China’s 72/144 Hours Visa-Free Transit Policy for 2024/2025

China offers three visa-free transit policies: 24-hour, 72-hour, and 144-hour. These policies allow eligible travelers to enter China temporarily without a visa when transiting to a third country.

24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy

Available for citizens of all countries

Valid for transit via international flights, ships, or trains

Allows stay within 24 hours at arrival ports

72-Hour and 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy

Available for citizens from 54 countries

Allows transit through 38 exit-entry ports in 18 Chinese provinces

Stay duration depends on the city of entry (72 or 144 hours)

Eligible Countries

American: USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile

European: 40 countries including United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Norway, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Spain, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia,Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, and Belarus.

Oceania: Australia, New Zealand

Asian: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar

Important: For travelers with dual citizenship, if one of your nationalities is included in the list of eligible countries for the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy, you can use the passport of that eligible nationality to enter China under this policy. This allows you to take advantage of the visa-free transit option even if your other citizenship is not eligible.

Remember to always check the most current regulations, as immigration policies can change.

Transit Areas for 72-Hour Policy:

Changsha (Hunan Province)

Harbin

Guilin

Beihai

144-Hour Policy for Transit Areas As Below:

Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province

Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province

Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Jieyang (Guangdong Province)

Liaoning Province

Shandong Province

Chengdu and certain Sichuan cities

Xi’an and Xianyang

Henan Province

Certain cities in Yunnan

Requirements

Valid passport (at least 3 months validity,but 6 months validity recommended)

Onward ticket to a third country within the visa-free period

Completed Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners

Time Calculation

The count typically starts at 00:00 on the day following arrival.

Please be advised to check the latest policies and restrictions before planning your China trip, as regulations may change.