitted to leave the city in which they arrived during their 24-hour stay and must leave the country within 24 hours.  

China visa-free policies for individual travelers and tour groups

Pearl river delta  .

People from countries that have established diplomatic relations with China and are traveling in a tourist group organized by a travel agency registered in Hong Kong or Macao can travel to the nine mainland Chinese cities of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou) for up to six days without a visa. The same policy also applies to tour groups visiting Shantou in Guangdong Province, as long as their activities do not extend beyond the administrative area of Shantou.  

To be eligible for this policy, the tour group must depart from Hong Kong or Macao.  

International tour groups of two and above who arrive on a cruise ship at Shanghai Cruise Port can get 15 days of visa-free travel to Shanghai and other coastal provinces, regions, and municipalities in which the cruise ship berths. These are Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan.

The tourists are allowed to travel around the cities in which the cruise has berthed, as well as neighboring cities. This includes Beijing but otherwise does not include any cities or regions outside the above-mentioned provinces and regions.  

The tour groups must be organized by travel agencies that have registered with the Shanghai Tourism Administration and Shanghai Customs.  

Citizens of 59 countries are now eligible for 30 days of visa-free travel to the province of Hainan for purposes s uch as business, visiting, family reunions, medical treatment, exhibitions, sports competitions, and other needs (excluding long-term working and studying). Eligible travelers are free to travel around the whole province of Hainan and can travel from Hong Kong or any other place outside Mainland China with a direct flight to the island.  This visa-free access will count its 30-day duration from 00:00 the day following the entry date.

This policy was previously only applicable to tour groups but was expanded to individual travel as well on March 15, 2023. On February 9, 2024, the 30-day visa-free travel to the province of Hainan was expanded again to include more allowed purposes of entry. 

The eligible countries are Russia, the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Monaco, and Belarus.  

Tour groups consisting of a minimum of two people from the 10 ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines) that are organized and hosted by a travel agency registered and approved by the tourism authority of Guilin, Guangxi Province, can enter and exit through Guilin airport port and stay in Guilin for up to six days without a visa.  

Visa-free travel for tour groups from six countries  

Some of the agreements on mutual visa exemption also enable visa-free travel for tour groups. These countries are Azerbaijan, Belarus , Russia , Georgia, Moldova, and Turkmenistan.  

The requirements for the tour groups differ slightly between the different countries’ agreements and may include having a minimum of five people in the tour group, and in general, the trip can last up to 30 days. There are no limits placed on where the tour group can travel, but the tours must be organized by certain designated agencies.  

Special cards enabling China visa-free entry  

Apec business travel card holders  .

Holders of a valid Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) can enter China multiple times within the card’s validity period for business purposes for periods of up to 60 days at a time. The ABTC is valid for five years and thus functions as a five-year multi-entry visa.

Only citizens of the 21 APEC member economies are eligible for the ABTC (Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia; Singapore; Taiwan, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam).  

Note that although Canada and the US do offer ABTCs, they only provide fast-track immigration processing and do not offer reciprocal entry arrangements, meaning that ABTC holders from the US and Canada are not eligible to enter China directly without a visa, and vice versa.  

In addition, candidates must engage in regular business travel through the APEC member economies and not hold a criminal record.  

Entry to China with the ABTC was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed on August 24, 2022.  

Permanent residence card holders  

It goes without saying that holders of a Chinese permanent residence card do not need to apply for a visa to travel to China, and can freely leave and enter the country through all passenger ports for work, business, family visits, and travel.  

To be eligible for the permanent residency card, foreigners must meet a relatively high bar of work and liquidity requirements, which vary from region to region. For more information on this topic, see our articles on applying for a permanent residence card in Shanghai , Guangdong , and Beijing .  

Residence permit holders

Foreigners with residence permi ts issued by Chinese public security organs who are in China for work or study are permitted to leave and enter the country as many times as they wish without applying for a visa each time, provided it is during the vali dity period of the residence permit.

Foreigners and foreign journalists who come to China for work or study are required to apply for a residence permit after first entering the country.  

Note that the residence permit will be provided as a sticker in the passport with the word “residence” on it, rather than as a separate residen c e card .  

China Briefing is written and produced by Dezan Shira & Associates . The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done so since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Please contact the firm for assistance in China at [email protected] .

Dezan Shira & Associates has offices in Vietnam , Indonesia , Singapore , United States , Germany , Italy , India , and Russia , in addition to our trade research facilities along the Belt & Road Initiative . We also have partner firms assisting foreign investors in The Philippines , Malaysia , Thailand , Bangladesh .

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How to Transit Through China for 144 Hours Without a Visa

Amazing News for Selected Country Travelers!

Visa-Free Access to China

Great news for our esteemed customers from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Malaysia! You can enjoy China's beautiful culture and scenery visa-free for 15 days until December 31st, 2025. No extended waiting, less hassle, and more time for planning your perfect China adventure.

And for our fortunate travelers from Singapore—you can relish visa-free access to China for up to 30 days, indefinitely!

Seeking a Longer Stay or Arriving from Other Countries? Try China Highlights' Port Visa Service

If your home country isn't listed above or if you aim to discover China for more than two weeks, no worries — we offer our Port Visa Service! Once your tour booking is confirmed with us, we can arrange your visa for just US$50. Forget the stress of embassy visits and visa interviews.

Start booking your dream Chinese vacation with us .

China Implemented 144-hour visa-free transit policy, which allows you to enjoy a longer stay (6 days) in China without a visa .

The 144-hour visa-free policy currently applies only to passengers transiting through China via the following cities: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an, Chengdu, Xiamen, Shijiazhuang, Dalian, Shenyang, etc .

A key distinction between the 24-hour and 72-hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV) policies and the 144-hour visa-free policy is that the latter allows travelers to move within one of the three designated regions, rather than being restricted to a single city . For instance, under the 144-hour visa-free policy, you can travel from Shanghai to Nanjing, as they are both part of the Yangtze River Delta Region. However, travel to Beijing is not allowed as it is part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region.

You can only travel within the designated region under the 144-hour visa-free policy:

• Yangtze River Delta Region : Shanghai, as well as Jiangsu Province (major cities: Nanjing, Suzhou) and Zhejiang Province (major cities: Hangzhou, Ningbo)
• Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region : Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei Province (major cities: Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao)
• Guangdong Province : Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, etc
• Chengdu Region : Chengdu, Leshan, Ya'an, Deyang, Suining, Meishan, Ziyang, Zigong, Yibin, Neijiang, and Luzhou
• Xiamen city only
• Xi'an and Xianyang
• Wuhan city only
• Kunming city only
• Liaoning Province: Shengyang, Dalian, etc
• Shandong Province: Qingdao, etc

Content Preview

Will my route qualify for china 144-hour visa-free transit.

• Which Countries Are Covered in the Policy?

How to Enter China with 144-Hour Visa-Free Policy?

Differences between 24-, 72-, and 144-hour visa-free transit, how are the 144 hours calculated.

• A Quick Test to See if You Comply with the Policy

Over 20 cities in China apply to the 144-hour transit policy, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shenyang, Dalian, Qingdao, Chengdu, Xiamen, Kunming, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Xi'an, Ningbo, etc. Here is a quick test to see if you comply with the policy:

Quick Test: Will My Route Qualify for China 72/144-Hour Visa-Free Transit?

1. I will depart from (only applies to direct or connected flight):

2. I will arrive in China at [city], [airport / railway station / port].

3. My arrival date is...

4. I will leave for [country/region] from China (the bounding destination on the air ticket):

5. My departure date is...

6. My nationality is...

8. I have Chinese visa refusal stamps in my passport.

You qualify to enjoy China's 72-hour visa-free policy.

You qualify to enjoy China's 144-hour visa-free policy.

You don't qualify to enjoy China's 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free policy.

Reason you don't qualify:

• You must be in transit to a third country or region.
• You must leave the city area (prefecture or municipality) after the 72/144 hours (the 72/144-hour limit is calculated starting from 00:00 on the day after arrival, i.e. 24:00 on the arrival date).
• Your passport must be valid for more than 3 months at the time of entry into China.
• Your passport nationality is not eligible for the 72/144-hour visa exemption program.
• You have Chinese visa refusal stamps in your passport.

If you want to enjoy the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, you need to meet relevant qualifying criteria, as detailed below:

• You must be a passport holder from one of the 53 countries listed below , and your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of intended arrival.
• You must hold, before entry into China, an onward ticket departing Chinese mainland within 144 hours.
• Your arrival and departure cards must be completely filled in.
• You must be in transit to a third country or region (Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are included). For example, USA–Shanghai–Taiwan is an acceptable itinerary for a 144-hour transit visa in Shanghai, but USA–Shanghai–USA is not.
• You may need a visa for the third country/region that you are traveling to before you depart, e.g. a visa to Taiwan. An e-visa may not be acceptable as proof that you can travel to the third country and may invalidate your visa-free transit.
• You must use one of three types of transport to enter the visa-free area: train, ferry, or airplane.
• Your must have no stopovers of any kind within Chinese mainland prior to arrival or after departure at the port of entry.
• Your transit time must be no more than 144 hours from 00:00 on the day after arrival.
• You must stay within the permitted region and not travel out of it at all. For example, you cannot make a trip from Beijing to Xi'an or Shanghai as that would violate the visa policy.

Here are some appealing China tours that you can experience with the 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit :

• 5-Day Yangtze River Delta Bullet Train Tour
• 4-Day Shanghai, Hangzhou, Water Town Culture Tour
• 4-Day Beijing Highlights and Great Wall Night Tour

Which Countries Are Covered in the 144-Hour Visa-Free Policy?

The nationals of the following countries are eligible for the visa exemption program:

Americans (of 6 countries): the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and the Republic of Chile

European citizens (of 39 countries): Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, and Monaco

Oceanians (of 2 countries): Australia and New Zealand

Asians (of 6 countries): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar

• 4-Day Beijing Private Tour
• 5-Day Beijing Family Tour
• 3-Day Chengdu Giant Panda, Giant Buddha, and Ancient Town Tour

The 144 hours start from 00:00 on the day after entry . For example, if you enter Shanghai at 6am on June 1 st ; your 144 hours starts from 00:00 on June 2 nd , and you can stay until 23:59 on June 7 th .

So it's possible have more time than 144 hours if you can find suitable transport.

[Please note that some airports have their own special regulations about how they count these hours: from airplane touchdown, or from midnight, or from when they issue the visa-free travel permit in the airport. So find out in advance about the specific airport regulations. ]

If you are unable to depart on time due to unavoidable reasons, such as a flight cancellation, you must apply for a visa from the Municipal Public Security Bureau. To avoid this don't cut it too close.

The 144-hour visa-free policy presents an excellent option for numerous travelers eager to visit China without the hassle of obtaining a visa. This policy can apply to 53 countries including the US, the UK, Singapore, Canada, etc .

There is a special access for 144 visa-free policy visitors which you can find by following the signs after you get off the plane. You will need to fill in the form as required and show the materials, mainly a ticket to a third country, the hotel reservation confirmation, and your passport. Then you will get a entry permit as shown on the right.

144-Hour Transit in 5 Steps

1) Inform your carrier of your intent to use 144-hour TWOV, and acquire your onward ticket before travel.

2) Fill in arrival and departure cards (available on flights).

3) At the dedicated counter for 144-hour visa-free transit at your arrival port, provide the immigration officer with your documents.

4) Claim your luggage, go through customs, and exit the airport , as you would with a visa.

5) Leave from a designated port as normal before midnight on the sixth full day, handing in your completed departure card at immigration.

Just contact us to plan a visa-free China tour.

There are three types of transit without a visa (TWOV) programs in Chinese mainland: 24-hour TWOV, 72-hour TWOV, and 144-hour TWOV.

Take a Visa-Free Transit Tour with China Highlights

A 144-hour visa-free tour to China has become a reality. We can customize a tour for you to make the most of your time. Just let us know your interests and requirements.

Here are our most popular Shanghai and Beijing area tours, for inspiration:

• 5-Day Essence of Shanghai and Hangzhou Tour — a combination of the essence of Shanghai and Hangzhou, including Wuzhen Ancient Water Town
• Private 4-Day Emperor's Tour of Beijing — taking you to explore the emperors' Forbidden City, walk along the Great Wall, and relax at the Summer Palace

Further Reading

15-day visa-free travel for cruise groups at shanghai ports.

Shanghai has adopted a 15-day visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups entering China by cruise.

Read more about this policy .

Guilin 144-Hour Visa-Free for 10 ASEAN Countries

Guilin now offers 6-day (144-hour) visa-free transit to ten ASEAN countries. Passports holders from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines can enjoy the new visa-free transit policy.

Read more about Guilin visa-free policy .

Pearl River Delta 144-Hour Visa-Free for Visitors to HK/Macao

All visitors to Hong Kong and/or Macao are able to visit the surrounding Pearl River Delta visa-free as long as they go with a registered tour group and meet certain conditions. The stays can last 6 days or 144 hours for most countries.

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Guangzhou 24/144-Hour Visa-free Transit & Visa on Arrival 2024

Notice on Latest Visa and Entry Policies for Foreigners Entering China - Updated on May 8, 2024 :

1. Breaking News! 15 days visa free for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg has been extended until December 31, 2025.

2. Hong Kong High-speed Rail West Kowloon Station has been added to Guangdong Province 144-hour transit visa-free.

3. China - Georgia Mutual Exemption of Visa, starting from May 28, 2024.

4. 15 Days Visa Exemption Policy is newly available for Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Read more »

5. Booking of flights and hotels, China itineraries and invitation letters are not required for application of Chinese Tourist Visa for U.S.nationals.

6. 15 Days Visa Exemption Policy is now available for other 6 countries including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. Read more »

7. Appointment is not required for visa application in many embassies and consulates.

8. Starting from 00:00 on November 1, 2023, individuals entering or exiting the country are exempt from filling out the "People's Republic of China Health Declaration Card for Entry/Exit."

9. Norway has become the 54th country whose passport holders can transit without visa up to 72/144 hours in China.

10. Starting from August 30, 2023, individuals traveling to China will no longer be required to undergo pre-entry COVID-19 nucleic acid or antigen testing.

11. U.S. citizens holding multi-year multiple-entry visas issued before March 28, 2020, whose visas temporarily lost entry functionality between March 28, 2020, and March 14, 2023, due to the pandemic, are eligible to apply for compensation. Those who choose to apply for compensation will receive a free 3-year multiple-entry visa. Those who choose to waive the compensation can apply for a new 10-year multiple-entry visa at the regular fee.

China Discovery will keep focusing on the updates of the latest Chinese visa and entry policy! You can also call +86 010 12367 (Official telephone number of China National Immigration Administration) to check further information. Welcome to join in our Facebook Groups to catch up with the latest news!

Invitation letter is a vital document for Chinese visa application. If you travel with us, we will not only create a valuable tour for you, but also provide you an invitation letter if you request, which will help you obtain your visa successfully. Start customizing your tour in China now!

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Do I need a visa for Guangzhou China?

A Chinese Visa is needed for regular visit for Guangzhou. Meanwhile, China offers exclusive Visa Waiver Programs for certain visitors, which allow them travel to Guangzhou and China without applying a visa. For example, there are 6-days visa-free policy for group tourists in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.

Do I need a visa for a layover in Guangzhou?

If you are not eligible for China 24 Hour or 144 Hour Visa-free Transit Policy in Guangzhou, a Chinese Transit Visa ( G Visa ) is required for international transit. The transit visa should be applied and got before arrival. But, as long as you meet all the official requirements, you may enjoy a Transit Visa Exemption for Guangzhou for 24 or 144 hours.

Table of Page Content

• 24/72/144 Hour Visa Free
• Guangzhou Visa on Arrival
• Visa Requirements & Application
• Guangzhou Airport Transit
• Guangzhou Visa-free Tours
• Travel with China Discovery

Know Main Guangzhou Visa Free Policies - Which One to Use

Until August 1st, 2018, Guangdong Province altogether provides 16 entry & exit policies for aliens, among them, 6 policies are specialized for China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone & 10 for entire Guangdong Province. Currently, there are 3 main visa free rules carried in Guangzhou, including the 24 Hour Direct Transit Visa Free , 144-Hour Visa-free Transit and 144 Visa-free in Pearl River Delta for Group Tour . Due to the huge convenience and perfect connection with Hong Kong and Macau, Guangzhou Transit Without Visa ( Guangzhou TWOV ) is widely considered as the most popular choice for a layover in Guangzhou.

● Guangzhou 24-Hour Visa-free Transit

Since June 28th, 2013, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou was approved to execute 24-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy for transit passengers from any foreign countries. The Transit Visa will be exempted if the traveler hold connecting flight ticket to a third country (region) transiting through China. Under such policy, you can choose to stay within the airport without going through any immigration formalities, or apply for an Temporary Entry Permit (needed for stay in free transit hotel of China Southern Airlines) for leaving airport.

Advantage: You don’t have to prepare documents for transit visa application in advance, which saves much your time, money and engergy. So, during short layover, you can have a rest and relaxing in or outside the airport.

● Guangzhou 72-Hour Visa-free Transit

From August 1st, 2013, Guangzhou became the third city which implemented 72-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy in China, after Beijing and Shanghai . Nationals from 45 countries can apply for transit visa exemption in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport for no more than 72-hour stay in the whole Guangdong Province, once they hold valid visa and connecting flight tickets to a third country (region). Next flight should take off within 3 days. Later, more states were added, and the policy applies to citizens of 54 countries then. Attention that now the 72 hour visa free transit has been extended to 144 hours .

Advantage: You are only allowed to enter via Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, but you may visit Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, totally 21 prefecture-level cities in Guangdong Province.

For more details about 72-Hour Visa-free Transit Cities, Valid Countries, Application and Guide in China, please visit China 72 Hour Visa Free Transit >> .

● Guangzhou 144-Hour Visa-free Transit - The Newest & Most Popular

Since May 1, 2019, Guangdong Province optimized the former 72-Hour Visa-free Transit to the newest 144-Hour Visa-free Transit, to meet ever-creasing international transits. That means, foreigners can enjoy visa-free transit in Guangdong, when holding valid travel documents of 54 countries, and connecting tickets with confirmed date (within 144 hours) and seat to a third country (region).

Advantage: The recent 144-Hour Transit Visa Exemption offers much more choices of entry & exit ports and longer duration of stay in Guangdong Province.

In China, Beijing , Xian , Shanghai , Chengdu , Hangzhou , Xiamen and more major tourist cities also provide 144-Hour Visa Free Transit. You can get more related information in our China 144-Hour Visa-free Transit >> .

● 6 Days Guangzhou (Guangdong) Visa-free Group Tour from Hong Kong/Macau

According to CEPA, Guangdong adopted the 6-day Visa-free Policy for group tour in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (粤港澳大区-GBA) since November 2000. Foreigners must meet requirements include: 1.) hold ordinary passports of any country (which established diplomatic relations with China); 2.) already in Hong Kong or Macau; 3.) join a group tour to Pearl River Delta region organized by travel agency legally registered in Hong Kong/Macau. (The policy is also valid for group tour to Shantou as long as they stay in administrative area of Shantou and exit from Shantou directly.) Pearl River Delta 6 Day Visa Free >>

Travelers can visit 10 cities in Pearl River Delta , Guangdong (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou) for not exceeding 6 days. Besides, whole group member can enter and exit from any port in Guangdong together. You can contact a local travel agency in Hong Kong/Macau to arrange such a Guangdong visa-free tour.

Hong Kong to Guangzhou Visa on Arrival : If you travel to Guangzhou from Hong Kong by joining a group tour, you don’t need to obtain a visa for entry. Hong Kong to Shenzhen Visa >>

Guangzhou Visa on Arrival - Port Visa Only Apply for Special Cases

Foreign visitors, in principle, should apply for Chinese Visa from Chinese Embassies, Consulates and authorized diplomatic missions abroad. But, China (Guangzhou) does offer Port Visa service for some special visitors on their arrival. Read more about China Visa on Arrival >>

Who can apply for Port Visa upon arrival in Guangzhou?

1. Urgent entry for humanitarian reasons, or invited entry for emergency purpose (like business, engineering repairing work...);

2. Inbound tour group organized by authorized travel agency (should apply for a Chinese Group Tourist Visa );

3. Foreign students from overseas colleges and universities invited by China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone company for internship;

4. Foreign high-level talents recognized/sponsored/employed by authority (apply for China Talent - R Visa);

5. Foreigners holding working permit issued by the official (apply for China Work - Z Visa);

6. Foreign students recruited by primary and middle schools in Guangdong Province (apply for China Student - X1 Vis);

Tips: Except 24 Hour Direct Transit, 144 Hour Visa Free Transit and 6-Day Visa Free Group Tour in Guangdong, a Chinese Visa is required for citizens of US and France pre-arrival. Guangzhou Visa on Arrival is not valid for them.

Guangzhou 144 Hour Visa Free Transit: Requirements, Application Process and Tips

The growing international connection demands Guangzhou a more open participation and greater role for port in Southern China. The long-awaited 144-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy was finally settled in Guangdong Province recently, which definitely give more flexible choices, excellent linking of different tourism resources in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Great Bay Area. Guangzhou as the major city in Guangdong, is the most-chosen transiting point for 144-Hour Transit Visa Exemption.

Guangzhou 144-Hour Transit Visa Free Requirements

1. Transit Passengers must be Citizens of Specified 54 Countries

54 Countries Qualified for Guangzhou (Guangdong) 144 Hour Visa Free Transit (Enlarge to See Full List)

2. Transit Passengers must Hold Valid International Travel Document

The passport or international travel document should be valid at least for 3 months. The document presents the nationality whether qualifies for the visa-free layover or not. A valid visa for a third country is needed if requires.

3. Transit Passengers must Hold Connecting Tickets to A Third Country (Region)

Only certain international transit routes apply to the 144-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy. Please guarantee your departure and onward destination are different. ( Note: Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan are considered third regions from mainland China. Hong Kong Visa / Macau Visa >> )

Valid Routes:

A. US > Guangzhou/Shenzhen/Jieyang (Chaoshan) > Hong Kong or Macau

B. Australia > Shenzhen > Guangzhou > Zhuhai > US

C. Hong Kong > Guangzhou > Zhuhai > Macau

4. Transit Passengers must Enter via Designated Ports

Ports of Entry (3): Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Jieyang Chaoshan Airport.

Ports of Exit (36)

Airports: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport, Meizhou Meixian Airport, Zhanjiang Airport; Railway Stations: Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station, Guangzhou East Railway Station (Tianhe Port), Dongguan Railway Station, Foshan Railway Station, Zhaoqing Railway Station; Highway Ports: Shenzhen Shatoujiao Port, Wenjindu Port, Huanggang Port, Luohu Port, Shenzhen Bay Port, Futian Port, Zhuhai Gongbei Port, Liantang Port, Zhuhai Hengqin Port, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Brdige Zhuhai Port; Harbors: Guangzhou Port, Nansha Port, LianHuaShan Port, Pazhou Passenger Terminal, Shenzhen Shekou Ferry Terminal, Shenzhen Fuyong Port; Zhuhai Jiuzhou Port, Wanzai Port, Wanshangang Port, Doumen Gang Port; Jiangmen Port, Heshan Bay Port; Foshan Gaoming Port, Rongqi Port; Dongguan Humen Port; Zhongshan Port.

Warm Tips: 1.) The official date of visa-free transit counts from the 00:00 on the next day after arrival. 2.) Visitors who want to stay longer, exit form other ports, or travel to other cities outside Guangdong Province have to apply for a China Visa for legal stay.  How to Apply for a Chinese Visa>>  .

Guangzhou Transit Visa Free Application - 6 Steps to Go

①. Inform the air company that you will use the 144-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy when boarding.

②. Go to waiting area and fill in an Arrival Card (blue version), after landing at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

③. Submit completed Arrival Card at the 144-Hour Visa-free Counter.

④. Obtain a Temporary Entry Permit stamped on your passport. (Don’t forget to tell the officer you don’t want to use the China Visa you already got.)

⑤. Claim your luggage and go through customs and immigration inspections.

⑥. Leave Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to start your tour in Guangzhou and other cities in Guangdong.

How to Transit at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云国际机场, IATA: CAN, ICAO: ZGGG) serves Guangzhou as one of the most busiest airport in World as well as one of the three portal ports in China. The airport is a base of China Southern Airlines, and Terminal 2 is mainly used for international flights. If you will take flights leaving China from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, please go to departure hall on Floor 3, Terminal 2. Flights to Guangzhou >>

Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Location & Transportation

Address: No.888, East Jichang Avenue, Huadu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong (广州市花都区机场大道东888号), about 30km (17mi)/ 1 hour’s driving distance to Yuexiu Park, city center area.

The airport is linked to city center by Metro Line 3, Taxi and Airport Express, and runs intercity bus to nearby Dongguan, Foshan, Jiangmen, Shunde, etc. How to Get to & around Guangzhou >>

Airport Transfer to Major Attractions:

◆ To Canton Tower : about 45km/50minutes’ ~ 1 hour’s driving;

◆ To Chimelong Safari Park : about 55km/1 hour’s driving;

◆ To Shamian Island : about about 35km/40~50 minutes’ driving;

◆ To Dr.Sun Yat-sen’s Memorial Hall : about 45km/1hour 20 minutes’ driving;

◆ To Chen Clan Ancestral Hall : about about 35km/1 hour’s driving;

◆ To Six Banyan Trees & Flower Pagoda (Liurong Temple) : about 35km/1 hour’s driving;

Guangzhou Airport Hotel for Transit Passengers

At Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, passengers can go through connection formalities, 24-Hour Visa-free Transit, flight information inquiry, free transit hotel registration, and air ticket alteration service in transit counters of China Southern Airlines.

Who can enjoy free transit hotel provided by China Southern Airlines?

* Same-day Transfer: connection time ≥ 8 hours, a free single room and shuttle service between airport and hotel will be offered.

*Overnight-Transfer: connection time between 8~48 hours, a free single room and free breakfast & shuttle service will be offered.

Most free transit hotels are located near Baiyun Airport. Please visit https://www.csair.com/en/tourguide/transit_flow/flightsTwo_hub/ to see the qualifications, hotels information and detailed instructions!

Useful Links: Where to Stay in Guangzhou / Guangzhou 5-star Hotels / Guangzhou 4-star Hotels

What to Do During A Stopover in Guangzhou - Useful Guangzhou Travel Advice

Taking advantage of the 144-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy, foreigners can stay in Guangzhou and Guangdong for up to 6 days without a Chinese Visa. Based on your flight schedule, you can plan a essence tour in Guangzhou downtown shortly in 1 - 3 days or extend further trip to Shenzhen, Foshan and other cities in Guangdong for 4 - 6 days when having a long layover. It’s highly suggested to experience different types of attractions together in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, including the thriving economic cityscape, cultural and historical spots, local folk customs, cruise sighting, adventure, leisure resort and business trip to Canton Fair .

◆ How to Spend 24 Hours in Guangzhou?

Top Recommended Attractions: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Canton Tower, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, Yuexiu Park.

Since you can only spare one day to stay in Guangzhou, you are highly recommended to visit the landmarks in downtown area. They are located next to each other and convenient to go. Fans of Chinese traditional culture and history don’t miss the 4 mentioned sites. If time permits, view the epic Canton Tower at night. When you’re in Guangzhou, another must-do is tasting exquisite and delicious Cantonese (Guangdong) Cuisine. Remember set aside enough time for your next flight.

◆ How to Spend 72 Hours in Guangzhou?

Top Recommended Attractions: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Canton Tower, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, Yuexiu Park, Liurong Park, Kaiping Diaolou & Villages, Shamian Island.

144 Hour (6 days) is suitable for a short trip in Guangzhou or maybe a day tour to nearby cities. In Guangzhou, you could do a brief sightseeing tour to the top historic sites, parks in city center, as listed above. To relax and appreciate different charm of Guangzhou, trying the delicate Cantonese Cuisine, enjoying a night cruise with Canton Tower are most popular things to do.

Want to get more certain experience around? You may have a day tour to Shenzhen to witness outstanding achievement in the leading Economy Special Zone in China, or to Foshan - the cradle of Cantonese Opera, Chinese Martial Arts (Southern School), Chinese Dragon & Lion Dance and major center of Guangzhou culture. Even you can visit Zhuhai to experience a engineering miracle, world’s longest cross-sea bridge - Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, and travel to Hong Kong afterwards.

Useful Links: Guangzhou Hong Kong Through Train / Guangzhou to Hong Kong Train Schedules, Tickets, Fares / Hong Kong to Guangzhou Train Schedules, Tickets, Fares

Most Popualr Guangzhou Visa-free Tours:

2 Days Guangzhou Best Essence Savory Tour

• 3 Days Guangzhou Short Stay Tour
• 3 Days Guangzhou Food Tour
• 3 Days Classic Shenzhen Tour
• Shenzhen Day Tour from Guangzhou
• Zhuhai Day Tour
• Foshan Day Tour

◆ How to Spend 144 Hours (6 Days) in Guangzhou?

Top Recommended Attractions: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Yuexiu Park, Canton Tower, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, Liurong Temple, Kaiping Diaolou & Villages, Chimelong Safari Park, Baiyun Mountain, Guangdong Museum, Guangzhou Opera House.

Benefiting from twice visa-free duration than former 72 Hour Transit Visa-free, travelers can travel further beyond Guangzhou. Thanks to the well-developed transportation, highway and railway, tourists can directly move forward to Hong Kong, Macau without a backtrack route.

For a 6-day stopover, Guangzhou provides different themed tours for you to fully discover its glamour. After the Canton Fair, business visitors can spend free time on visiting iconic spots in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Or, you can get a vacation in Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Zhuhai and take a ride though Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge to Macau and Hong Kong. For family travelers, it’s a good idea to make a side trip to Shenzhen to view Window of the World assembling multinational fascinating architectures, and enjoy family happy hours in Chimelong Ocean Kingdom with kids and experience local leisure life in Zhuhai. Culture lovers may visit major sites in Guangzhou downtown, extend journey to Foshan, Kaiping Diaolou, Panyu and taking Guangzhou-Hong Kong Through Train to Hong Kong. Tracing delicious Cantonese Cuisine? Chaoshan, Nan’ao Island and Guangzhou are most favored destinations for your taste buds.

• 4 Days Guangzhou Family with Kids Tour
• 4 Days Foshan Culture Seeking with Guangzhou Must-sees
• 4 Days Kaiping Diaolou Tour with Guangzhou City Bests
• 6 Days Canton Fair & Guangzhou Highlights Tour

Travel Guangzhou with China Discovery

China Discovery is a professional and experienced travel companion who offers high-value and worry-free tours for you. We not only design ideal itinerary covering sightseeing, dining, transfer and hotel, but also can provide any support & help you need to travel to China. Except Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Xiamen, Kunming, Wuhan, Nanjing, Qingdao are also 144-Hour Visa-free Transit cities. If you have a layover in Guilin, Harbin, Changsha , 72-Hour Visa-free Transit is available for you. Without applying a visa, you can fulfill your dream tour to China, visiting the great cultural, historical, natural landscape will. If you are interested in China visa-free tour in Guangzhou and other qualified cities, just contact us , tell your interests and travel plans, we could arrange a perfect Guangzhou city tour and Guangdong tour packages as you requested.

Most Popular China Visa-free Tours:

• 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour
• 2 Days Mutianyu and Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking
• 3 Days Best Shanghai Tour with Half-day Cycling
• 3 Days Shanghai Highlights & Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour
• 2 Days Xian City Break
• 2 Days Guilin Ideal Li River Cruise with Yangshuo
• 3 Days Chengdu Highlights Tour
• 2 Days Relaxing Hangzhou Tour with West Lake

Top Attractions in & around Guangzhou

• Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
• Temple of the Six Banyan Trees
• Yuexiu Park
• Canton Tower
• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
• Nanyue King Mausuleum
• Kaiping Diaulou and Villages

Other Useful Travel Articles of Guangzhou

• All Popular Guangzhou Tours
• How to Plan a Guangzhou Tour
• How to Get to & Around Guangzhou
• Guangzhou Airport to Downtown
• Guangzhou Maps
• Guangzhou Metro
• Flights to Guangzhou
• Things to Do in Guangzhou
• Featured Activities in Guangzhou
• Top 6 Things to Do at Night
• Canton Fair (Import & Export Fair)
• Guangzhou Weather & Seasons
• Luxury Hotels in Guangzhou
• Comfortable Hotels in Guangzhou
• Where to Stay in Guangzhou
• 10 Best Cantonese Restaurants
• Top Food to Eat in Guangzhou
• All Guangzhou Travel Guide

Recommended Tours

Top 3 tours chosen by most customers to explore in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.

3 Days Guangzhou Short Stay with All Highlights

6 Days Canton Fair & Guangzhou Essence Tour

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

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Entry requirements

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel. 

The authorities in China set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Chinese Embassy in the UK . 

Immigration authorities may check and collect biometric data (for example, scanned fingerprints and photos) to register your entry into China.

COVID-19 rules 

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering China.

Passport validity requirements 

To enter China, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive in China and 2 blank pages for visas and stamping.

Visa requirements 

You need a visa to visit mainland China. 

You can visit Hong Kong or Macao without a visa. See separate travel advice for Hong Kong and Macao . 

You can also visit the island of Hainan for 30 days without a visa. 

Visa-free transit through China is permitted, from 24 hours to 144 hours depending on location. See China Visa Application Centre for more information.  

If you visit Hong Kong from mainland China and want to return to the mainland, you need a visa that allows you to make a second entry into China. 

Check your visa details carefully and do not overstay your visa. The authorities carry out regular checks and may fine, detain and deport you. 

If you want to stay in China longer than 6 months, you may need to get a residence permit. 

Applying for a visa 

If you’re 14 to 70 years old, you must apply for a visa in person at a visa application centre . If you’re aged 13 and under or aged 71 and over, you can only apply online. You must provide biometric data (scanned fingerprints) as part of your application. There are visa application centres in London, Manchester, Belfast and Edinburgh. The details of their opening hours are on their websites.  

The Chinese Embassy has further information on visa categories and how to apply .

Dual Chinese-British nationality 

China does not recognise dual nationality. If you enter China on a Chinese passport or identity card, the British Embassy may not be able to offer you help. If you were born in China to a Chinese national parent, you will be: 

• considered by the Chinese authorities to have Chinese nationality 
• treated as a Chinese citizen, even if you used a British passport to enter China 

If you have formally renounced Chinese citizenship, you should carry clear evidence that you have done so. See guidance on nationality in China .

Working in China 

You can only work in China if you have a work visa (Z visa). Tourist and business visas do not allow you to work. You must also hold a valid work permit. The local police regularly carry out checks on companies and schools. If you do not follow Chinese immigration laws, there can be serious penalties, including: 

• imprisonment 
• deportation 
• an exit ban, which stops you from leaving China 
• an exclusion order, which stops you from returning 

Before you leave the UK, contact the Chinese Embassy in the UK to check Z visa requirements. When submitting your application, and when you receive your work permit, check the details are correct, including the location you’ll be working in. You can be fined or detained if details are incorrect, even if your employer or others have submitted the application on your behalf. 

If you change employer once you’re in China, or change location in China with an existing employer, check with the Chinese authorities whether you need a new visa and work permit before doing so.

Vaccination requirements  

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need in TravelHealthPro’s China guide . 

Depending on your circumstances, this may include a yellow fever certificate.

Registering with the Chinese authorities 

You must register your place of residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. Chinese authorities enforce this rule with regular spot-checks of foreigners’ documentation. If you’re staying in a hotel, they will register you when you check in. 

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of China . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

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