On December 17, 2024, the National Immigration Administration of China announced that it will fully relax and optimize the transit visa exemption policy. The allowed stay duration for foreign nationals benefiting from the transit visa exemption has been extended from the previous 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). Additionally, 21 new ports of entry have been added for transit visa-exempt individuals entering and exiting China, and the area for permitted activities during their stay has been further expanded. Nationals of 54 eligible countries, including Russia, Brazil, the UK, the USA, and Canada, can transit through China to a third country (region) visa-free from any of the 60 open ports across 24 provinces (regions, municipalities).

The newly added 21 ports of entry under this relaxed policy include: Taiyuan Wusu International Airport (Shanxi), Sunan Shuofang Airport and Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport (Jiangsu), Wenzhou Longwan International Airport and Yiwu International Airport (Zhejiang), Hefei Xinqiao International Airport and Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (Anhui), Fuzhou Changle International Airport, Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport, and Wuyishan International Airport (Fujian), Nanchang Changbei International Airport (Jiangxi), Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport, Yantai Penglai International Airport, and Weihai Dashuibo International Airport (Shandong), Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (Hunan), Nanning Wuxu International Airport and Beihai Fucheng International Airport (Guangxi), Haikou Meilan International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport (Hainan), Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (Sichuan), and Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport (Guizhou). The total number of open ports has increased from 39 to 60.

The newly optimized 240-hour transit visa exemption policy further expands the area for permitted activities. The provinces where this policy applies has increased from the original 19, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Shaanxi, to include five more provinces: Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan, and Guizhou, totaling 24 provinces (regions, municipalities). For the newly added five provinces, the area for permitted activities is the entire province for Anhui, Hainan, and Guizhou. In Shanxi, the allowed area is Taiyuan and Datong cities, while in Jiangxi, it is Nanchang and Jingdezhen cities. The area for permitted activities in Fujian, Hubei, and Shaanxi has been expanded to the entire province, and Guangxi's permitted area has been extended to include administrative regions in Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi, and Laibin (12 cities). Foreign nationals entering China under the transit visa exemption policy can travel across the provinces (regions, municipalities) where the policy is applicable.

A relevant official from the National Immigration Administration explained that this relaxation and optimization of the transit visa exemption policy is an important measure for proactively promoting high-level outward opening and facilitating exchanges between Chinese and foreign nationals, in line with the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference. It is beneficial for accelerating cross-border personnel movement, enhancing foreign exchanges and cooperation, and injecting new momentum into high-quality economic and social development. In the future, the National Immigration Administration will continue to deepen the management of immigration with an open approach, continuously optimize and improve the convenience policies for immigration and entry-exit, and enhance the convenience for foreign nationals coming to China for study, work, and life. We welcome more foreign friends to visit China and personally experience the beauty of New Era China.

Conditions for Foreign Tourists to Apply for the 240-Hour Transit Visa Exemption Policy:

1. Citizens of 54 countries eligible for the transit visa exemption policy:

European countries (40): 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, Monaco, Russia, the UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway.

American countries (6): USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.

Oceanian countries (2): Australia, New Zealand.

Asian countries (6): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar. 

2. Must hold a valid international travel document with a validity of no less than three months and meet the entry requirements for the third country (region).

3. Must possess a confirmed itinerary and seat reservation for the onward journey to the third country (region) within the 240-hour period or relevant proof, fill out a temporary entry card for foreigners, and accept checks and inquiries from border inspection agencies. 

Eligible foreign nationals can submit their applications to border inspection agencies at the 60 ports, including Beijing, Shanghai, etc. The border inspection agencies will process their temporary entry procedures, with the visa-free stay duration starting from 00:00 on the day following entry. Nationals eligible for visa exemption agreements with China or unilateral visa exemption policies can enter from their stipulated ports.