China has aready resumed its 240-hour Visa-Free Transit Policy, which allow tourist to enjoy a longer stay (10days) in China without visa. It is a good solution for many tourists who would like to travel to China, but do not want to bother visa-application. Currently, 41 exit-entry ports in 19 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government of China have implemented the 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals from 54 countries.
 

54 countries:

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

What are the conditions for visa-free policy?

If you would like to enjoy the 240-hour visa free policy, you will need to meet the qualifying creteria,

• Applicable for the passport holders from 54 countries and areas, including USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, UK, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, etc.
   

• It is only suitable for those who fly to the 3rd country or area (inclusive of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) but transit in Chinese mainland. For example. If the itinerary of USA – Shanghai – Hong Kong or Canada – Beijing – South Korea is acceptable for the transit visa exemption policy, but the route of USA – Shanghai – USA is not.
   
• Before entry into China, you must hold an onward ticket departing Chinese mainland within 240 hours to the 3rd country or area.
   
• No matter from which cities of China you transit your flight, you can only travel within the permit region, but not travel out of it. For example. If you transit in Shanghai under the 240 hours visa exemption program, you are permitted to visit Shanghai, areas in Jiangsu provinces and Zhejiang province, i.e. Suzhou, Hangzhou, but you are not allowed to travel to Beijing.
   
• When you fly to the 3rd country, please ensure you have already to the visa to the 3rd country if visa is requested.
   

• For more details about China 240 hours Transit Visa Exemption program, please click and check on China Entry & Exit.
  
  Click to read more about 240 hours Transit Visa Exemption program.

Visa Exemption for Cruise Groups to Shanghai

Shanghai implement a 15-day visa free plicy for those groups who enter China from Shanghai cruise port, which started from Oct 1st, 2016.

Tour Groups entering from Shanghai cruise port to China should be received by a legal travel agency in Shanghai.

The group should arrive and depart on the same cruise. The stay duration can not exceed 15 days and the activity scope is limited to some coastal provinces and Beijing, namely The duration of stay shall not exceed 15 days (from the day after entry), and the scope of activities shall be limited to coastal provinces and Beijing, namely: Shanghai, Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, cities in Hainan province where the cruise port is located and cities in neighboring provinces and Beijing.
 

Visa Exemption for Tour Groups from ASEAN countries to Guilin

Tour groups holding ordinary passports from ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines, entering China from Guilin Airport Port enjoy a 144-hour ( 6 days) visa free policy. This policy was implemented from May 28th, 2015. 
 

Hainan Province Visa Free Policy

Travelers from 59 countries, holding ordinary passport, enjoy a 30-day visa free policy. The travelers should fly to Hainan province directly from Hong Kong or other countries. Tourists can submit an application or be arranged by a legally managed travel agency in Hainan province. 
 

List for visa-free countries to Hainan:

Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, 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, Monaco, Belarus, United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.

 

Pearl River Delta Area Visa Free Policy

No visa is requested for the international travelers from Hong Kong or Macau visiting the Pearl River Delta area (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, etc.) as long as they travel with a registered tour operator. 
 

APEC Card

The APEC Business Travel Card is equivalent to a short-term business visa. If you are APEC card holder, you can travel to China with a visa. Generally speaking, an APEC card is valid for five years since its application. The holder can enter China for multiple times during its validity and stay in China for up to 60 days each time.

 

Hong Kong & Macau Travel Restrictions

Persons travelling from Hong Kong / Macau to the Mainland are not required to complete China Customs’ Health Declaration Form to declare their health information before departure (the pre-departure rapid antigen test or nucleic acid test requirement has been removed since 0:00 of 30 August 2023 (local time)) .

 

About The Latest Entry Policies

• From November 30, 2024 to December 31, 2025, nationals of 38 countries including Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan holding valid ordinary passports can be exempted from visa requirement if entering into China for the purpose of business, tourism, family or friends visits, exchange and transit. They can stay in China for no more than 30 days without visa.
• If you are from Singapore and Thailand, you can also enter China without a visa for up to 30 days, starting from early 2024. 

China currently can be one of your travel options in 2025. Do not hesitate to CONTACT US to plan a trip in China, with the assistance from our expert travel consultant offering 1-1 service.