China Expands the 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy to 37 Ports – A Complete Guide

Date：2024-09-12 Views：161

China has expanded the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, which allows people from certain countries to enjoy six days of travel to select areas (including Shanghai!) of the country without applying for a visa beforehand, to cover 54 countries and 37 ports.

What is the 144-hour visa-free transit policy?

The 144-hour visa-free transit is one of China’s visa exemption policies provided to eligible foreigners coming from selected countries.

Under the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, foreign travelers can enjoy a six-day stay in certain Chinese cities without a visa, provided they come from 54 eligible countries, enter and exit China from eligible ports, stay within the allowed cities and regions, as well as satisfy other requirements.

Which countries' citizens are eligible for the 144-hour visa-free transit policy?

To obtain this visa exemption, the foreign national must have a valid passport from one of the 54 countries, which are:

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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.

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5 other countries in Europe: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, and Belarus.

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Six countries in the Americas: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.

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Two countries in Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.

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Six countries in Asia: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

What are the requirements for the 144-hour visa-free transit policy?

As per the requirements of China’s National Immigration Authority (NIA), people applying for 144-hour visa-free transit must have:

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A valid passport or another international travel document that is valid for more than three months from the arrival date;

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An interline ticket (connecting ticket) with the confirmed departure date and seat number leaving for a third country or region within 144 hours; and

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The landing card for foreigners in transit that is filled out upon arrival in China.